35 Useful Thai Phrases For Backpackers (Includes Pronunciation!)

Are you looking to enhance your Thailand backpacking experience by learning a few Thai phrases?

Look no further! I have compiled a list of 35 fun yet practical phrases as well as a quick guide to Thai numbers, so you can easily converse (and barter) with the locals you meet during your trip.

To really polish up your Thai language skills, I also have included the English phonetic spelling for each expression. This will help you pronounce the words as accurately as possible and actually be understood by the person you’re speaking to.

At the end of the post, you’ll be able to download a FREE phone wallpaper that includes all my essential Thai phrases. This is an awesome trick I used to have quick access to any vocab I would need and make a greater effort speaking in Thai!

Are you heading to Thailand between November and February? Here’s everything you need to know!

There are so many benefits to learning a few expressions of the local language when travelling around Thailand. To name just a few, learning Thai for backpackers:

• Shows respect and gratitude towards the locals who have welcomed you into their country
• Creates a stronger, more meaningful relationship with the culture and Thai population
• Facilitates independent exploration by providing the tools and confidence to navigate Thailand by yourself
• Reduces travel anxiety (especially for those with dietary requirements) since you can better communicate your needs when ordering food

🗨️ Learning some of the local language is one of my top tips for backpackers! You can check out my other essential travel tips when exploring Southeast Asia here.

When travelling in Thailand, the more you speak to locals, the more you may begin to pick up on the sounds ‘ka’ or ‘kap’ being repeated at the end of sentences.

These words are placed after a statement in the Thai language to sound even more polite to the person you’re speaking to.

Men use kráb (which sounds like ‘kap’), while women use kà (which sounds like ‘ka’).

So if you really want to impress others with your new Thai skills, then get into the habit of ending each sentence with kà/kráb!

1. Sawadee (sah-wah-dee)– Hello/Goodbye

2. Khob Khun Kà/Kráb (kop koon ka/kap)– Thank you

3. Kor Tot (kor thot)– Sorry/ Excuse me

4. Sabai Dee Mai? (sah-bye dee mai)– How are you?

5. Mai Pen Rai (my pen rai)– It’s okay/ No problem

6. Chai (chai)– Yes

7. Mai chai (my chai)– No

8. Phūd p̣hās̄ʹā thịy dị̂ nid h̄ǹxy (poot passah Thai nit noy)– I speak a little bit of Thai

Commonly referred to as the “Land of Smiles,” it comes as no surprise that greetings and politeness are highly valued in Thai culture.

Therefore, as a backpacker, it is essential to have a basic understanding and know some vocabulary that demonstrates your respect towards the country and its people.

For example, when saying hello to someone, use the expression ‘sawadee‘ in combination with the traditional Thai gesture called the ‘wai‘ (similar to the ‘Namaste’ prayer-like gesture) as a simple yet respectful way to greet the other person.

🌿Speaking in Thai is just one of the great ways you can show your respect to Thailand and its people. If you’d like to learn other ways you can make a difference while exploring Thailand, take a look at this post: Eco-Friendly Travel in Thailand for Backpackers [2024]

9. Yuu Tee Nai? (yoo tee nai) – Where is…?

10. Chan Ja Pai… (chan ja pie) – I want to go to…

11. Laew Sai (lay-ew sigh) – Turn left

12. Laew Khwa (lay-ew kwaah) – Turn right

13. Chá chá Kà/Kráb (chaa chaa ka/kap)– Slow down

14. Tee Nee (tee nee) – Here

15. Mâi Kâo-Jai (my cow-jai)– I don’t understand

Having these basic directional phrases in your Thai vocabulary bank can increase your feeling of safety, cultivate a stronger connection via communication with the locals, and avoid any unnecessary conflict.

Being able to ask and understand directions in the local language can ensure that you get to the correct place and allows you to have a little more control over the transport (such as being able to ask a driver to slow down or tell them that you would like to be dropped off in a specific place).

This is particularly useful if you’re travelling to less frequented destinations in Thailand, where the locals may not speak English as fluently!

◼️Recommended: The Ultimate 10-Day Itinerary for Thailand! (For Backpackers)

16. Ao + [dish/drink name] (ow) – I would like…

17. Mai P̄hĕd (my pet) – Not spicy

18. P̄hĕd Māk (pet maa)– Very spicy

19. Nam (nahm) – Water

20. Tao Rai? (tao rye) – How much?

21. Check Bin (chek bin) – Check, please

22. Xr̀xy (aroy)- Delicious

23. Mai Kin Neụ̄̂x Kà/Kráb (my kin noo-ah ka/kap)– I don’t eat meat

24. Kāfæ Yĕn (cafe-eyen)– Iced coffee

25. Mị̀ s̄ı̀ n̂ảtāl (my sigh nampaan)– No sugar please

Not only is it fun to be able to order your meal in Thai but this can be super useful for those with any dietary requirements.

