This article was originally posted on WomenLearnThai.com.
Compiling a top 100 Thai vocabulary list from phrases…
Searching for a top 100 Thai vocabulary list to use with the Loci Method has totally gobbled my interest! Since starting this adventure I’ve found many ways to compile such a list and I’m now on version three. Or four.
In the comments of Compiling a Top 100 Thai Vocabulary List, the consensus was to create a dedicated top Thai phrases post and then create a top 100 Thai vocabulary list from there. Itβs a good idea (and apologies for taking this long). Not wanting to show up to the party nakid, I searched for Thai phrases, shortened the phrases to suit beginners, counted the Thai words used, and then added even more words and phrases.
During the selection I kept in mind the ability to use either iPhone/smart phone apps with pictures and/or hard-copy picture phrase books, and a calculator (either on your phone or dangling from a keychain). The phrasebooks were reviewed last year here: Picture Phrase Books: For When They Canβt Speak Thai. Not reviewed yet (but in my hot little hands) are 3 iPhone apps: ICOON on iPhone and iPod Touch, ShowMe, and Show it!
I also chose words that when combined would make new words, increasing the working word list but not in the original 100 count. And where one basic word would do, I avoided adding another. Iβm still not sure I made the best decision with ΰΉΰΈΰΈ² /ao/ and ΰΈ£ΰΈ±ΰΈ /raΜp/!
I also attempted to do without internationally understood words like Thai (ΰΉΰΈΰΈ’ /tai/) for Thai language or Thailand, taxi (ΰΉΰΈΰΉΰΈΰΈΰΈ΅ΰΉ /taΜek-seΜe/), and OK (ΰΉΰΈΰΉΰΈ /oh-kay/). But most are included in the phrases.
Oh. And I dropped out (some) words covered by internationally understood hand signals (mimicking a phone call is a good for instance).
Vocabulary list: Top 100 Thai words from phrasesβ¦
So here you go, a clean 100 word list from the most basic of ever Thai phrases. The difference between this list and Tony Buzan’s well-known hundred most common words is striking.
And truthfully, staring at my Top Thai Word List created under Buzan’s restraints left me wondering just how sentences are to be cobbled together for actual communication. But I’ll leave that subject for another post. Promise.
already (tense marker): ΰΉΰΈ₯ΰΉΰΈ§ /laΜew/
be [v]: ΰΉΰΈΰΉΰΈ /bpen/
be at, live at, stay: ΰΈΰΈ’ΰΈΉΰΉ /yoΜo/
beautiful, attractive, pretty: ΰΈͺΰΈ§ΰΈ’ /sΕay/
big: ΰΉΰΈ«ΰΈΰΉ /yaΜi/
can: ΰΉΰΈΰΉ /daΜai/
cannot: ΰΉΰΈ‘ΰΉΰΉΰΈΰΉ /maΜi-daΜai/
