🗣️ Basic Greetings
| English | Thai | Pronunciation | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hello (male speaker) | สวัสดีครับ | Sawasdee krub | "sah-wah-dee krup" |
| Hello (female speaker) | สวัสดีค่ะ | Sawasdee ka | "sah-wah-dee kah" |
a bit more
- na krub - please
- Khop khun krub - thank you
🍽️ Core Food Words
| English | Thai | Pronunciation | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | ไก่ | gai ("guy") | Your go-to meat |
| Pork | หมู | moo ("moo") | (Yes, like a cow sound) |
| Beef | เนื้อ | neua ("nuh-ah") | Use if you want beef |
| Steamed White Rice | ข้าวสวย | khao suay ("cow soo-ay") | Literally "beautiful rice" |
🌶️ Spice Control
| English | Thai | Pronunciation | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spicy | เผ็ด | phet ("pet") | Basic "spicy" |
| A little spicy | เผ็ดนิดหน่อย | phet nit noi ("pet nit noy") | Just a touch |
| Very spicy | เผ็ดมาก | phet mak ("pet mahk") | Watch out 🔥 |
| Two stars (safe level) | สองดาว | song dao ("song dow") | Safer starting point |
| Mild | "Phet nit noi" ("pet nit noy") | A little spicy. | |
| Medium (safe) | "Song dao" ("song dow") | Two stars. | |
| Very Spicy | "Phet mak" ("pet mahk") | Be careful! |
🍴 Asking for Spice Tray (Customize Seasoning)
| Situation | What to Say | Pronunciation | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ask for spice tray (basic) | "Do you have a kruang prung?" | "do you have a kroo-ang proong?" | Mix English + Thai naturally. |
| Ask for spice tray (polite) | "Kruang prung dai mai?" | "kroo-ang proong dai mai?" | More polite (optional). |
| Ask for dried chili powder | "Can I have prik pon?" | "can I have prik pon?" (pon rhymes with "gone") | Dried crushed chilies. |
| Ask for chilies in fish sauce | "Can I have prik naam plaa?" | "can I have prik nahm plah?" | Chilies floating in fish sauce. |
| Thai Word | Meaning | Pronunciation | Extra Tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| kruang prung (เครื่องปรุง) | seasoning set / spice tray | "kroo-ang proong" | Stretch it a little: "kroo-ANG proong" |
| prik pon (พริกป่น) | dry chili powder | "prik pon" (pon rhymes with "gone") | Easy and common. |
| prik naam plaa (พริกน้ำปลา) | chilies in fish sauce | "prik nahm plah" | "naam" sounds like "palm" |
📝 Example Orders
-
"Pad kra pao moo, khao suay, song dao."
(Basil pork stir fry with rice, medium spice.) -
"Gaeng keow wan gai, khao suay, song dao."
(Green curry chicken, white rice, medium spice.)- "Gaeng" = Curry
- "Keow" = Green
- "Wan" = Sweet
- "Daeng" = Red
- "Karee" = Curry (borrowed from "curry" English/Indian influence)
- "Massaman" = Muslim-style curry
-
"Pad thai gai, song dao."
(Chicken Pad Thai, medium spice.)