Thai Phrases for Your Holiday: 50 Essential Sentences

Thai phrases for your holiday are the fastest upgrade you can make to a trip to Thailand — you don't need grammar and you don't need to read the script, you just need the right words in the right order, said with roughly the right tone.

My first trip to Thailand was in 2019. I had learned exactly zero Thai and assumed: "everyone speaks English there, right?" Wrong. In Bangkok you can get by — but in Chiang Rai, on the islands, and at local markets? Not a chance. The taxi driver picking me up from the bus station spoke no English. Neither did the vendor at the night market. And the pharmacist I desperately needed for a bout of food poisoning? Forget it.

You don't need to be fluent for a holiday — but with 50 well-chosen phrases you can handle a surprisingly large range of tourist situations. And here's the thing: Thai people genuinely appreciate the effort. The smiles you get back are worth every minute of practice.

All phrases in this article use Paiboon+ romanization with tone markers. The male ending (ครับ/khráp) appears first; women replace it with ค่ะ/khâ.

The 50 phrases below are grouped by real situation — greetings, taxis, restaurants, shops, hotels and emergencies — so you can jump straight to the section you need instead of scrolling through a random list. Each entry shows the meaning, the romanization with tone marks, and the Thai script itself, so you can start recognising the real spelling even before you can read it fluently.

Basic greetings (1-8)

Use these all day, every day. Learn these first — they open doors. For a deeper dive into greetings, read our article on the meaning of sawasdee.

2. Hello — sawàtdii khráp/khâ — สวัสดีครับ/ค่ะ

4. Thank you — khàwp khun khráp/khâ — ขอบคุณครับ/ค่ะ

6. Sorry / excuse me — khǎaw thôot khráp/khâ — ขอโทษครับ/ค่ะ

8. Yes — châi khráp/khâ — ใช่ครับ/ค่ะ

10. No — mâi châi khráp/khâ — ไม่ใช่ครับ/ค่ะ

12. No problem / never mind — mâi bpen rai — ไม่เป็นไร

14. I don't understand — mâi khâo jai — ไม่เข้าใจ

16. Do you speak English? — phûut aangkrìt dâi mái? — พูดอังกฤษได้ไหม?

Notice the khráp / khâ at the end of many phrases in this list. These are politeness particles, not translatable words on their own — men add khráp and women add khâ to almost any sentence to sound polite. Dropping them isn't wrong, but including them makes you sound noticeably more courteous, and Thai people notice immediately. For the full rules on when and how to use them, see our guide to khráp vs khâ.

Transport: taxis, tuk-tuks and Grab (9-18)

Transport is where numbers matter most. Negotiating fares, stating destinations, asking whether the meter is running — it all adds up. Brush up on Thai numbers before you go.

1. I want to go to... — yàak bpai... — อยากไป...

2. How much is it? — tâo-rài khráp/khâ? — เท่าไหร่ครับ/ค่ะ?

3. Too expensive! — phɛɛng bpai! — แพงไป!

4. Can you use the meter? — chái mítdtəə dâi mái? — ใช้มิเตอร์ได้ไหม?

5. Stop here please — jàwt thîi nîi khráp/khâ — จอดที่นี่ครับ/ค่ะ

6. Turn left — líiao sáai — เลี้ยวซ้าย

7. Turn right — líiao khwǎa — เลี้ยวขวา

8. Go straight — dtrong bpai — ตรงไป

9. Is it far? — klai mái? — ไกลไหม?

10. I want to get off here — khǎaw long thîi nîi — ขอลงที่นี่

Not every ride works the same way. Metered taxis (marked TAXI-METER) are the cheapest and most predictable option in Bangkok — always ask for the meter with phrase 12 before you get in. Tuk-tuks and motorbike taxis almost never use a meter, so agree on the price with phrase 10 before you climb aboard, and be ready to push back with phrase 11 if it sounds inflated. Ride-hailing apps like Grab show the fare upfront, which sidesteps the whole negotiation — handy on days when your Thai, or your patience, is running low.

• Have your destination written down — showing an address or hotel name on your phone avoids pronunciation mistakes entirely.