come, arrive (shows direction to the speaker): ΰΈ‘ΰΈ² /maa/
delicious: ΰΈΰΈ£ΰΉΰΈΰΈ’ /a-roΜi/
do, make: ΰΈΰΈ³ /tam/
doctor: ΰΈ«ΰΈ‘ΰΈ /mΕr/
donβt!: ΰΈΰΈ’ΰΉΰΈ²! /yaΜa/
excuse me, I’m sorry: ΰΈΰΈΰΉΰΈΰΈ© /kΕr tΓ΄ht/
expensive: ΰΉΰΈΰΈ /paeng/
far: ΰΉΰΈΰΈ₯ /glai/
fast: ΰΉΰΈ£ΰΉΰΈ§ /reo/
full (food): ΰΈΰΈ΄ΰΉΰΈ‘ /iΜm/
get, receive, accept: ΰΈ£ΰΈ±ΰΈ /raΜp/
go, leave, depart (shows direction away from the speaker): ΰΉΰΈ /bpai/
good: ΰΈΰΈ΅ /dee/
have: ΰΈ‘ΰΈ΅ /mee/
he, she, him, her, they, them: ΰΉΰΈΰΈ² /kΔo/
hello, goodbye, see you later: ΰΈͺΰΈ§ΰΈ±ΰΈͺΰΈΰΈ΅ /saΜ-waΜt-dee/
help, aid, assist [v]: ΰΈΰΉΰΈ§ΰΈ’ /chuΜay/
here: ΰΈΰΈ΅ΰΉΰΈΰΈ΅ΰΉ /teΜe-neΜe/
hot (spicy): ΰΉΰΈΰΉΰΈ /peΜt/
hot (temperature): ΰΈ£ΰΉΰΈΰΈ /roΜn/
hotel: ΰΉΰΈ£ΰΈΰΉΰΈ£ΰΈ‘ /rohng-raem/
how: ΰΈ’ΰΈ±ΰΈΰΉΰΈ /yang-ngai/
how much, how many: ΰΉΰΈΰΉΰΈ²ΰΉΰΈ«ΰΈ£ΰΉ /taΜo-raΜi/
how much, how many: ΰΈΰΈ΅ΰΉ /gΓ¨e/
hungry: ΰΈ«ΰΈ΄ΰΈ§ΰΈΰΉΰΈ²ΰΈ§ /hΔw kΓ’ao/
I, me, my [f]: ΰΈΰΈ±ΰΈ /chΔn/
I, me, my [m]: ΰΈΰΈ‘ /pΕm/
injured: ΰΈΰΈ²ΰΈΰΉΰΈΰΉΰΈ /baΜat jeΜp/
know (someone, something, someplace): ΰΈ£ΰΈΉΰΉΰΈΰΈ±ΰΈ /rΓ³o-jΓ k/
know (something): ΰΈΰΈ£ΰΈ²ΰΈ /saΜap/ ΰΈ£ΰΈΉΰΉ /rΓ³o/
left: ΰΈΰΉΰΈ²ΰΈ’ /saΜai/
like: ΰΈΰΈΰΈ /choΜp/
little bit: ΰΈΰΈ΄ΰΈΰΈ«ΰΈΰΉΰΈΰΈ’ /niΜt-noΜi/
look, see, appear, seem, watch: ΰΈΰΈΉ /doo/
lost: ΰΈ«ΰΈ₯ΰΈΰΈΰΈ²ΰΈ /lΕng taang/
market: ΰΈΰΈ₯ΰΈ²ΰΈ /dtaΜ-laΜat/
name: ΰΈΰΈ·ΰΉΰΈ /cheΜu/
near: ΰΉΰΈΰΈ₯ΰΉ /glaΜi/
no problem, that’s ok, nevermind: ΰΉΰΈ‘ΰΉΰΉΰΈΰΉΰΈΰΉΰΈ£ /maΜi-bpen-rai/
no, not: ΰΉΰΈ‘ΰΉ /maΜi/
now, right now, at this moment: ΰΈΰΈΰΈΰΈΰΈ΅ΰΉ /dton-neΜe/
stop, park: ΰΈΰΈΰΈ /joΜt/
one more time: ΰΈΰΈ΅ΰΈΰΈΰΈ΅ /eΜek-tee/
person, people, classifier for people: ΰΈΰΈ /kon/
police: ΰΈΰΈ³ΰΈ£ΰΈ§ΰΈ /dtam-rΓΉat/
P: Polite particle [f]: ΰΈΰΉΰΈ° /kaΜ/
P: Polite particle [m]: ΰΈΰΈ£ΰΈ±ΰΈ /kraΜp/
P: Question particle: ΰΉΰΈ«ΰΈ‘ /mΔi/
P: Question particle [f]: ΰΈΰΈ° /kaΜ/
P: Question, confirmative [m/f]: ΰΉΰΈ«ΰΈ£ΰΈ or ΰΈ«ΰΈ£ΰΈ·ΰΈ /rΔr or rΔu/
P: Question, “what about β¦?”: ΰΈ₯ΰΉΰΈ° /laΜ/
P: Softener, makes it more persuasive: ΰΈΰΈ° /naΜ/
P: Softens request or command, a bit: ΰΈ«ΰΈΰΉΰΈΰΈ’ /noΜi/
P: Used in requests, congratulations or condolences ΰΈΰΉΰΈ§ΰΈ’ (ΰΈΰΉΰΈ°/ΰΈΰΈ°ΰΈΰΈ°) /duΜay/ (ka/naΜ-ka)
really: ΰΈΰΈ£ΰΈ΄ΰΈΰΉ /jing-jing/
restaurant: ΰΈ£ΰΉΰΈ²ΰΈΰΈΰΈ²ΰΈ«ΰΈ²ΰΈ£ /rΓ‘an aa-hΔan/
right: ΰΈΰΈ§ΰΈ² /kwΔa/
slowly, slower: ΰΈΰΉΰΈ²ΰΈΰΉΰΈ² /chaΜa-chaΜa/
speak: ΰΈΰΈΉΰΈ /poΜot/
stop!: ΰΈ«ΰΈ’ΰΈΈΰΈ! /yuΜt/
straight: ΰΈΰΈ£ΰΈΰΉΰΈ /dtrong-bpai/
sure [v]: ΰΉΰΈΰΉΰΉΰΈ /naΜe-jai/
Thai currency: ΰΈΰΈ²ΰΈ /baΜat/
thank you: ΰΈΰΈΰΈΰΈΰΈΈΰΈ /koΜp-kun/
