common thai phrases
 

I'll be stopping in Bangkok for a night in November- staying at the New Siam 2 Guest House in BKK. I know from reading posts on here that you can get by speaking only English-- BUT, I would still like to know some commonly used phrases in Thai (spelled phonetically also if possible).
I will be taking an airport limo, eating at a restaurant and maybe walking through one of the markets. I want to make as much of an effort as possible
If any of you BKK pros can assist, I would be grateful:)

sa-wad-dee = hello
aa-roy = tasty
sa-nook = fun
kop-khun-khrup = thank you
su-uay = beautiful
sa-bye-dee = im fine

Just remember that to be polite Men should use Khrap and the end of a sentence or phrase and that Women should use Kaa.

So for Men

kop-khun-khrap = thank you

for Women

kop-khun-kaa = thank you

thow rye kha/khrap?
(how much?)

lort dye ma kha/khrap?
(can you give a discount?)

check bin kha/khrap!
Bill please!

so the kaa\khrap is in regards to who is speaking?-- or who is being spoken to?

It's in regard to who is speaking. (It took me a while to get that straight, too!)

This is a great site to learn a few phrases and words:

http://www.learningthai.com/

Keep in mind that many places/words that are one thing or place have a different spelling. This is due to the fact that the Thai language doesn't use the western alphabet.

I have been listening to Thai language tapes off and on since my trip in Feb of this year. It is a tonal lanuage and one of the most difficult languages I have attempted to learn.

Faces will light up with delight at your effort!

Have a nice trip!

Thai language is difficult to transliterate into English and you lose the tones as well. You'll notice many different spelling for similar words - such as "Krap" vs. "Kop"

Links to lots of audio on line for Thai are at:

http://phuketdelight.com/Language.htm

You will find Thais quite forgiving of your errors and they often pick up your meaning by context.

Also rahn ahan = restaurant and talart = market. However the one I really need to know is ...hong nahm you tee nigh? = where is the toilet? followed of course by krup or kah depending on your gender.

Careful on this one:
su-uay = beautiful
Said in a rising tone it does mean beautiful.

Otherwiwise it means unlucky or bad omen.

May I add MAI PHET = not spicey

I use the website "learning thai" suggested by Eurotraveller - its really good because it has sound as well as phonetic spelling so you get a much better idea. I can't say much in Thai but I can make myself understood because at least the words come out something like the sound on that website - before I really couldn't get the sounds right at all. Only problem is when I get it pretty close I get an answer back in Thai at a million miles an hour so I then have to work that out!!!

"May I add MAI PHET = not spicey"

Or if you like it spicy:
pet noy = A little spicy ( in actuality very spicy for most tastes )
pet pet = rather spicey
pet mahk ( or pet mahk mahk ) = very spicy..... and then when they serve you the waiters will watch you with horror to see if you keel over from the spice :)

Some more:
sa-bai-dee mai = How are you?
mai ow = I don't want it or I'm not interested
khun chuu a-rai = What is your name?
pom chuu XXX = My name is XXX.
naam = Water
hawng naam = Bathroom
nit noi = little bit
khun puut paasaa angrit dai mai = Can you speak English?

And if you really want to impress a Thai and see his or her face light up ( or start laughing uncontrollably if you mess it up )
yin-dee-tee-dai-ruu-jak = Nice to meet you.

You are right, in BKK, it really isn't necessary to speak any Thai, but it is fun to try a little and the Thais get a hoot out of it. :)

Left out one very important phrase:
Mai mee tang
I don't have any money (to buy your temple bell, massage, etc.)

I found these notes from my Thai evening classes:

Any chance of an upgrade please?

-Mai sahp wah pom ja bplien chun tee nung dai mai krup?

Can I have large bottle of Singha?
Kor bi a sing koo-at yai, krap
(yai = large lek = small)

Check please - Chek bin dooay (upmarket) or at a street stall - gep dtung

How are you doing? bpen yung ngai bahng krap? - much less formal than sabai de mai

and my favourite:
Mai sahp wah pom ja bplien chun tee nung dai mai krup? -
Can I have an upgrade please!!

If you are interested in learning a little Thai, a good place to start is http://langhub.com

It has lots of info for beginners and Thai travellers.

What about the other essentials such as:
- yes and no
- thank you
- please
- sorry, excuse me
- good morning, afternoon and good noght
- bye bye
- can you take me to XXXX

yes and no - not often used in Thai. krap (kaa for a female) is usually used to signify agreement or yes to most questions. Bplao is no, mai -not as in @mai ao krap@ = "I don't'want"
- thank you = korp khun krap / korp khun mahk = thanks very much
- please = garuna
- sorry, excuse me = kor Tort
- good morning, afternoon and good noght = Sawatdee krap
- bye bye = La gorn
- can you take me to XXXX = bpai xxx mai krap

How about.......

well done.
As in "well done chicken, or well done eggs."
Thanks

Well done chicken = Kor Gai Suk Suk
Well done eggs = Kor Kia Suk Suk

I grew up with a thai best friend and learned enough on the language along the way, but as was pointed out before it is a tonal language and my tone is all screwed up!!!! As in the thank you very much that crellston pointed out, when I say it the mahk part always comes out wrong, Tong really laughed when I said it because i actually said i was stingy/selfish. But it was still fun to get the strange looks from the Thai people when I tried to speak my americanized Thai.

Another good one is mai pen rai, which is used for several purposes such as your welcome, it's ok and no problem. It is similar to the spansih "de nada", for those of you who know some Spanish.