Essential Thai Phrases for Travel (with Pronunciation)
Thailand is one of the world's favourite destinations — Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket and the islands. Thai has its own alphabet and five tones, so this page gives you the Thai script plus a simple pronunciation to get you started.
Updated October 2026
Basics and greetings
| English | Thai | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Hello | สวัสดีครับ / ค่ะ | Sawasdee khrap / kha |
| Goodbye | ลาก่อนครับ / ค่ะ | La kon khrap / kha |
| Please | กรุณา | Karuna |
| Thank you | ขอบคุณครับ / ค่ะ | Khop khun khrap / kha |
| Yes | ใช่ | Chai |
| No | ไม่ใช่ | Mai chai |
| Excuse me / Sorry | ขอโทษครับ / ค่ะ | Kho thot khrap / kha |
| I don't understand | ไม่เข้าใจ | Mai khao jai |
| Do you speak English? | พูดภาษาอังกฤษได้ไหม | Phut phasa Angkrit dai mai? |
At the restaurant
| English | Thai | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| A table for two, please | โต๊ะสำหรับสองคน | To samrap song khon |
| The menu, please | ขอเมนูหน่อย | Kho menu noi |
| Water, please | ขอน้ำเปล่า | Kho nam plao |
| The bill, please | เช็คบิล | Check bin |
| It's delicious | อร่อยมาก | Aroi mak |
Getting around and shopping
| English | Thai | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Where is the toilet? | ห้องน้ำอยู่ที่ไหน | Hong nam yu thi nai? |
| Where is the station? | สถานีอยู่ที่ไหน | Sathani yu thi nai? |
| How much is it? | เท่าไหร่ | Thao rai? |
| Can you write it down? | เขียนให้หน่อยได้ไหม | Khian hai noi dai mai? |
Emergencies and health
| English | Thai | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Help! | ช่วยด้วย | Chuay duay! |
| I need a doctor | ฉันต้องการหมอ | Chan tong kan mo |
| Where is the pharmacy? | ร้านขายยาอยู่ที่ไหน | Ran khai ya yu thi nai? |
| Call the police! | เรียกตำรวจ | Riak tamruat! |
| I'm lost | ฉันหลงทาง | Chan long thang |
Practical tips
- Add "khrap" (if you are a man) or "kha" (if you are a woman) at the end of sentences to be polite.
- "Sawasdee" is used for both hello and goodbye.
- Never touch someone's head, and don't point your feet at people or Buddha images.
- "Mai pen rai" (no problem, never mind) sums up a lot of Thai attitude — you'll hear it often.
Too many phrases to remember?
With OIEM Translator you can simply talk. Choose English and Thai, tap the microphone once and speak normally: the translation appears in about half a second and is spoken out loud in Thai. When the other person answers, OIEM detects their language automatically and translates back — no need to tap again.
- Hands-free two-way conversation
- Text translation also works offline
- Photo translation for menus and signs
Free to download with free voice translations to try. The weekly plan includes a 3-day free trial.
Frequently asked questions
Is Thai hard because of the tones?
Tones change meaning, so pronunciation can be tricky at first. Thai people are patient, and showing the written Thai on your phone always works.
Can my phone speak Thai for me?
Yes. With a voice translator like OIEM Translator you speak in English and your iPhone says it out loud in Thai, then translates the answer back. It is useful when a phrase list is not enough.
Do these phrases work offline?
This page works offline if you save it or take screenshots before your trip. In OIEM Translator, text translation works offline; voice translation needs an internet connection.