that: ΰΈΰΈ±ΰΉΰΈ /nΓ‘n/
there: ΰΈΰΈ΅ΰΉΰΈΰΈ±ΰΉΰΈ /teΜe-naΜn/
there (further): ΰΈΰΈ΅ΰΉΰΉΰΈΰΉΰΈ /teΜe-noΜhn/
think, calculate: ΰΈΰΈ΄ΰΈ /kiΜt/
thirsty: ΰΈ«ΰΈ΄ΰΈ§ΰΈΰΉΰΈ³ /hΔw-naΜam/
this, these: ΰΈΰΈ΅ΰΉ /neΜe/
tired: ΰΉΰΈ«ΰΈΰΈ·ΰΉΰΈΰΈ’ /neΜuay/
to, at, that, which, who, the place, area: ΰΈΰΈ΅ΰΉ /teΜe/
today: ΰΈ§ΰΈ±ΰΈΰΈΰΈ΅ΰΉ /wan-neΜe/
toilet: ΰΈ«ΰΉΰΈΰΈΰΈΰΉΰΈ³ /hΓ΄ng-nΓ‘am/
tomorrow: ΰΈΰΈ£ΰΈΈΰΉΰΈΰΈΰΈ΅ΰΉ /pruΜng-neΜe/
turn: ΰΉΰΈ₯ΰΈ΅ΰΉΰΈ’ΰΈ§ /liΜeow/
understand: ΰΉΰΈΰΉΰΈ²ΰΉΰΈ /kaΜo-jai/
u-turn: ΰΈΰΈ₯ΰΈ±ΰΈΰΈ£ΰΈ /glaΜp-roΜt/
very much, a lot, very: ΰΈ‘ΰΈ²ΰΈ /maΜak/
want, take, bring: ΰΉΰΈΰΈ² /ao/ (ΰΈ£ΰΈ±ΰΈ /raΜp/)
want to: ΰΈΰΈ’ΰΈ²ΰΈ /yaΜak/
we, us, our: ΰΉΰΈ£ΰΈ² /rao/
well, fine: ΰΈͺΰΈΰΈ²ΰΈ’ΰΈΰΈ΅ /saΜ-baai-dee/
what: ΰΈΰΈ°ΰΉΰΈ£ /a-rai/
when, whenever: ΰΉΰΈ‘ΰΈ·ΰΉΰΈΰΉΰΈ«ΰΈ£ΰΉ /meΜua-raΜi/
where (shortened version of ΰΈΰΈ΅ΰΉΰΉΰΈ«ΰΈ), whichever one: ΰΉΰΈ«ΰΈ /nΔi/
where is: ΰΈΰΈ΅ΰΉΰΉΰΈ«ΰΈ /tΓͺe nΔi/
who, someone, anyone: ΰΉΰΈΰΈ£ /krai/
why: ΰΈΰΈ³ΰΉΰΈ‘ /tam-mai/
write: ΰΉΰΈΰΈ΅ΰΈ’ΰΈ /kΔan/
yes: key-word response, ΰΉΰΈΰΉ, ΰΈΰΈ£ΰΈ±ΰΈ, ΰΈΰΉΰΈ° /chaΜi, kraΜp, kaΜ/
yesterday: ΰΉΰΈ‘ΰΈ·ΰΉΰΈΰΈ§ΰΈ²ΰΈΰΈΰΈ΅ΰΉ /meΜua-waan-neΜe/
you: ΰΈΰΈΈΰΈ /kun/
100 words doesn’t handle a lot. From that list you can: ask questions, give answers, make the briefest of polite talk, give instructions to a taxi driver, and buy stuff (with mostly pointing and using a calculator).
And while this list doesn’t give you the backbone of sentence structure (as the Buzan-type lists promise) I’m thinking you won’t be left with as many holes either. But what do I know. I’m still waiting to be enlightened! And I will. Be.
The chosen top Thai phrasesβ¦
Due to the nature of the project – zero knowledge of Thai – the phrases are as brief as I could make them. Spoken Thai is mostly inferred anyway so a great deal can easily be left out. Two of the most common words to be left out are ΰΈΰΈ‘/ΰΈΰΈ±ΰΈ /pΕm/chΔn/ (I) so go easy on me, ok? The polite particles can be thinned out or beefed up too – up to you.
NOTE: This list is just a getting-out-of-the-phrase-gate list. In no way do I consider it final. I didn’t have time to create phrases from everything so I would seriously welcome your help filling it out.
Hello/goodbye/see you later.
ΰΈͺΰΈ§ΰΈ±ΰΈͺΰΈΰΈ΅ /saΜ-waΜt-dee/
How are you?
ΰΈͺΰΈΰΈ²ΰΈ’ΰΈΰΈ΅ΰΈ«ΰΈ£ΰΈ·ΰΈ /sΓ -baai dee rΔu/
(I’m) fine, thank you.
ΰΈͺΰΈΰΈ²ΰΈ’ΰΈΰΈ΅ ΰΈΰΈΰΈΰΈΰΈΈΰΈ ΰΈΰΉΰΈ°/ΰΈΰΈ£ΰΈ±ΰΈ /saΜ-baai-dee koΜp-kun/
I’m fine, and you?
ΰΈͺΰΈΰΈ²ΰΈ’ΰΈΰΈ΅ ΰΉΰΈ₯ΰΉΰΈ§ΰΈΰΈΈΰΈΰΈ₯ΰΉΰΈ° /saΜ-baai-dee laΜew kun laΜ/
What about you?
