Say it in Thai
The Thai you’ll actually say to your family
Not a textbook. These are the lines that come up again and again: when Yai asks if you’ve eaten, when an auntie piles more food on your plate, when the call freezes for the third time. Pick ครับ or ค่ะ on a card to see how it changes with who’s speaking.
Every line is a draft until a native speaker has reviewed it. If something sounds off, it probably sounded off to us too, and it’s on the list.
Video call with Yai
The Sunday call, from hello to “love you”
ฮัลโหล ยาย
han-loh yaai
Hello, Yai! (on the phone)
The phone hello, plus what you call her. Yai hears ยาย and knows exactly who’s calling. Face to face on video, สวัสดีครับยาย / สวัสดีค่ะยาย works too.
Draft: waiting for a native speaker’s review.
Practise this in Reply Thai, coming soon to iPhone.
ยายสบายดีไหม
yaai sa-baai dii mai
ยายสบายดีไหมครับ
yaai sa-baai dii mai khrap
ยายสบายดีไหมคะ
yaai sa-baai dii mai kha
How are you, Yai?
Literally: “grandma well good (question)”
ยาย stands in for “you”. End the question with ครับ (men) or คะ (women).
Draft: waiting for a native speaker’s review.
Practise this in Reply Thai, coming soon to iPhone.
พูดช้าๆ หน่อยได้ไหม
phuut chaa chaa noi dai mai
พูดช้าๆ หน่อยได้ไหมครับ
phuut chaa chaa noi dai mai khrap
พูดช้าๆ หน่อยได้ไหมคะ
phuut chaa chaa noi dai mai kha
Could you speak a bit slower?
Literally: “speak slow-slow a-little can (question)”
หน่อย turns it from an instruction into a gentle ask. Works with any elder.
Draft: waiting for a native speaker’s review.
Practise this in Reply Thai, coming soon to iPhone.
พูดอีกทีได้ไหม
phuut iik thii dai mai
พูดอีกทีได้ไหมครับ
phuut iik thii dai mai khrap
พูดอีกทีได้ไหมคะ
phuut iik thii dai mai kha
Could you say that again?
Literally: “speak again time can (question)”
Better than pretending. Yai would much rather repeat it than talk past you.
Draft: waiting for a native speaker’s review.
Practise this in Reply Thai, coming soon to iPhone.
ยายได้ยินไหม
yaai dai yin mai
ยายได้ยินไหมครับ
yaai dai yin mai khrap
ยายได้ยินไหมคะ
yaai dai yin mai kha
Can you hear me, Yai?
Literally: “grandma hear (question)”
Say ยาย, not คุณ: with family the kin word is “you”. No need to say “me”, Thai leaves it out.
Draft: waiting for a native speaker’s review.
Practise this in Reply Thai, coming soon to iPhone.
รักยายนะ
rak yaai na
รักยายนะครับ
rak yaai na khrap
รักยายนะคะ
rak yaai na kha
Love you, Yai.
Literally: “love grandma (okay)”
Thai elders don’t always say it out loud, but they love hearing it from a grandchild. นะ makes it soft.
Draft: waiting for a native speaker’s review.
Practise this in Reply Thai, coming soon to iPhone.
รักนะ
rak na
Love you
Draft: waiting for a native speaker’s review.
Practise this in Reply Thai, coming soon to iPhone.
ยายดูแลสุขภาพด้วยนะ
yaai duu lae suk-kha-phaap duai na
ยายดูแลสุขภาพด้วยนะครับ
yaai duu lae suk-kha-phaap duai na khrap
ยายดูแลสุขภาพด้วยนะคะ
yaai duu lae suk-kha-phaap duai na kha
Take care of yourself, Yai.
Literally: “grandma look-after health also (okay)”
The classic goodbye to an elder. Showing you care about her health is how you show love.
Draft: waiting for a native speaker’s review.
Practise this in Reply Thai, coming soon to iPhone.
อาทิตย์หน้าโทรหาใหม่นะ
aa-thit naa thoh haa mai na
อาทิตย์หน้าโทรหาใหม่นะครับ
aa-thit naa thoh haa mai na khrap
อาทิตย์หน้าโทรหาใหม่นะคะ
aa-thit naa thoh haa mai na kha
I’ll call you again next week.