• Small bills help — drivers outside malls and hotels often can't break a 1,000-baht note.

• A polite refusal is normal — if a driver quotes a price you don't like, phrase 11 plus walking toward another taxi usually gets a better offer.

Eating & drinking (19-30)

Thailand is a culinary paradise — but only if you can order. These phrases will carry you through any restaurant, food court, or street stall. For the full guide, check out our article on ordering food in Thai.

1. I'd like this — khǎaw an níi — ขออันนี้

2. Not spicy — mâi phèt — ไม่เผ็ด

3. A little spicy — phèt nít-nɔ̀ɔi — เผ็ดนิดหน่อย

4. Delicious! — arɔ̀i! — อร่อย!

5. The bill please — chék bin khráp/khâ — เช็คบิลครับ/ค่ะ

6. Plain water please — khǎaw náam plào — ขอน้ำเปล่า

7. With ice — sài náam khɛ̌ɛng — ใส่น้ำแข็ง

8. No sugar — mâi sài náam dtaan — ไม่ใส่น้ำตาล

9. I'm vegetarian — phǒm/chǎn gin jee — ผม/ฉัน กินเจ

10. No MSG — mâi sài phǒng chuurót — ไม่ใส่ผงชูรส

11. Same again please — khǎaw mʉ̌ʉan dəəm — ขอเหมือนเดิม

12. To take away — klàp bâan — กลับบ้าน (literally: "going home")

Thai food is built around balancing sweet, sour, salty and spicy — and "spicy" in a local dish can be genuinely hot, even by Thai standards, let alone a Western one. Phrase 20 (mâi phèt) is one of the most useful phrases in this entire list; don't be shy about using it, even if the vendor smiles and warns you it will taste bland. You can always add chili yourself afterwards — the little dishes of dried chili flakes and fish-sauce-chili on the table are there for exactly that.

Shopping & bargaining (31-38)

1. How much is this? — nîi tâo-rài? — นี่เท่าไหร่?

2. Can you lower the price? — lót dâi mái? — ลดได้ไหม?

3. Just looking — duu chəəi chəəi — ดูเฉยๆ

4. Do you have a bigger size? — mii sài yài gwàa mái? — มีไซส์ใหญ่กว่าไหม?

5. I'll take it — ao an níi — เอาอันนี้

6. No thank you — mâi ao khráp/khâ — ไม่เอาครับ/ค่ะ

7. Do you accept cards? — ráp bàt khree-dìt mái? — รับบัตรเครดิตไหม?

8. Do you have change? — mii ngəən thɔɔn mái? — มีเงินทอนไหม?

Bargaining is expected in markets and with street vendors, but not in malls, convenience stores, or anywhere with a fixed price tag — trying to haggle there mostly just causes confusion. A friendly rule of thumb: counter-offer at roughly 50-60% of the asking price and settle somewhere in the middle, always with a smile — phrase 33 is your polite exit line if you decide not to buy after all. Getting a big discount matters less than staying relaxed and good-humoured about it; vendors respond far better to friendliness than to a hard stare.

Hotel & accommodation (39-44)

1. Do you have any rooms available? — mii hɔ̂ɔng wâang mái? — มีห้องว่างไหม?

2. How much per night? — khʉʉn lá tâo-rài? — คืนละเท่าไหร่?

3. A room with air conditioning please — khǎaw hɔ̂ɔng ɛɛ — ขอห้องแอร์

4. What's the Wi-Fi password? — khǎaw rá-hàt waai-faai — ขอรหัสไวไฟ

5. I'd like to check out — chék-áo khráp/khâ — เช็คเอาท์ครับ/ค่ะ

6. The air conditioning isn't working — ɛɛ mâi tham-ngaan — แอร์ไม่ทำงาน

Check-in in Thailand almost always requires your passport, and many guesthouses ask for a small cash deposit for the key or the air-con remote, refunded at checkout. Phrase 40 is worth asking even after you've booked online, since walk-in and low-season rates can be lower than what you already paid on a booking site. If anything breaks — and phrase 44 covers the most common complaint, a dead air conditioner — reporting it early with a smile gets it fixed far faster than waiting until checkout to mention it.