ΰΉΰΈ₯ΰΉΰΈ§ΰΈΰΈΈΰΈΰΈ₯ΰΉΰΈ° /lΓ‘ew kun lΓ’/
What is your name?
ΰΈΰΈΈΰΈΰΈΰΈ·ΰΉΰΈΰΈΰΈ°ΰΉΰΈ£ /kun cheΜu a-rai/
My name is ______.
ΰΈΰΈ‘/ΰΈΰΈ±ΰΈ ΰΈΰΈ·ΰΉΰΈ ______ /pΕm/chΔn cheΜu/
Or just plain ‘ole…
ΰΈΰΈ·ΰΉΰΈ _______ /cheΜu _______ /
Thank you.
ΰΈΰΈΰΈΰΈΰΈΈΰΈ /koΜp-kun/
Thank you very much.
ΰΈΰΈΰΈΰΈΰΈΈΰΈΰΈ‘ΰΈ²ΰΈ /koΜp-kun maΜak/
You’re welcome.
ΰΉΰΈ‘ΰΉΰΉΰΈΰΉΰΈΰΉΰΈ£ /maΜi-bpen-rai/
What do you want?
ΰΈ£ΰΈ±ΰΈΰΈΰΈ°ΰΉΰΈ£ ΰΈΰΈ°/ΰΈΰΈ£ΰΈ±ΰΈ /raΜp a-rai/ [kaΜ/kraΜp]
Do you want ___?
ΰΉΰΈΰΈ² ___ ΰΉΰΈ«ΰΈ‘ /ao ___ mΔi/
Yes please.
ΰΈΰΉΰΈ°/ΰΈΰΈ£ΰΈ±ΰΈ ΰΈΰΈΰΈΰΈΰΈΈΰΈ ΰΈΰΉΰΈ°/ΰΈΰΈ£ΰΈ±ΰΈ /kaΜ/kraΜp koΜp-kun kaΜ/kraΜp/
Have: ΰΈ‘ΰΈ΅ /mee/
ΰΈ‘ΰΈ΅ /mee/ ____
(I) have a doctor.
ΰΈ‘ΰΈ΅ΰΈ«ΰΈ‘ΰΈ /mee mo/
Do you have?
ΰΈ‘ΰΈ΅ ____ ΰΉΰΈ«ΰΈ‘ / mee ____ mΔi/
Do you have a doctor?
ΰΈ‘ΰΈ΅ΰΈ«ΰΈ‘ΰΈΰΉΰΈ«ΰΈ‘ /mee mΕr mΔi/
I donβt have a doctor.
ΰΉΰΈ‘ΰΉΰΈ‘ΰΈ΅ΰΈ«ΰΈ‘ΰΈ /mΓ’i mee mΕr/
yes: ΰΉΰΈΰΉ, ΰΈΰΈ£ΰΈ±ΰΈ, ΰΈΰΉΰΈ° /chaΜi, kraΜp, kaΜ/
no: ΰΉΰΈ‘ΰΉΰΉΰΈΰΉ /maΜi-chaΜi/
can: ΰΉΰΈΰΉ /daΜai/
cannot: ΰΉΰΈ‘ΰΉΰΉΰΈΰΉ /maΜi-daΜai/
Excuse me.
ΰΈΰΈΰΉΰΈΰΈ© ΰΈΰΈ°ΰΈΰΈ°/ΰΈΰΈ°ΰΈΰΈ£ΰΈ±ΰΈ /kΕr tΓ΄ht naΜ-kΓ’/naΜ-krΓ‘p/
I’m sorry.
ΰΈΰΈΰΉΰΈΰΈ© /kΕr tΓ΄ht/
I speak Thai only a little bit.
ΰΈΰΈΉΰΈΰΉΰΈΰΈ’ΰΈΰΈ΄ΰΈΰΈ«ΰΈΰΉΰΈΰΈ’ /poΜot tai niΜt-noΜi/
Please speak slowly.
ΰΈΰΈΉΰΈΰΈΰΉΰΈ²ΰΈΰΉΰΈ²ΰΈ«ΰΈΰΉΰΈΰΈ’ /pΓ΄ot chΓ‘a-chΓ‘a nΓ²i/
OR
ΰΈΰΉΰΈ²ΰΈΰΉΰΈ²ΰΈ«ΰΈΰΉΰΈΰΈ’ /chΓ‘a-chΓ‘a nΓ²i/
OR
ΰΈΰΉΰΈ²ΰΈΰΉΰΈ² /chΓ‘a-chΓ‘a/
slow: ΰΈΰΉΰΈ² /chΓ‘a/
fast: ΰΉΰΈ£ΰΉΰΈ§ /reo/
I don’t understand – I only speak Thai a little.