However, it’s important to not rely upon your new language skills alone if you’re trying to communicate about a severe allergy.

As an extra precaution, you can ask a trusted individual to write a short phrase on your notes app to explain your allergy. This way, you should always have this to refer to if your pronunciation is slightly off!

26. Lod Noi Dai Mai? (lod noy dai mai) – Can you lower the price?

27. Phaeng Mak (paeng mahk) – Too expensive

28. Khun Mee… Mai? (koon mee mai) – Do you have…?

29. Mai Ao (my ow) – I don’t want it

30. Sàk Khruu Nà (suk-kroo na) – Just a moment, please

Bartering is a huge part of the Thailand shopping scene and while it can seem daunting or even rude to some tourists, once you become used to the process it can be an enjoyable way to interact with the locals (and get yourself some good deals!).

It’s crucial to understand that you cannot barter or ‘haggle’ everywhere in Thailand:

Generally, you CAN barter at market stalls or sometimes when booking a tour, transport, or service with a local company.

However, you CANNOT usually barter in fixed-priced shops, hotels, restaurants, or supermarkets!

First things first, you must approach the idea of bartering as a fun way to immerse yourself deeper into Thai culture and not as a serious money-saving challenge!

It’s also an excellent way to practice your Thai language skills! Let’s see how we can incorporate some shopping vocabulary into your bartering experience…

You should begin with a smile at the stall owner and use the ‘Sawadee‘ greeting to help set a positive tone for the upcoming negotiation.

Next, ask the stall owner if they can lower the price of the item you’re interested in purchasing by using the phrase ‘Lod Noi Dai Mai?’ (lod noy dai mai).

You can then offer a counter price once the owner has given you an offer. As a good rule of thumb, drop the price by around 50%.

Later on in the post, I will show you how to be able to communicate your price offers in Thai (spoiler alert: Thai numbers are very straightforward!).

Once you have agreed on a price, end the transaction with a smile and a thank you by saying ‘Khob Khun Kà/Kráb’ (kop koon ka/kap).

Tips for bartering successfully:

• Be willing to walk away: sometimes you may not get the price you want and will have to walk away from the negotiation. However, this can work in your favour, as some vendors will lower their prices if you begin to walk away!
• Be polite and stay respectful: Occasionally travellers can find themselves in heated situations when trying to get a discount from stall vendors. Remember that bartering is above all another unforgettable experience to have in Thailand, and a light-hearted approach towards this activity is always best!
• Know when to stop: Knowing when a price is fair and avoiding over-bartering is a great skill to have. It’s easy to keep trying to push down the price however this can often lead to arguments over a small amount. Be mindful of just how much you find yourself haggling over. These small amounts may be substantial profits for some vendors.

31. Chuay Duay! (choo-ay doo-ay) – Help!

32. Pom Jerp / Chan Jerp (pom jerp / chan jerp) – I’m hurt (Male/Female)

33. Rian Dai Mai? (ree-un dye my) – Can you speak English?

34. Rong Phayaban (rong pie-yah-bahn) – Hospital

35. Tamruat (tam-roo-at) – Police

These Thai phrases can literally be LIFE-SAVING, so don’t sleep on them.

If you ever find yourself in an emergency where you need urgent help, your best bet is to use one of these so you can take action and get to safety quickly!

As I mentioned at the beginning of this post, learning the local language of any destination you travel to is a great way to show good manners to the host country and immerse yourself deeper into their culture.

This is one of most favourite tips when travelling in Southeast Asia, so if you enjoyed this post I recommend taking a look at some of my other essential travel tips for backpackers!

It can be daunting trying to learn a new language. To help, I’ve created a couple of colourful phone wallpapers that include all the most important Thai phrases you may need, so you can refer to them with a quick glance.

You can download them for FREE below!

Not only will this dramatically speed up the learning process, but you’ll also impress your friends with your Thai language skills and win over the hearts of the locals!

I hope you find this post useful. Don’t forget to share and save this post for later!

Thank you for reading❤️

This post contains 35 useful Thai phrases and numbers for backpackers.

You may also like:

• The Ultimate 10-Day Itinerary for Thailand! (For Backpackers)
• 12 Essential Tips for Backpackers Travelling Around Southeast Asia
• Eco-Friendly Travel in Thailand for Backpackers [2024]