THAILAND LANGUAGE – Introduction to Street Thai
If you love Thailand then learning language is something you should consider diving into it with both feet. The Thailand language is like a soft breeze or a gentle song to my ears. I have been speaking the Thai since the mid 1980’s and it forms part of my everyday life. My wife and I have always spoken Thai and Meung, the northern Thai dialect at home. We watch Thai as well as Lao videos on YouTube daily and as frustrating as it may be for my family we when I first encountered Thailand. Let me share you the street level Thai which will be useful and get you on your way.
Greeting a Thai Friend
Greeting your Thai friends and family is a beautiful and simple phrase in the Thai Language. Its always important to take not if it’s a male or female speaker as they end differently. Men end a sentence in Krup and Ladies Kar! Its like a spoken full stop if you like.
SAWASDEE KRUP – Hello (Male)
SAWASDEE KAR – Hello (Female)
You can easily ask your friends how they are with this simple line. The MAI at the end means its a question. Yes its a spoken question mark (?)
How are YOU?
SABAI DEE MAI? – How Are You?
The Reply is as simple: Sabai DEE – (I’m Fine/OK)
If your friend isn’t well they well say MAI Sabai – Im not well.
The MAI in front of a word makes it a negative.
So Sabai = well then becomes Not well with MAI in front – Mai Sabai.
I hope this little beginning to nearly every conversation gets you started on the journey. I intend to keep the Thai Language basic and practical for a new speaker.
You make Thai people so happy just giving it a try so please have some fun.
Thailand Language and Age – PEE vs NORNG
Thailand is very age sensitive and even in language titles of people are relevant to their age compared to you.
There is a number of terms used to represent people depending on their age as well as status.
Norng is used for children, mainly shows who is younger than you or another child.
PEE is used for child who is older than another no matter by how much.
If your child is called JOHN then a younger person addresses John will refer to him as PEE John. (Pee = OLDER)
When a person is older than John they will refer to him as Norng John. (NORNG = YOUNGER)
Thailand Language – The Family
Thai people don’t generally use their given names. They are given a nickname when born and that’s what everyone uses. If your a dad or a mum you get dad or mum put in front of your name. If your an uncle or aunty then you get that put in front of your name. The theme continues with grandparents as well.
EXAMPLES: Ill Use Jack and Jill as example names for you.)
Those that are parents. PAW JACK – MEH JILL
If your an uncle or Aunty LOONG JACK – PAR JILL
Grandparents are called: DAR JACK – PAR JILL
Nephew and Nieces are referred to as Lahn if your talking about them but not to them.
You refer to them as Lahn Chai – Nephew & Lahn Sow is Niece.
Thailand Gestures and Language- Come Here & Go Away
Thailand has many hand gestures that are different to western ones. The come here please in the west is hand/fingers up with a beckoning motion. In Thailand this is a rude way to beckon and you should do it with your fingers towards the ground.
Ma Tee Nee Krup/Kar “Please come here.
Koon Ma Tee Nee Leow Leow “You! Come here quickly!
If you reverse the action it is then go away! This is useful if your being bothered in the market or by taxi drivers in tourist areas. This isn’t a big issue generally but this is what you can say.
Pie – Go away (Not rude)
Pie Leow Leow – Go away (Quickly) A more forceful approach.
Thailand Language – I want it – I Don’t Want It
Its pretty important to either accept or reject an offer of food or a dink as well as a taxi ride is pretty important. It is also like many things in Thai Language short and to the point.
If someone offers you something you would like you can simply say: Ow Kup/KAR
Alternatively if someone offers you something you don’t want you simply say: Mai Ow Kup/Kar.
The “Mai” makes it a negative and can be used It can be used with any word to make it a negative.
I don’t want to eat it. – Mai Yark Kin (Kup/Kar) – I want to eat it. – Yark Kin
I don’t want to go! – Mai Yark Pai (Kup/Kar) – I want to go. – Yark Pai
Consolidation : Lets use what we have learnt so far!
Her If you have a friend you can practice a basic greeting and conversation.
Lets have a male meet a lady and ask her if she would like something to eat. This is a very Thai thing to do. Anytime you are eating and someone passes by it is customary to invite them to eat with you. They rarely do but if they are family they just may sit down with you. That’s just fine in Thailand.
Greeting: Male (Adult) to Female Child:
1. Sawasdee Krup – Norng Jill. (A) Sawasdee Kar Pee Jack
2. Are You HUNGRY? HUE Kow Mai? Im not hungry (thank you). Mai Hugh Kar.
3. Are you THIRSTY? HUE Narm mai? – Yes I am THIRSTY
You may notice that Hungry/Thirsty are the same word and specified by the following word Kow = food and NARM = Water/Drink.
What’s Next – Counting and More
The Thai Language is beautiful and I would love to help you get there a step at a time. If we go through the essential basic conversation your Thai will blossom fast. If you have someone to practice with is best so you can act out the conversations I include. If you have Thai friend or are planning to go to Thailand then you will be ready to impress everyone once your there.
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