ΰΉΰΈ‘ΰΉΰΉΰΈΰΉΰΈ²ΰΉΰΈ ΰΈΰΈΉΰΈΰΉΰΈΰΈ’ΰΈΰΈ΄ΰΈΰΈ«ΰΈΰΉΰΈΰΈ’ /maΜi kaΜo-jai poΜot tai niΜt-noΜi/
I don’t understand.
ΰΉΰΈ‘ΰΉΰΉΰΈΰΉΰΈ²ΰΉΰΈ /mΓ’i kΓ’o-jai/
I understand.
ΰΉΰΈΰΉΰΈ²ΰΉΰΈ /kΓ’o-jai/
Help write (it for me) please.
ΰΈΰΉΰΈ§ΰΈ’ΰΉΰΈΰΈ΅ΰΈ’ΰΈΰΈ«ΰΈΰΉΰΈΰΈ’ ΰΈΰΉΰΈ°/ΰΈΰΈ£ΰΈ±ΰΈ /chΓ»ay kΔan nΓ²i kΓ’/krΓ‘p/
How do you say it in Thai?
ΰΉΰΈΰΈ’ΰΈΰΈΉΰΈΰΈ’ΰΈ±ΰΈΰΉΰΈ /tai poΜot yang-ngai/
Repeat it please.
ΰΈΰΈΉΰΈΰΈΰΈ΅ΰΈΰΈΰΈ΅ ΰΈΰΉΰΈ°/ΰΈΰΈ£ΰΈ±ΰΈ /poΜot eΜek-tee kΓ’/krΓ‘p/
Help!
ΰΈΰΉΰΈ§ΰΈ’ΰΈΰΉΰΈ§ΰΈ’ /chuΜay duΜay/
How: ΰΈ’ΰΈ±ΰΈΰΉΰΈ /yang-ngai/
v + ΰΈ’ΰΈ±ΰΈΰΉΰΈ /yang-ngai/
What: ΰΈΰΈ°ΰΉΰΈ£ /a-rai/
What? ΰΈΰΈ°ΰΉΰΈ£ ΰΈΰΈ°/ΰΈΰΈ£ΰΈ±ΰΈ /a-rai kaΜ/kraΜp/
What happened?
ΰΈΰΈ°ΰΉΰΈ£ ΰΈΰΈ°/ΰΈΰΈ£ΰΈ±ΰΈ /a-rai kaΜ/kraΜp/
No, nothing happened.
ΰΉΰΈ‘ΰΉ ΰΈ‘ΰΈ΅ ΰΈΰΈ°ΰΉΰΈ£ /maΜi mee a-rai/
(polite for “none of your business” if asked “what happened?”)
What is this?
ΰΈΰΈ΅ΰΉΰΈΰΈ°ΰΉΰΈ£ /neΜe a-rai/
What is that?
ΰΈΰΈ±ΰΉΰΈΰΈΰΈ°ΰΉΰΈ£ /naΜn a-rai/
What do you want?
ΰΈ£ΰΈ±ΰΈΰΈΰΈ°/ΰΈΰΈ£ΰΈ±ΰΈ /raΜp kaΜ/kraΜp/
When? ΰΉΰΈ‘ΰΈ·ΰΉΰΈΰΉΰΈ«ΰΈ£ΰΉ /meΜua-raΜi/
v + ΰΉΰΈ‘ΰΈ·ΰΉΰΈΰΉΰΈ«ΰΈ£ΰΉ /mΓͺua-rΓ i/
When are you coming?
ΰΈ‘ΰΈ²ΰΉΰΈ‘ΰΈ·ΰΉΰΈΰΉΰΈ«ΰΈ£ΰΉ /maa mΓͺua-rΓ i/
OR
ΰΉΰΈ‘ΰΈ·ΰΉΰΈΰΉΰΈ«ΰΈ£ΰΉ /mΓͺua-rΓ i/
Today: ΰΈ§ΰΈ±ΰΈΰΈΰΈ΅ΰΉ /wan-neΜe/
Tomorrow ΰΈΰΈ£ΰΈΈΰΉΰΈΰΈΰΈ΅ΰΉ /pruΜng-neΜe/
Where are you going?
ΰΉΰΈΰΉΰΈ«ΰΈ /bpai nΔi/
(Thai for “hello, how are you doing?”)
ΰΉΰΈ _____ /bpai _____ /
Who? ΰΉΰΈΰΈ£ /krai/
n + ΰΉΰΈΰΈ£ /krai/
ΰΉΰΈΰΈ£ /krai/ + verb
Who is that person?
ΰΈΰΈΰΈΰΈ±ΰΉΰΈΰΉΰΈΰΈ£ /kon naΜn krai/
Who does it? Who makes it?
ΰΉΰΈΰΈ£ΰΈΰΈ³ /krai tam/
Who is it?