Literally: “week next call to again (okay)”
A real promise beats a vague “talk soon”. Swap the time: วันอาทิตย์หน้า (next Sunday), พรุ่งนี้ (tomorrow).
Draft: waiting for a native speaker’s review.
Practise this in Reply Thai, coming soon to iPhone.
Family meals
Being fed, praising the cook, saying no kindly
กินข้าวหรือยัง
gin khaao rue yang
Have you eaten?
Literally: “eat rice or yet”
In Thai families, this is how love sounds.
Draft: waiting for a native speaker’s review.
Practise this in Reply Thai, coming soon to iPhone.
กินแล้ว
gin laew
กินแล้วครับ
gin laew khrap
กินแล้วค่ะ
gin laew kha
I’ve eaten.
Literally: “eat already”
The everyday answer. With mum you can drop ครับ/ค่ะ; keep it for Yai and older relatives.
Draft: waiting for a native speaker’s review.
Practise this in Reply Thai, coming soon to iPhone.
อิ่มแล้ว
im laew
อิ่มแล้วครับ
im laew khrap
อิ่มแล้วค่ะ
im laew kha
I’m full.
Literally: “full already”
For when the food keeps coming. A smile helps, and mum may still try once more.
Draft: waiting for a native speaker’s review.
Practise this in Reply Thai, coming soon to iPhone.
ขอนิดเดียวพอ
khor nit diao phor
ขอนิดเดียวพอครับ
khor nit diao phor khrap
ขอนิดเดียวพอค่ะ
khor nit diao phor kha
Just a little, please.
Literally: “ask-for tiny-bit enough”
The middle way: you accept her offer, but only a spoonful. Elders love this one.
Draft: waiting for a native speaker’s review.
Practise this in Reply Thai, coming soon to iPhone.
ไม่มีใครทำอร่อยเท่ายาย
mai mii khrai tham a-roi thao yaai
Nobody cooks like you, Yai.
Literally: “not have who make delicious equal grandma”
The big compliment. Works for mum too: ไม่มีใครทำอร่อยเท่าแม่.
Draft: waiting for a native speaker’s review.
Practise this in Reply Thai, coming soon to iPhone.
ขออีกได้ไหม
khor iik dai mai
ขออีกได้ไหมครับ
khor iik dai mai khrap
ขออีกได้ไหมคะ
khor iik dai mai kha
Can I have some more?
Literally: “ask-for more can question”
Asking for seconds is itself the biggest compliment. Be ready for a very full plate.
Draft: waiting for a native speaker’s review.
Practise this in Reply Thai, coming soon to iPhone.
มีอะไรให้ช่วยไหม
mii a-rai hai chuai mai
มีอะไรให้ช่วยไหมครับ
mii a-rai hai chuai mai khrap
มีอะไรให้ช่วยไหมคะ
mii a-rai hai chuai mai kha
Anything I can help with?
Literally: “have what let help question”
The everyday offer in any Thai kitchen. Add ป้า at the end to make it hers.
Draft: waiting for a native speaker’s review.
Practise this in Reply Thai, coming soon to iPhone.
กินไม่ไหวแล้ว
gin mai wai laew
กินไม่ไหวแล้วครับ
gin mai wai laew khrap
กินไม่ไหวแล้วค่ะ
gin mai wai laew kha
I can’t eat any more.
Literally: “eat not manage already”
ไม่ไหว means “I can’t manage”. Soft and honest, so nobody at the table takes it as a refusal of their food.
Draft: waiting for a native speaker’s review.
Practise this in Reply Thai, coming soon to iPhone.
Big family days
Birthdays, temples, hospitals, the nosy questions
ขอบคุณ
khorp khun
ขอบคุณครับ
khorp khun khrap
ขอบคุณค่ะ
khorp khun kha
Thank you.
Add the kin word and it’s personal: ขอบคุณค่ะย่า, ขอบคุณครับย่า. With elders, keep ครับ/ค่ะ.
Draft: waiting for a native speaker’s review.
Practise this in Reply Thai, coming soon to iPhone.
ขอโทษ
khor thot
sorry / excuse me
Draft: waiting for a native speaker’s review.
Practise this in Reply Thai, coming soon to iPhone.
ไม่เป็นไร
mai pen rai
It’s okay. / No worries.
