Important Thai phrases for tourists

Here's what to say in some of the most common situations

Content

Really important: polite particles

Do you speak English?

I don't understand

Not spicy, please

Don't add MSG, please

No bag, please

Where is the toilet?

Sorry/Excuse me

No worries/everything is ok

Lingo Ninja Research Team

3 min read · first published April 12, 2021 · last update April 14, 2021

Really important: polite particles

Thailand is known for the politeness of its people - as illustrated by its moniker "Land of Smiles". The easiest way to be polite is to use polite particles, most commonly and . There are other particles, but and are the most important ones. Let me again emphasise this point: Please use polite particles. If you don't use them you might sound slightly rude.
Depending on your sex, you always use a certain particle at the end of the sentence. Just to be clear, as this is different from many other languages: the ending you use does not depend on whom you are talking to, but which sex you are.

women always say
men always say

Hello / Goodbye

Women say:
Men say:

Thais use this as a general greeting in every situation. They don't say "Good Morning", "Good Evening", etc. Just use / for all of these. If you want more information on Thai greetings, we have written an entire article about this topic.

Thank you

Women say:
Men say:

You can read about other ways to say thank you in this article.

I want this

Women say:
Men say:

Literally "want piece this". You usually don't say "I" in Thai.

I don't want (this)

Women say:
Men say:

Literally "not want". If you want to specify what exactly, you can say / and point to the object. But Thais usually leave "this one" out, if it can be understood from the context.

How much is it?

Women say:
Men say:

Just hold the item or point to the item while you ask.

Calling the Waiter

Women say: (nong ka)
Men say: (nong krab)

means "you" for a younger person, but is also used for people that serve you. Don't worry, using is perfectly polite, even if the waiter is older than you and you are in a fancy restaurant.

Do you speak English?

Women say:
Men say:

means English, but also England. You are literally asking "You speak language England can?"

I don't understand

Women say:
Men say:

means "no" or "not". means "to understand"

Not spicy, please

Women say:
Men say:

means "no" or "not". means "spicy"

Don't add MSG, please

Women say:
Men say:

MSG is . means to add or put something. means "no" or "not".

No bag, please

Women say:
Men say:

means a bag. means to add or put something. means "no" or "not". Thailand is flooded with plastic bags. Major shops stopped offering bags in 2020, but especially street food vendors still pack everything in bags. Please help reduce waste and reject bags whenever possible.

Where is the toilet?

Women say:
Men say:

is water, so you are literally asking "water-room is where?"

Sorry/Excuse me

Women say:
Men say:

You normally say this when you did something wrong. It literally translates to "please punish".

No worries/everything is ok

Women say: (mai ben rai ka)
Men say: (mai ben rai krab)

Literally "Not is anything". You use this when people offer you goods and don't want them. You can also use it if someone bumps into you and asks if you are ok.