ΰΉΰΈΰΈ£ ΰΈΰΈ°/ΰΈΰΈ£ΰΈ±ΰΈ /krai kaΜ/kraΜp/
Why?: ΰΈΰΈ³ΰΉΰΈ‘ /tam-mai/
How much, how many?: ΰΉΰΈΰΉΰΈ²ΰΉΰΈ«ΰΈ£ΰΉ /taΜo-raΜi/, ΰΈΰΈ΅ΰΉ /geΜe/
How many baht?
ΰΈΰΈ΅ΰΉΰΈΰΈ²ΰΈ /gΓ¨e baΜat/
Whatβs the matter?
ΰΉΰΈΰΉΰΈΰΈΰΈ°ΰΉΰΈ£ /bpen a-rai/
What do you think?
ΰΈΰΈΈΰΈΰΈΰΈ΄ΰΈΰΈ’ΰΈ±ΰΈΰΉΰΈ /kun kiΜt yang-ngai/
Are you sure?
ΰΈΰΈΈΰΈΰΉΰΈΰΉΰΉΰΈΰΉΰΈ«ΰΈ‘ /kun naΜe-jai mΔi/
Is it possible?
ΰΉΰΈΰΉΰΈΰΉΰΈΰΉΰΈΰΉΰΉΰΈ«ΰΈ‘ /bpen bpai daΜai mΔi/
Is it good?
ΰΈΰΈ΅ΰΉΰΈ«ΰΈ‘ /dee mΔi/
What is this?
ΰΈΰΈ΅ΰΉΰΈΰΈ°ΰΉΰΈ£ /neΜe a-rai/
Really?
ΰΈΰΈ£ΰΈ΄ΰΈΰΉΰΉΰΈ«ΰΈ£ΰΈ /jing jing rΔr/
Itβs fine.
ΰΈΰΈ΅ /dee/
O.K./All right.
ΰΉΰΈΰΉΰΈ /oh-kay/
Thatβs all right, no problem, never mind.
ΰΉΰΈ‘ΰΉΰΉΰΈΰΉΰΈΰΉΰΈ£ /maΜi-bpen-rai/
I donβt know (something).
ΰΉΰΈ‘ΰΉΰΈΰΈ£ΰΈ²ΰΈ /maΜi saΜap/
ΰΉΰΈ‘ΰΉΰΈ£ΰΈΉΰΉ /maΜi rΓ³o/
I don’t know (someone, something, someplace).
ΰΉΰΈ‘ΰΉΰΈ£ΰΈΉΰΉΰΈΰΈ±ΰΈ /mΓ’i roΜo-jaΜk/
Beautiful: ΰΈͺΰΈ§ΰΈ’ /sΕay/
Is it beautiful?
ΰΈͺΰΈ§ΰΈ’ΰΉΰΈ«ΰΈ‘ /sΕay mΔi/
It’s not beautiful.
ΰΉΰΈ‘ΰΉΰΈͺΰΈ§ΰΈ’ /mΓ’i sΕay/
Delicious: ΰΈΰΈ£ΰΉΰΈΰΈ’ /a-roΜi/
Is it delicious?
ΰΈΰΈ£ΰΉΰΈΰΈ’ΰΉΰΈ«ΰΈ‘ /a-rΓ²i mΔii/
It’s not delicious.
ΰΉΰΈ‘ΰΉΰΈΰΈ£ΰΉΰΈΰΈ’ /mΓ’i a-rΓ²i/
Wonderful, very good: ΰΈΰΈ΅ ΰΈ‘ΰΈ²ΰΈ /dee mΓ’ak/
Expensive: ΰΉΰΈΰΈ /paeng/
Is it expensive?
ΰΉΰΈΰΈΰΉΰΈ«ΰΈ‘ /paeng mΔi/
No, not expensive.
ΰΉΰΈ‘ΰΉΰΉΰΈΰΈ /mΓ’i paeng/
Is it ____?