Literally: “not be anything”
What you say when someone apologises to you. Careful: after an offer it can sound like “no thanks”.
Draft: waiting for a native speaker’s review.
Practise this in Reply Thai, coming soon to iPhone.
ยังไม่มี
yang mai mii
ยังไม่มีครับ
yang mai mii khrap
ยังไม่มีค่ะ
yang mai mii kha
Not yet.
Literally: “still not have”
The same ยังไม่ as ยังไม่กิน (“haven’t eaten yet”). “Yet” leaves the door open, which relatives like.
Draft: waiting for a native speaker’s review.
Practise this in Reply Thai, coming soon to iPhone.
ยังไม่รีบ
yang mai riip
ยังไม่รีบครับ
yang mai riip khrap
ยังไม่รีบค่ะ
yang mai riip kha
I’m in no rush.
Literally: “still not hurry”
For “when’s the wedding?”. Said with a smile, it ends the topic without closing the door.
Draft: waiting for a native speaker’s review.
Practise this in Reply Thai, coming soon to iPhone.
เดินทางปลอดภัยนะ
dern thaang plort phai na
เดินทางปลอดภัยนะครับ
dern thaang plort phai na khrap
เดินทางปลอดภัยนะคะ
dern thaang plort phai na kha
Have a safe trip.
Literally: “travel safe okay”
For a longer trip: a bus to the provinces, a flight back to Sweden.
Draft: waiting for a native speaker’s review.
Practise this in Reply Thai, coming soon to iPhone.
สุขสันต์วันสงกรานต์
suk-san wan song-graan
สุขสันต์วันสงกรานต์ครับ
suk-san wan song-graan khrap
สุขสันต์วันสงกรานต์ค่ะ
suk-san wan song-graan kha
Happy Songkran.
Literally: “happy day Songkran”
The greeting for 13–15 April. With grandparents, add ครับ/ค่ะ and a wai.
Draft: waiting for a native speaker’s review.
Practise this in Reply Thai, coming soon to iPhone.
ขอให้ยายสุขภาพแข็งแรงนะ
khor hai yaai suk-kha-phaap khaeng raeng na
ขอให้ยายสุขภาพแข็งแรงนะครับ
khor hai yaai suk-kha-phaap khaeng raeng na khrap
ขอให้ยายสุขภาพแข็งแรงนะคะ
khor hai yaai suk-kha-phaap khaeng raeng na kha
I wish you good health, Yai.
Literally: “ask that grandma health strong na”
Swap ยาย for ตา, ย่า or ปู่. Good health is the wish elders love most.
Draft: waiting for a native speaker’s review.
Practise this in Reply Thai, coming soon to iPhone.
Visiting Thailand
Airport pickup to the village
มาถึงแล้ว
maa thueng laew
มาถึงแล้วครับ
maa thueng laew khrap
มาถึงแล้วค่ะ
maa thueng laew kha
I made it.
Literally: “come arrive already”
Works face to face and in the family LINE group the moment you land.
Draft: waiting for a native speaker’s review.
Practise this in Reply Thai, coming soon to iPhone.
ป้า ขอข้าวผัดจานนึง
paa, khor khaao phat jaan nueng
ป้า ขอข้าวผัดจานนึงครับ
paa, khor khaao phat jaan nueng khrap
ป้า ขอข้าวผัดจานนึงค่ะ
paa, khor khaao phat jaan nueng kha
Auntie, one fried rice, please.
ป้า for a vendor older than your mum. Around her age, น้า is more accurate, though many people say ป้า to any older vendor. Swap in any dish.
Draft: waiting for a native speaker’s review.
Practise this in Reply Thai, coming soon to iPhone.
พี่ เช็คบิลด้วย
phii, chek bin duai
พี่ เช็คบิลด้วยครับ
phii, chek bin duai khrap
พี่ เช็คบิลด้วยค่ะ
phii, chek bin duai kha
Excuse me, the bill, please.
พี่ for a server about your age or a bit older. It’s how you call them over.
Draft: waiting for a native speaker’s review.
Practise this in Reply Thai, coming soon to iPhone.
ไม่เผ็ดนะ
mai phet na
ไม่เผ็ดนะครับ
mai phet na khrap
ไม่เผ็ดนะคะ
mai phet na kha
Not spicy, OK?