Emergencies & health (45-50)

Hopefully you'll never need these — but if you do, you'll be glad you learned them. The Foreign Service Institute (FSI) recommends that emergency vocabulary should be among the first things any language learner acquires.

1. Help! — chûuai dûuai! — ช่วยด้วย!

2. I'm not feeling well — mâi sabai — ไม่สบาย

3. I need a doctor — dtɔ̂ɔng-gaan mɔ̌ɔ — ต้องการหมอ

4. Where is the hospital? — roong-phayaabaan yùu thîi nǎi? — โรงพยาบาลอยู่ที่ไหน?

5. I'm allergic to... — phǒm/chǎn phɛ́ɛ... — ผม/ฉัน แพ้...

6. Please call the police — chûuai rîiak dtam-rùuat — ช่วยเรียกตำรวจ

Beyond the phrases themselves, it's worth memorising Thailand's emergency numbers before you need them: 191 for police, 1669 for medical emergencies and ambulance, and 1155 for the Tourist Police, who handle everything from theft reports to translation help and speak English. Save all three in your phone, along with your accommodation's address written in Thai — most drivers and passers-by can read a written address far more reliably than they can understand a spoken one.

• Travel insurance matters more than any phrase on this list — confirm you have it before you ever need phrase 47.

• Pharmacies are everywhere, and staff often speak some English for common ailments; save the more serious cases for a hospital.

• Bigger hospitals in tourist areas (Bangkok, Phuket, Chiang Mai) usually have English-speaking staff, so phrase 48 is mainly for finding your way there.

Practical tips for your trip

1. Screenshot this list — or save the article offline. Markets don't always have Wi-Fi.

2. Practice the tones — these phrases only sound right when the tones are correct. Start with the 5 Thai tones.

3. Always smile — Thailand is the "Land of Smiles" for good reason. A smile with your imperfect Thai makes all the difference.

4. Master numbers first — if you only practice one thing, learn numbers 1-100. You'll use them everywhere.

FAQ

How much Thai do I need for a trip?

The 50 phrases in this article will handle 90% of typical tourist situations. You don't need grammar rules or the ability to read Thai script. Focus on pronunciation and correct tones — that makes far more difference than a large vocabulary with poor pronunciation. Read more about how long it takes to learn Thai.

Don't people in Thailand speak English?

In tourist-heavy Bangkok, Phuket, and Koh Samui you can get pretty far with English. But the moment you venture off the beaten path — local markets, bus journeys, smaller towns — English becomes limited. And even where English is spoken, your experience changes dramatically when you try Thai. Locals treat you as a guest rather than just another tourist.

What's the fastest way to learn these phrases?

Spaced repetition is the most effective method. At Pasaa you practice exactly this kind of practical phrase with native audio, tone recognition, and an algorithm that tracks what you know and what needs review.

What's the difference between khráp and khâ?

khráp is used by men and khâ by women — both are politeness particles added to the end of a sentence, not full words with their own meaning. You'll see khráp/khâ throughout this list, for example in phrase 1 (sawàtdii khráp/khâ); use whichever matches you and you'll sound polite in almost any situation. See our full breakdown of khráp vs khâ for more detail.

Do I need to bargain everywhere?

No — only in markets, with street vendors, and with unmetered transport like tuk-tuks. Malls, convenience stores, supermarkets and most restaurants have fixed prices, and attempting to negotiate there will just confuse the cashier. When in doubt, look for a price tag: if you see one, the price is fixed.

What should I do in a real emergency?

Call 191 for police, 1669 for medical emergencies, or 1155 for the Tourist Police, who speak English and can help with almost anything a tourist runs into. Phrases 45-50 in this article cover the most useful things to say while you wait for help to arrive.

Start today

Your trip will be twice as rewarding when you can speak even a handful of Thai phrases. And the good news: you need less than you think. Try a free lesson and practice the most important phrases with audio and interactive exercises. Or create a free account and build your vocabulary at your own pace.