_____ ΰΉΰΈ«ΰΈ‘ /mΔi/
Hot (temperature): ΰΈ£ΰΉΰΈΰΈ /roΜn/
Hot (spicy): ΰΉΰΈΰΉΰΈ /peΜt/
Hot (really spicy): ΰΉΰΈΰΉΰΈΰΉΰΈΰΉΰΈ /peΜt-peΜt/
Not spicy: ΰΉΰΈ‘ΰΉ ΰΉΰΈΰΉΰΈ /maΜi peΜt/
I’m… hungry, thirsty, full, tired, sad…
ΰΈΰΈ±ΰΈ/ΰΈΰΈ‘ ___ chΔn/pΕm ___
OR
___
Hungry: ΰΈ«ΰΈ΄ΰΈ§ΰΈΰΉΰΈ²ΰΈ§ /hΔw-kaΜao/
Thirsty: ΰΈ«ΰΈ΄ΰΈ§ΰΈΰΉΰΈ³ /hΔw-naΜam/
Full (of food): ΰΈΰΈ΄ΰΉΰΈ‘ ΰΉΰΈ₯ΰΉΰΈ§ /iΜm laΜew/
Tired: ΰΉΰΈ«ΰΈΰΈ·ΰΉΰΈΰΈ’ /neΜuay/
Unwell: ΰΉΰΈ‘ΰΉ ΰΈͺΰΈΰΈ²ΰΈ’ /maΜi saΜ-baai/
Here: ΰΈΰΈ΅ΰΉΰΈΰΈ΅ΰΉ /teΜe-neΜe/
There: ΰΈΰΈ΅ΰΉΰΈΰΈ±ΰΉΰΈ /teΜe-naΜn/
There (further): ΰΈΰΈ΅ΰΉΰΉΰΈΰΉΰΈ /teΜe-noΜhn/
I…
ΰΈΰΈ±ΰΈ/ΰΈΰΈ‘ ___ chΔn/pΕm ___
Like: ΰΈΰΈΰΈ /choΜp/
Don’t like: ΰΉΰΈ‘ΰΉ ΰΈΰΈΰΈ /maΜi choΜp/
Don’t! ΰΈΰΈ’ΰΉΰΈ²! /yaΜa/
Stop! ΰΈ«ΰΈ’ΰΈΈΰΈ! /yuΜt/
Police! ΰΈΰΈ³ΰΈ£ΰΈ§ΰΈ! /dtam-rΓΉat/
I’ll call the police.
ΰΈΰΈ±ΰΈ/ΰΈΰΈ‘ ΰΈΰΈ°ΰΈΰΈΰΈΰΈΰΈ³ΰΈ£ΰΈ§ΰΈ! /chΔn/pΕm jaΜ boΜk dtam-ruΜat/
Help!
ΰΈΰΉΰΈ§ΰΈ’ΰΈΰΉΰΈ§ΰΈ’ /chuΜay duΜay/
I’m sick.
ΰΈΰΈ±ΰΈ/ΰΈΰΈ‘ ΰΉΰΈ‘ΰΉΰΈͺΰΈΰΈ²ΰΈ’ /chΔn/pΕm mΓ’i sΓ -baai/
I’ve been injured.
ΰΈΰΈ±ΰΈ/ΰΈΰΈ‘ ΰΈΰΈ²ΰΈΰΉΰΈΰΉΰΈ /chΔn/pΕm baΜat jeΜp/
I’m lost.
ΰΈΰΈ±ΰΈ/ΰΈΰΈ‘ ΰΈ«ΰΈ₯ΰΈΰΈΰΈ²ΰΈ /chΔn/pΕm lΕng taang/
Where is?: ΰΈΰΈ΅ΰΉΰΉΰΈ«ΰΈ /tΓͺe nΔi/
Where is ___?
n + ΰΈΰΈ’ΰΈΉΰΉΰΈΰΈ΅ΰΉΰΉΰΈ«ΰΈ /yΓ²o tΓͺe nΔi/
Where is the toilet?
ΰΈ«ΰΉΰΈΰΈΰΈΰΉΰΈ³ΰΈΰΈ’ΰΈΉΰΉΰΈΰΈ΅ΰΉΰΉΰΈ«ΰΈ /hΓ΄ng-nΓ‘am yΓ²o tΓͺe nΔi/
Where is the hotel?
ΰΉΰΈ£ΰΈΰΉΰΈ£ΰΈ‘ΰΈΰΈ’ΰΈΉΰΉΰΈΰΈ΅ΰΉΰΉΰΈ«ΰΈ /rohng-raem yΓ²o tΓͺe nΔi/
Where is the restaurant?
ΰΈ£ΰΉΰΈ²ΰΈΰΈΰΈ²ΰΈ«ΰΈ²ΰΈ£ΰΈΰΈ’ΰΈΉΰΉΰΈΰΈ΅ΰΉΰΉΰΈ«ΰΈ /rΓ‘an aa-hΔan yΓ²o tΓͺe nΔi/
Where is the market?
ΰΈΰΈ₯ΰΈ²ΰΈΰΈΰΈ’ΰΈΉΰΉΰΈΰΈ΅ΰΉΰΉΰΈ«ΰΈ /dtaΜ-laΜat yΓ²o tΓͺe nΔi/
How do I get to _____ ?
ΰΈΰΈ°ΰΉΰΈ _____ ΰΈΰΈ’ΰΉΰΈ²ΰΈΰΉΰΈ£ /jΓ -bpai _____ yΓ ang-rai/
Is it far? ΰΉΰΈΰΈ₯ΰΉΰΈ«ΰΈ‘ /glai mΔi/
Is it near? ΰΉΰΈΰΈ₯ΰΉΰΉΰΈ«ΰΈ‘ /glaΜi mΔi/
go straight: ΰΈΰΈ£ΰΈΰΉΰΈ /dtrong-bpai/
turn left: ΰΉΰΈ₯ΰΈ΅ΰΉΰΈ’ΰΈ§ΰΈΰΉΰΈ²ΰΈ’ /liΜeow saΜai/
turn right: ΰΉΰΈ₯ΰΈ΅ΰΉΰΈ’ΰΈ§ΰΈΰΈ§ΰΈ² /lΓeow kwΔa/
u-turn: ΰΈΰΈ₯ΰΈ±ΰΈΰΈ£ΰΈ /glaΜp-roΜt/
(or just say U turn (with a Thai accent)
traffic lights: ΰΉΰΈΰΉΰΈΰΈ /fai-daeng/
(I’m) going to _____ (market, hotel, hospital, shoppingβ¦)
ΰΉΰΈ _____
bpai _____
Stop here please.