Literally: “not spicy (softener)”
นะ makes it a friendly request, not an order. Men say นะครับ, women นะคะ.
Draft: waiting for a native speaker’s review.
Practise this in Reply Thai, coming soon to iPhone.
ต้องถอดรองเท้าไหม
torng thort rorng thao mai
ต้องถอดรองเท้าไหมครับ
torng thort rorng thao mai khrap
ต้องถอดรองเท้าไหมคะ
torng thort rorng thao mai kha
Do I need to take my shoes off?
Literally: “must take-off shoes (question)”
Ask before any building at the wat. The answer is almost always yes.
Draft: waiting for a native speaker’s review.
Practise this in Reply Thai, coming soon to iPhone.
มารับหน่อยได้ไหม
maa rap noi dai mai
มารับหน่อยได้ไหมครับ
maa rap noi dai mai khrap
มารับหน่อยได้ไหมคะ
maa rap noi dai mai kha
Could you come and get me?
Literally: “come pick-up a-little can (question)”
หน่อย softens the favour. She’ll likely turn up on a motorbike within minutes.
Draft: waiting for a native speaker’s review.
Practise this in Reply Thai, coming soon to iPhone.
ขอบคุณที่ดูแลหลานนะ
khorp khun thii duu lae laan na
ขอบคุณที่ดูแลหลานนะครับ
khorp khun thii duu lae laan na khrap
ขอบคุณที่ดูแลหลานนะคะ
khorp khun thii duu lae laan na kha
Thank you for looking after me.
Literally: “thank-you that look-after grandchild (softener)”
หลาน is you, the grandchild. To an aunt or uncle it works just the same.
Draft: waiting for a native speaker’s review.
Practise this in Reply Thai, coming soon to iPhone.
Who’s who
What to call everyone, and why it matters
สวัสดีครับ
sa-wat-dii khrap
สวัสดีครับ
sa-wat-dii khrap
สวัสดีค่ะ
sa-wat-dii kha
Hello. (polite, to an elder)
Literally: “hello (polite ending)”
With elders and people you’ve just met, the ครับ/ค่ะ and a wai carry the respect.
Draft: waiting for a native speaker’s review.
Practise this in Reply Thai, coming soon to iPhone.
สวัสดีครับยาย
sa-wat-dii khrap yaai
สวัสดีครับยาย
sa-wat-dii khrap yaai
สวัสดีค่ะยาย
sa-wat-dii kha yaai
Hello, Yai.
Literally: “hello (polite) grandma-mum’s-side”
ยาย is mum’s mum. Dad’s mum is ย่า (yaa), so the “i” at the end of yaai matters.
Draft: waiting for a native speaker’s review.
Practise this in Reply Thai, coming soon to iPhone.
ว่าไง
waa ngai
Hey, what’s up? (casual)
Literally: “say how”
Same warmth, no particle. For cousins and friends your age, not for elders.
Draft: waiting for a native speaker’s review.
Practise this in Reply Thai, coming soon to iPhone.
แม่
mae
mum
The word you’ll say most.
Draft: waiting for a native speaker’s review.
Practise this in Reply Thai, coming soon to iPhone.
พี่
phii
older sibling
Age, not gender. Also used to address anyone slightly older.
Draft: waiting for a native speaker’s review.
Practise this in Reply Thai, coming soon to iPhone.
น้อง
norng
younger sibling
The counterpart to พี่.
Draft: waiting for a native speaker’s review.
Practise this in Reply Thai, coming soon to iPhone.
ฟังออก แต่พูดไม่ค่อยเก่ง
fang ork, tae phuut mai khoi geng
ฟังออก แต่พูดไม่ค่อยเก่งครับ
fang ork, tae phuut mai khoi geng khrap
ฟังออก แต่พูดไม่ค่อยเก่งค่ะ
fang ork, tae phuut mai khoi geng kha
I can follow it, but I’m not great at speaking.
Literally: “listen out, but speak not very skilled”
The honest answer to “do you understand Thai?”. It tells them to keep talking to you.
Draft: waiting for a native speaker’s review.
Practise this in Reply Thai, coming soon to iPhone.
