Speaking Thai
Most of the Thai people that you meet in Koh Chang will be able to speak at least a little English. However they will be happy if you make an effort to talk to them in their own tongue.
This can be tricky: Thai has sounds you probably haven’t heard before and is a tonal language so the same sound can mean different things. For example Mai mai mai mai mai, said with the correct tones, means “The new wood doesn’t burn does it?”. But don’t be put off, a few basic Thai words and phrases can get you a long way. Below are a few of these basics.
To be polite men say Krap and women say Ka at the end of any sentence.
some useful words and phrases.
Hello................................... Sawat Di Krap/Ka
Goodbye............................. Lar Gorn
Thank you............................ Korp Kun Krap / Ka
Yes.................................... Shai
No..................................... Mai
Thai doesn’t have literal words for yes or no but you’ll be understood if you use the words above.
One.................................. Neung
Two................................... Sawng
Three................................. Sam
Four .................................. See
Five................................... Har
Six..................................... Hok
Seven................................. Jet
Eight (difficult!)..................... Bpet
Nine................................... Gao
Ten.................................... Sip
Twenty................................ Yee Sip
Thirty................................. Sam Sip
One Hundred......................... Neung Roy
One Thousand........................ Neung Pan
How Much?........................... Tao Rai
Expensive....................... ..... Paeng
Cheap............................ ... Took
Attractive/Beautiful.............. Sa-Why
Handsome........................... Lor
Delicious............................ Arroy
Most Thais use the letter ‘L’ instead of ‘R’ so, for example, arroy above becomes alloy in speech.
Hot (Heat).......................... Rawn
Hot (Spicy food).................... Pet
Police................................ Tamruat
Hospital.............................. Long Payar Barn
This................................... Nee
Day................................. Wan
Today............................... Wan Nee
Tomorrow............................ Ploong Nee
Yesterday........................... Mer Wan
Second.............................. Wee Natee
Minute.............................. Natee
Hour................................. Chuamong
Fun................................... Sanuk
Good / Bad........................... Dee / Mai Dee
Big / Small............................. Yai / Lek
Come / Go............................ Mar / Bai
Where are you Going?............... Bai Nai?
What?................................ A Rai?
Where?............................... Tee Nai?
When?................................ Meu Rai?
How?................................. Yanglai?
Why?................................. Tammai?
Can you help me?......................Chuay Dai Mai?
