Useful Thai Phrases for Indian Travellers

A handful of Thai phrases makes travel easier and warmer. Learn "sawasdee" (hello) and "khop khun" (thank you), adding "khrap" if you are a man or "kha" if you are a woman, plus vegetarian requests such as "kin jay" and "mai sai nam pla" (no fish sauce), numbers for markets, and a few taxi phrases. A smile and a polite tone matter more than perfect pronunciation.

Thai is a tonal language, and its script is unfamiliar, but you do not need fluency to travel well. Thai people appreciate any effort, and a few phrases help with food, shopping and directions. This guide gives practical phrases in simple romanised spelling, with tips for vegetarian and Jain travellers.

Essential phrases

Polite particles

Thai speakers add "khrap" (men) or "kha" (women) at the end of sentences to sound polite, for example "khop khun khrap" or "khop khun kha". Using them in every phrase is the easiest way to sound courteous, even if the rest of your Thai is basic.

Greetings and the wai

The wai, pressing palms together near the chest and bowing slightly, is the traditional greeting, similar to namaste. Return a wai when given one, especially by older people. You do not need to wai shop staff or children; a smile and a nod are enough.

Vegetarian and Jain phrases

"Kin jay" means eating jay food, a Buddhist vegetarian diet without meat, fish, eggs, dairy, garlic or onion, which suits many Jain travellers. "Mai kin nuea sat" means "I do not eat meat"; "mai sai nam pla" means "no fish sauce"; "mai sai kapi" means "no shrimp paste"; "mai sai kai" means "no egg". Look for yellow flags with red letters marking jay food stalls. Our vegetarian street food guide has more.

Ordering food

Useful food phrases include "mai phet" (not spicy), "phet nit noi" (a little spicy), "aroi" (delicious), "chek bin" (the bill, please) and "nam plao" (plain water). Pointing at pictures on menus works well too.

Numbers

• 1 to 5: nueng, song, sam, si, ha
• 6 to 10: hok, chet, paet, kao, sip
• 20: yee sip
• 100: nueng roi
• 1,000: nueng phan

Market phrases

"Tao rai?" asks how much. "Paeng mak" means very expensive, and "lot dai mai?" asks if a discount is possible. Bargain politely and with a smile in markets; prices in malls are fixed. Our Bangkok shopping guide has tips.

Taxi and directions phrases

"Pai ... " means "go to ...", followed by the place name. "Chuay peut meter" asks the driver to use the meter. "Jod tee nee" means "stop here". Carry your hotel's name and address written in Thai, as drivers may not recognise English names.

Phrases for help

"Chuay duay" means "help". "Mai sabai" means "I am not well". "Rong phayaban" means hospital. The Tourist Police helpline 1155 has English-speaking staff.

A note on tones

Thai has five tones, and the same syllable can mean different things depending on the tone. Do not worry about getting them perfect; context, a smile and gestures usually make your meaning clear.

Translation apps

Translation apps with camera and voice features help with menus, signs and conversations. Download Thai for offline use before you travel.

Reading signs

Thai script is unfamiliar to most Indian travellers, but major signs in Bangkok, airports and tourist areas are in English too. Learning to recognise the word for toilet or exit is a fun extra.

Culture and courtesy

Thai culture values calm, politeness and avoiding loss of face. Speak softly, avoid raising your voice, and smile even when things go wrong. Our temple etiquette guide covers customs at religious sites.

For families

Children enjoy learning "sawasdee" and "khop khun", and Thai people often respond warmly. A few phrases can turn a simple purchase into a friendly exchange.

At restaurants

Useful restaurant phrases include "kho menu" (the menu, please), "ao nee" (I will have this), "mai ao" (I do not want it), "kho nam plao" (plain water, please) and "kho chek bin" (the bill, please). Waiters are used to tourists pointing at menus, which is perfectly polite.

At hotels

Hotel staff usually speak English, but "hong" (room), "kunjae" (key) and "khop khun" (thank you) are handy. Ask reception to write your hotel's address in Thai for taxi drivers.

At shops and 7-Eleven

Convenience stores such as 7-Eleven are everywhere. Staff may ask "ao toong mai?" (do you want a bag?); answer "ao" (yes) or "mai ao" (no). "Tao rai?" (how much?) works anywhere.

A sample vegetarian note

Many travellers save a short note in Thai on their phones. In English it reads: "I am vegetarian. I do not eat meat, chicken, fish, seafood or egg. Please do not use fish sauce, oyster sauce or shrimp paste. Thank you." Jain travellers can add: "No onion, no garlic, no potato, no carrot." Ask your hotel to write it in Thai, or use a translation app and check it with staff, as small errors change the meaning.

Pronunciation tips

Thai words are easier when you keep them short and relaxed. "Khop khun" sounds like "kop-koon"; "sawasdee" like "sa-wat-dee"; "mai" is short and flat. Do not worry about tones at first; Thai people are patient and will often help you.

Emergencies

In an emergency, call 1155 for the Tourist Police, 1669 for medical emergencies or 191 for the police. Hotel staff can help with calls and translation.

Learning before you go

Spend ten minutes a day for a week before the trip practising greetings, thank you and vegetarian phrases with an app or video.

Next steps

Read our vegetarian street food guide and vegetarian and Jain food in Thailand, or see our Bangkok page.

A BagPackerMe planner can plan your Thailand trip privately, with one named planner, WhatsApp support throughout and vegetarian and Jain food planned in.

Your questions, answered

How do you say hello in Thai?

Say "sawasdee" followed by "khrap" if you are a man or "kha" if you are a woman: "sawasdee khrap" or "sawasdee kha". It is often said with a wai, palms pressed together.

How do I say I am vegetarian in Thai?

Say "kin jay" for Buddhist vegetarian food without meat, fish, eggs, dairy, garlic or onion, or "mai kin nuea sat" for "I do not eat meat". Add "mai sai nam pla" for "no fish sauce".

What do khrap and kha mean?

They are polite particles added at the end of sentences: "khrap" for male speakers and "kha" for female speakers. They make any phrase more polite.

Do Thai people speak English?

In hotels, malls and tourist areas, many people speak some English. In markets, small restaurants and taxis, a few Thai words and a translation app help.