เป็นคนไทย
pen khon thai
เป็นคนไทยครับ
pen khon thai khrap
เป็นคนไทยค่ะ
pen khon thai kha
Yes, I’m Thai.
Literally: “am Thai person”
Thai says yes by echoing the verb: asked เป็นคนไทยไหม, you answer เป็น. No “I” needed.
Draft: waiting for a native speaker’s review.
Practise this in Reply Thai, coming soon to iPhone.
โตเมืองนอก
toh mueang nork
โตเมืองนอกครับ
toh mueang nork khrap
โตเมืองนอกค่ะ
toh mueang nork kha
I grew up abroad.
Literally: “grow-up country outside”
Short and complete. If they ask where, add the country: โตที่สวีเดน, “grew up in Sweden”.
Draft: waiting for a native speaker’s review.
Practise this in Reply Thai, coming soon to iPhone.
ฟังรู้เรื่อง
fang ruu rueang
ฟังรู้เรื่องครับ
fang ruu rueang khrap
ฟังรู้เรื่องค่ะ
fang ruu rueang kha
I can follow.
Literally: “listen know-story”
Echo her question back as your answer: that’s very Thai. ฟังรู้เรื่อง = “I get it when I listen”.
Draft: waiting for a native speaker’s review.
Practise this in Reply Thai, coming soon to iPhone.
ไม่อยากลืมภาษาไทย
mai yaak luem phaa-saa thai
ไม่อยากลืมภาษาไทยครับ
mai yaak luem phaa-saa thai khrap
ไม่อยากลืมภาษาไทยค่ะ
mai yaak luem phaa-saa thai kha
I don’t want to forget my Thai.
Literally: “not want forget language Thai”
Simple and true for most heritage learners. Family hears “I want to stay one of you.”
Draft: waiting for a native speaker’s review.
Practise this in Reply Thai, coming soon to iPhone.
โตเมืองนอกแต่ใจยังเป็นคนไทย
toh mueang nork tae jai yang pen khon thai
โตเมืองนอกแต่ใจยังเป็นคนไทยครับ
toh mueang nork tae jai yang pen khon thai khrap
โตเมืองนอกแต่ใจยังเป็นคนไทยค่ะ
toh mueang nork tae jai yang pen khon thai kha
I grew up abroad, but I’m Thai at heart.
Literally: “grow abroad but heart still is Thai-person”
Says both halves, on your terms. ยัง (still) says the Thai part never left. โตเมืองนอก comes up a lot with family.
Draft: waiting for a native speaker’s review.
Practise this in Reply Thai, coming soon to iPhone.
สำเนียงอาจจะแปลกๆ
sam-niang aat ja plaek plaek
สำเนียงอาจจะแปลกๆครับ
sam-niang aat ja plaek plaek khrap
สำเนียงอาจจะแปลกๆค่ะ
sam-niang aat ja plaek plaek kha
My accent might be a bit funny.
Literally: “accent maybe strange-strange”
Say it with a laugh. Doubling แปลก softens it to “a bit odd”.
Draft: waiting for a native speaker’s review.
Practise this in Reply Thai, coming soon to iPhone.
แต่ภูมิใจที่พูดไทยได้
tae phuum jai thii phuut thai dai
แต่ภูมิใจที่พูดไทยได้ครับ
tae phuum jai thii phuut thai dai khrap
แต่ภูมิใจที่พูดไทยได้ค่ะ
tae phuum jai thii phuut thai dai kha
But I’m proud I can speak Thai.
Literally: “but proud that speak Thai can”
No “I” needed: Thai drops it. Elders love hearing this from a grandchild.
Draft: waiting for a native speaker’s review.
Practise this in Reply Thai, coming soon to iPhone.
Real Thai patterns
The little words that make Thai sound like family
อะไรนะ
a-rai na
อะไรนะครับ
a-rai na khrap
อะไรนะคะ
a-rai na kha
Sorry, what was that?
Literally: “what, (soft)”
นะ turns a sharp “what?” into a gentle “sorry?”. Here it’s นะครับ for men, นะคะ for women.
Draft: waiting for a native speaker’s review.
Practise this in Reply Thai, coming soon to iPhone.
นึกคำไม่ออก
nuek kham mai ork
I can’t think of the word.
Literally: “think word not come-out”
Native speakers say this too. It buys you a second and invites help.
