“Sawatdee”: The invented Thai greeting . Did you know the famous Thai greeting “Sawatdee” was invented only in the 1930s?
A wai is a form of communication and a customary greeting in Thailand. Essentially, the palms of the hands are momentarily pressed together in a prayer-like gesture with fingers pointing upwards, usually close to the chest, and the head slightly bowed.
2. Kap khun krap/ka: Thank You. A polite thank you is a lovely way to leave a restaurant or show appreciation in any place – for this you can say kap khun krap/ka.
Other greetings in Thai
If you're on a beach, swinging in a hammock with a cold beer in your hand and the sound of the waves lapping the shore then you are likely to be 'sabai jai' which means that you are contented or at ease ('sabai' translates as comfortable).
The Rule: If you are male, you end sentences with the word (khrup/krap) similarly if you are female, you end your sentences with the word (ka/kap). This is used to make your sentence or question polite and respectful.
Sawasdee or hello in Thai is the most common and useful Thai greeting to learn. You'll hear a lot of Sawasdee kha/khap in Thailand. Sawasdee can also be used to say good morning, good afternoon, good evening, good day, and even good bye.
Baabaa bobo means crazy but in a playful way.
Phet noi" with high tone on "noi" (เผ็ดน้อย) means a little spicy, but "phet noi" with low tone on "noi" (เผ็ดหน่อย) means make it on the spicy side. You can avoid confusion by using "phet nit noi" (เผ็ดนิดหน่อย).
So what does PUMPUI even mean? It's a nice Thai nickname for people with... well... a bit of a belly. The English translation is “chubby” ☺️ more.
Honorifics: Thais typically address someone by stating the first name preceded by 'Khun' (e.g. Khun Simon). However, if the people conversing are close friends or familiar with each other, they will omit khun.
The number “5” in Thai is pronounced as “ha,” so “55555” is essentially a written representation of laughter, similar to “LOL” in English.
In the Thai language, the number five is pronounced "ha." In texting, 5-5-5 is the sound of laughing (hahaha), the equivalent of the English "LOL."
(จริงๆ)📖 Meaning: Really / Seriously 👄 Pronunciation: Jing-jing 👉 Tips: Adds emphasis, like “Really!” or “For real!”Friendly and casual, often used in conversations with friends. Double words in Thai usually intensify meaning.
So Namascar and Namaste actually mean "Bow with respect", and thus the Japanese culture of bowing has precisely the same meaning as the Thai Wai and the Hindu Namaste. It is always a pleasure to be on the receiving end of the gracious Thai Wai as well as the respectful formality of the Japanese bow.
But in Thailand, it is considered especially disrespectful to show people the bottom of your feet. Never use your feet to point at people or things. Also, try to avoid putting the bottoms of your feet up on a desk or chair, or around people (like on the van). Finally, NEVER point at a Buddha statue with your feet.
The Basics: Common Thai Words and Phrases
Hello - สวัสดี (sawasdee) Pronunciation: sah-wah-dee.
" dai mai " == asking whether the person is capable of, or allowed to do something (Can you speak Thai?)
Good Luck – Chok Dee.
Krua means Kitchen in Thai language) - Picture of Krau Bang Po, Ko Samui.
jub jub is the sound of Kiss. you can say "jub jub na " with your girl friend to tell her you love her or miss her. See a translation.
Wah. means a unit of measurment of land in Thailand, a land surface or unit of land measuring 1 Wah equals 4 square meters.
Khop khun [kop-koon] – Thank you
An easy phrase to learn, and it goes a long way in showing appreciation. If you're female, don't forget to say Khop khun ka, and if you're male, it's Khop khun khap.
This question can be useful if you're off the beaten path and need to buy something, as “Nee tao rai?” means “How much is it?” Don't worry if you don't know your numbers in Thai yet. Most vendors have calculators, and will punch the price in and show it to you.