ΰΈΰΈΰΈΰΈΰΈ΅ΰΉΰΈΰΈ΅ΰΉ ΰΈΰΉΰΈ°/ΰΈΰΈ£ΰΈ±ΰΈ / jΓ²t tΓͺe-nΓͺe kΓ’/krΓ‘p/
Kidding, joking: ΰΈΰΈΉΰΈΰΉΰΈ₯ΰΉΰΈ! /poΜot leΜn/
Posts in the Top 100 Thai Words series…
Ok, that’s it for me. I didn’t use all of the words because I’m short on time (and I’d like to do something else this Saturday afternoon). But, I did have fun creating short sentences from these 100 words of Thai.
Two more posts in the series:
Learning Languages: The art and science of remembering everything
Compiling a Top 100 Thai Vocabulary List
I’ve learned a lot from this.
Thank you very much for your sharing!
You are welcome Phan!
Allan, that’s a great tip for learning Thai! Looking back at my beginnings, the only thing I’d add would be directions to the toilet 555
Thank you so much, i’ve been looking for a list to learn with my memory palace/method of loci. My partner and i are newly married and I’m learning to speak thai so i can communicate with her (our) 2 children.
You are welcome Alex. There are many more lists with audio files dotted around the site (just waiting to be downloaded).
Dear mam,
Thanks for your useful words.
It’ll be helpful for us if you add some words which are related to shop or buy something and some main words related to emergency. It’ll also be useful if the numbers are also get translated.
Good idea Roger. That’d make an interesting exercise to tackle.
I’m clearly late to this party, but wanted to add my thanks. I can see how you would have enjoyed the compilation, and what a nice idea. The only word I didn’t expect was UTurn, but I understand it.
I’m wondering what would be the equivalent for the intermediate learner of conversational everyday speech phrases – a completely different list of 100 headed with gor, hai, etc. Just wondering…
Hi Adam, the idea is to help with basic words plus sentence structure in everyday Thai. And while some tourists might learn the basics, leaving them out in a mere 100 word list (basic words) would be a problem.
Isn’t it the less common but still words that you need a list for.
A first day tourist is going to learn hello and thank you right away..
Isn’t it harder to get a grasp of the everyday words that you might not use everyday.. Mirror, bald, ceiling, brush, grab, etc..
Thanks Martyn.! That’s a good one (it’s used often). I’ll add it when I go to fill out the rest of the phrases created from the words above. There might only be 100 words but this list has potential.
Catherine – Questions are a great way to learn more of a language. The answers, when understood, invariably lead to more questions and the building blocks stack higher. Your list of phrases is full of many questions and that’s good.
How about?
What are you doing? tam-arai krap.
The answer to that is endless.
Snap, so funny π But really, that method sounds like a great way to check (rereading doesn’t always work). These you can see rather easily because they’ve been marked in a bright yellow, with a note attached: “we’ll talk later”…
Thanks a million. I was going to print off both versions, put them on top of one another, and hold them up to the sunlight to spot the differences π Don’t laugh, I had a boss that used to make me do that with legal contracts!
Snap, I can send you my notes with edits if you like (then you’ll see the reasons behind the tweaks).
Catherine, pretty please ask your teacher to keep it informal, like we would say on the street π I’ve saved the original post so I can compare…will you let us know when you’ve edited it? Ta
MJ, my Thai teacher was unsettled at my lack of clarity in this post (I didn’t show it to her until this morning) so there will be edits. Nothing major mind you.
nice list – wish i had it years ago. personally, i would translate “jing-jing” as “truthfully” and not as “really” just for clarity. it’s the very equivalent of the Chinese “zen” word. thanks.
But only to mumble.. not to use out loud π
If you have do deal with Thai bureaucracy dinosaur is a very useful word to have.
Thanks Snap! And ta for sending over that correction (by the time I pushed ‘send’ my mind was elsewhere).
Phrase books and now word lists are a mystery to me. Romance aside, some of the slimmer courses include words that one wouldn’t use often in English (I’m talking mostly nouns here). And with a limited amount of words / phrases to teach, why not go for the top? Why would words like dinosaur make their way into a beginner’s vocab?
These are great Catherine. They’re extremely relevant for new learners and for use in everyday life. Although I would have been lost without our collection of phrase books (in the beginning) I really do have to question some of their inclusions sometimes…or perhaps I should just skip the romance sections π