Draft: waiting for a native speaker’s review.
Practise this in Reply Thai, coming soon to iPhone.
ภาษาไทยเรียกว่าอะไรนะ
phaa-saa thai riak waa a-rai na
ภาษาไทยเรียกว่าอะไรนะครับ
phaa-saa thai riak waa a-rai na khrap
ภาษาไทยเรียกว่าอะไรนะคะ
phaa-saa thai riak waa a-rai na kha
What’s it called in Thai?
Literally: “Thai language call that what (soft)”
Describe the thing first (“the thing for the rain”), then ask. Relatives love filling the gap.
Draft: waiting for a native speaker’s review.
Practise this in Reply Thai, coming soon to iPhone.
ลองดูสิ
lorng duu si
Go on, give it a try.
Literally: “try see go-on”
สิ is a friendly nudge, like “go on” or “why not”.
Draft: waiting for a native speaker’s review.
Practise this in Reply Thai, coming soon to iPhone.
ไปไหม
pai mai
Wanna come?
Literally: “go question”
Verb + ไหม = a question. ไหม rises; ไม่ (not) falls. You’ll hear it said มั้ย.
Draft: waiting for a native speaker’s review.
Practise this in Reply Thai, coming soon to iPhone.
ขอน้ำหน่อยได้ไหม
khor naam noi dai mai
ขอน้ำหน่อยได้ไหมครับ
khor naam noi dai mai khrap
ขอน้ำหน่อยได้ไหมคะ
khor naam noi dai mai kha
Could I have some water?
Literally: “ask-for water a-little can question”
ขอ…หน่อยได้ไหม asks for anything gently. Swap น้ำ for whatever you need.
Draft: waiting for a native speaker’s review.
Practise this in Reply Thai, coming soon to iPhone.
Thai with my kids
Mealtime, bath, bedtime, and songs to sing
กินข้าวกันลูก
gin khaao gan luuk
Let’s eat, sweetie.
Literally: “eat rice together child”
The family call to the table. กัน makes it “together”, and ลูก is how a parent calls their child.
Draft: waiting for a native speaker’s review.
Practise this in Reply Thai, coming soon to iPhone.
ฝันดีนะลูก
fan dii na luuk
Sweet dreams, sweetie.
Literally: “dream good na child”
The family goodnight. Then hum เชิญนอนเถิดเจ้านอน from Songs if they need help drifting off.
Draft: waiting for a native speaker’s review.
Practise this in Reply Thai, coming soon to iPhone.
เก่งมากลูก
geng maak luuk
Well done, sweetie.
Literally: “clever very child”
เก่ง is the praise word for kids: good at it, clever. Stretch it out, เก่งมากกก, and it gets warmer.
Draft: waiting for a native speaker’s review.
Practise this in Reply Thai, coming soon to iPhone.
พ่อภูมิใจในตัวหนูนะ
phor phuum jai nai tua nuu na
พ่อภูมิใจในตัวหนูนะ
phor phuum jai nai tua nuu na
แม่ภูมิใจในตัวหนูนะ
mae phuum jai nai tua nuu na
I’m proud of you.
Literally: “dad proud in self little-one na”
Save it for the big ones: a first bike ride, a brave day at preschool. ภูมิใจในตัว is “proud of someone”.
Draft: waiting for a native speaker’s review.
Practise this in Reply Thai, coming soon to iPhone.
ไหว้ทวดสิลูก
wai thuat si luuk
Wai to great-grandma, sweetie.
Literally: “wai great-grandma si child”
To your baby, your yai is ทวด, great-grandma. Many families add the side: ยายทวด or ย่าทวด. Fold the little hands together for the camera.
Draft: waiting for a native speaker’s review.
Practise this in Reply Thai, coming soon to iPhone.
Thai and proud
The food you grew up with, and where your family is from
เผ็ดน้อย
phet noi
เผ็ดน้อยครับ
phet noi khrap
เผ็ดน้อยค่ะ
phet noi kha
Not too spicy, please.
Literally: “spicy little”
Stall heat is real heat. เผ็ดน้อย asks for less; ไม่เผ็ด means no chilli at all.
Draft: waiting for a native speaker’s review.
Practise this in Reply Thai, coming soon to iPhone.
