01The one rule to know first
Thai sentences end with a politeness particle: women say "ka" and men say "krap". It softens almost anything and is the single easiest way to sound polite.
So "sawasdee" (hello) becomes "sawasdee ka" if you are a woman, "sawasdee krap" if you are a man.
02The phrases worth learning
These cover most everyday situations:
- ✓Hello — sawasdee ka / krap
- ✓Thank you — khob khun ka / krap
- ✓How much? — tao rai?
- ✓Can you discount? — lot dai mai?
- ✓Delicious! — aroi!
- ✓Not spicy — mai phet
- ✓No ice — mai sai nam kaeng
- ✓Where is the toilet? — hong nam yoo tee nai?
- ✓No worries / it's ok — mai pen rai
- ✓The bill, please — check bin
03When pronunciation fails
Thai is tonal, so the same syllable said at a different pitch means something else entirely. Do not be discouraged if you are not understood at first.
Showing the Thai script solves it instantly. That is exactly why the guide includes a printable phrase card you can hold up to a vendor or driver.
