Getting around Thailand
Although English and other European languages are spoken and understood (English being most commonly used), Thai people predominantly speak only Thai. Numerous language books of a small and useful nature are available in book shops in Bangkok, particularly in tourist-frequented places, and it is advisable, not to mention fun, to try speaking a bit of Thai when you are a visitor in the country.
Something to note language-wise is that when speaking Thai, it is important to finish every sentence with the small polite words, "krup" when a speaker is a male or "kha" when the speaker is female. In Thai, the pronoun "I" is covered by the word "Pom" for a male speaker and "Chan" for a female speaker. Some useful vocabulary is listed as follows:
Hello. Sawaddee (krup/kha)
(This word is used when meeting for the first time in the day or it can be used for good morning, good afternoon, good evening and goodbye)
How are you? Sa bai dee mai (krup/kha)?
I am fine. Sa bai dee (krup/kha)
Can you help me? Chuay noi, die mai (krup/kha)?
Thank you Khob khun (krup/kha)
Where is ____________? _______________you nae (krup/kha)?
Hotel (rong rem)
Restaurant (ran aaa han)
Toilet (hong nam)
Bus Terminal (satani road)
Bus Stop (pai rod may)
Train Station (sa ta ni rod fai )
Floating Market (ta rad nam)
Taxi (road taxi)
Bus (road may)
(Always say the word "road" very quickly)
Where are you going? Cha pai nai rou (krup/kha)?
How much? Ra ka thaw rai (krup/kha)?
That's too expensive. Paeng marg pi (krup/kha)
Please give me a discount. Lod noi die mai (krup/kha)