หวานน้อย
waan noi
หวานน้อยครับ
waan noi khrap
หวานน้อยค่ะ
waan noi kha
Less sweet, please.
Literally: “sweet little”
Street tea comes very sweet. หวานน้อย asks for less; ไม่หวาน means no sugar at all.
Draft: waiting for a native speaker’s review.
Practise this in Reply Thai, coming soon to iPhone.
ยังต้องฝึกอีกเยอะ
yang torng fuek iik yer
ยังต้องฝึกอีกเยอะครับ
yang torng fuek iik yer khrap
ยังต้องฝึกอีกเยอะค่ะ
yang torng fuek iik yer kha
I’ve still got lots to practise.
Literally: “still must practise more a-lot”
The modest answer elders love. Say it with a smile, not as an apology.
Draft: waiting for a native speaker’s review.
Practise this in Reply Thai, coming soon to iPhone.
ภูมิใจที่พูดไทยได้
phuum jai thii phuut thai dai
ภูมิใจที่พูดไทยได้ครับ
phuum jai thii phuut thai dai khrap
ภูมิใจที่พูดไทยได้ค่ะ
phuum jai thii phuut thai dai kha
I’m proud I can speak Thai.
Literally: “proud that speak Thai can”
Warm and true. Family hears it as love for them, not as showing off.
Draft: waiting for a native speaker’s review.
Practise this in Reply Thai, coming soon to iPhone.
My partner’s family
Meeting the parents, the visit, the wedding
ยินดีที่ได้รู้จัก
yin dii thii dai ruu jak
ยินดีที่ได้รู้จักครับ
yin dii thii dai ruu jak khrap
ยินดีที่ได้รู้จักค่ะ
yin dii thii dai ruu jak kha
Nice to meet you.
Literally: “glad that get know”
The line for someone new. With your partner’s family it says you’re happy to be here.
Draft: waiting for a native speaker’s review.
Practise this in Reply Thai, coming soon to iPhone.
สุขสันต์วันแม่นะ
suk-san wan mae na
สุขสันต์วันแม่นะครับ
suk-san wan mae na khrap
สุขสันต์วันแม่นะคะ
suk-san wan mae na kha
Happy Mother’s Day.
Literally: “happy day-mother (softener)”
Thai Mother’s Day is 12 August. For a birthday, swap in สุขสันต์วันเกิด.
Draft: waiting for a native speaker’s review.
Practise this in Reply Thai, coming soon to iPhone.
Living in Thailand
A place to rent, the neighbours, everyday errands
ฝากเนื้อฝากตัวด้วยนะ
faak nuea faak tua duai na
ฝากเนื้อฝากตัวด้วยนะครับ
faak nuea faak tua duai na khrap
ฝากเนื้อฝากตัวด้วยนะคะ
faak nuea faak tua duai na kha
I hope you’ll look out for me.
Literally: “entrust flesh entrust body too (softener)”
A warm, slightly old-fashioned idiom for new neighbours, colleagues or in-laws. Elders love hearing it.
Draft: waiting for a native speaker’s review.
Practise this in Reply Thai, coming soon to iPhone.
ถือสองสัญชาติ
thue sorng san-chaat
ถือสองสัญชาติครับ
thue sorng san-chaat khrap
ถือสองสัญชาติค่ะ
thue sorng san-chaat kha
I have dual nationality.
Literally: “hold two nationality”
Just the phrase: which ID to show is the bank’s call, so ask them.
Draft: waiting for a native speaker’s review.
Practise this in Reply Thai, coming soon to iPhone.
Thai with friends your age
The casual Thai your cousins use with each other
ขอบใจนะ
khorp jai na
Thanks.
Literally: “thank-heart (softener)”
ขอบใจ is thanks for friends and anyone younger. Up the family ladder it’s always ขอบคุณ. ขอบคุณนะ is a warm in-between that fits anyone.
Draft: waiting for a native speaker’s review.
Practise this in Reply Thai, coming soon to iPhone.
เอาดิ
ao di
Yeah, go on then! / Sure!
Literally: “take (go on)”
ดิ is the casual สิ: “of course, go on”. Try ได้ดิ, ไปดิ, เอาดิ. Said with a smile it’s eager, said flat it can sound impatient.
Draft: waiting for a native speaker’s review.
Practise this in Reply Thai, coming soon to iPhone.
จริงดิ
jing di
No way! / Seriously?!
Literally: “true (go on)”
Said with rising surprise, จริงดิ means “no way!”. Said flat, it means “of course it’s true”. จริงป่ะ (jing pa) is the same surprise as a question.
Draft: waiting for a native speaker’s review.
Practise this in Reply Thai, coming soon to iPhone.
ไปด้วยคน
pai duai khon
Count me in!
Literally: “go too, one person (more)”
The quickest way to say you’re in. If you need to check with family first, say ขอถามที่บ้านก่อนนะ (khor thaam thii baan gorn na). Thai friends totally get it.
Draft: waiting for a native speaker’s review.
Practise this in Reply Thai, coming soon to iPhone.
ช่วงนี้เป็นไงบ้าง
chuang nii pen ngai baang
How’ve you been lately? / How’s life?
Literally: “period this be how some”
A real question, not a greeting: it invites a real answer. Follow up with แล้วงานล่ะ (and work?) or ยังคบกับต้นอยู่ป่ะ (still seeing Ton?).
Draft: waiting for a native speaker’s review.
Practise this in Reply Thai, coming soon to iPhone.
Thai, literally
Everyday words, read word for word. Once you know a fridge is a “cold cupboard”, you never forget it.
ตู้เย็น
tuu yen
Cold cupboard
ตู้ is a cupboard, เย็น is cold, so the fridge is a “cold cupboard”. The freezer is ช่องแข็ง, “the hard compartment”, and a cash machine is ตู้เอทีเอ็ม, an “ATM cupboard”. Once you know ตู้, you’ll spot cupboards everywhere.
Source · checked 2026-10-12
น้ำแข็ง
naam khaeng
Hard water
Water that has gone hard: น้ำแข็ง, ice. Logical, and very useful in Thailand, where ice goes in your soda, your iced coffee and often your beer. Ask for น้ำแข็งเปล่า and you get a glass of just ice.
Source · checked 2026-10-12
รถไฟ
rot fai
Fire vehicle
รถ is a vehicle, ไฟ is fire. A train is a “fire vehicle”, a name that fits the old steam engines. Bangkok’s Skytrain went one better: รถไฟฟ้า, a “sky-fire vehicle”, because ไฟฟ้า, “sky fire”, is electricity.
Source · checked 2026-10-12
ไข่ดาว
khai daao
Star egg
A fried egg with a whole yolk is ไข่ดาว, a “star egg”. Maybe the yellow centre is the star and the crispy edges are its rays. Put one on rice with holy basil stir-fry and you have a Thai comfort classic: ข้าวกะเพราไข่ดาว.
Source · checked 2026-10-12
ใจเย็น
jai yen
Cool heart
ใจ is heart, เย็น is cool. A cool heart is a calm, patient one, and ใจเย็นๆ, “cool heart, cool heart”, is what you’ll hear when someone means “easy, take it slow”. In a hot country, cool is a compliment.
Source · checked 2026-10-12
น้ำใจ
naam jai
Heart water
น้ำ is water, ใจ is heart. Together they mean kindness nobody asked for: the neighbour who brings fruit, the stranger who walks you to the right bus. มีน้ำใจ, “has heart water”, is one of the warmest things you can say about someone.
Source · checked 2026-10-12
กินเป็นไหม
gin pen mai
“Do you know how to eat?”
Literally “eat, know-how, or not?”. เป็น means you can do something because you’ve learned it, like swimming. So when an aunty asks กินเป็นไหม about durian or fermented fish, she means “Is this food you can handle?”. Answer กินเป็น, “I can”, and watch her smile.
Source · checked 2026-10-12
ม้าลาย
maa laai
Striped horse
ม้า is horse, ลาย is stripes or pattern. A zebra is simply a “striped horse”, and a zebra crossing is ทางม้าลาย, the “striped-horse path”. ลาย turns up elsewhere too: ตาลาย, “striped eyes”, is that dizzy, seeing-spots feeling.
Source · checked 2026-10-12
Reading is the easy part
Saying it out loud, at the right moment, to the right auntie, is the hard part. Reply Thai lets you practise replying to these exact lines, with audio, at your own pace. Nobody is grading you.
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