Essential Thai for Travel: 30 Phrases for Airport, Hotel, Shopping

Learn these 30 essential Thai phrases for your trip to Thailand, and you'll be ready for 90% of travel situations! This article categorizes phrases by scenario, with each including Thai script, Romanization, and English translation. We recommend saving it to your phone for quick reference.

You can certainly travel to Thailand without knowing Thai, but knowing a few phrases will make your journey smoother and more enjoyable!

Basic Greetings (5 Phrases)

The most commonly used greetings, you'll use them every day.

💡 In Thai, male speakers add ครับ (khráp) to the end of their sentences, and female speakers add ค่ะ (khâ) for politeness.

Airport Immigration (5 Phrases)

Useful for passing through customs and picking up luggage.

Usage Tip: When immigration asks "มาทำอะไร" (What are you doing here?), simply answer "มาเที่ยว" (I'm here for travel / on holiday).

Hotel Check-in (5 Phrases)

For checking in and daily needs.

Shopping & Bargaining (5 Phrases)

Essential for markets and night bazaars!

🛍️ Complete Bargaining Tips Guide — Learn more bargaining phrases.

Restaurant Ordering (5 Phrases)

Essential phrases for dining out.

Ordering Template: ขอ (khɔ̌ɔ - I want/ask for) + Dish Name + หนึ่งที่ (nʉ̀ng thîi - one portion) = I'd like one portion of [Dish Name].

Transportation (5 Phrases)

Common for taking taxis and asking for directions.

Emergencies (5 Extra Phrases)

For emergencies, just in case.

Quick Reference Table

Printable Version (Recommended to Screenshot)

Greetings:
สวัสดี (sa-wat-dee) = Hello
ขอบคุณ (khop-khun) = Thank you
ไม่เป็นไร (mai-pen-rai) = No problem

Shopping:
เท่าไหร่ (thao-rai) = How much
แพงไป (phaeng-pai) = Too expensive
ลดได้ไหม (lot-dai-mai) = Can you lower the price?

Dining:
ขอเมนู (kho-menu) = Menu, please
ไม่เผ็ด (mai-phet) = Not spicy
เช็คบิล (check-bill) = Check, please

Transportation:
ไป...เท่าไหร่ = How much to go to...?
หยุดที่นี่ (yut-thi-ni) = Stop here

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: What if I can't pronounce Thai?

Answer: You can screenshot the Thai phrases in this article and show them to locals; most Thais recognize their script. Alternatively, use Google Translate's audio function to play the pronunciation. However, learning a few common phrases before you go will significantly enhance your experience.

Q: Do Thais speak good English?

Answer: English proficiency is high in popular tourist areas of Bangkok, but it might not be the case in night markets, rural areas, or smaller cities. Knowing a few Thai phrases will help you navigate seamlessly anywhere.

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Summary

30 Quick Thai Travel Phrases:

• Greetings: สวัสดี (Hello), ขอบคุณ (Thank you)
• Shopping: เท่าไหร่ (How much), ลดได้ไหม (Can you lower the price?)
• Dining: ขอเมนู (Menu, please), เช็คบิล (Check, please)
• Transportation: ไป...เท่าไหร่ (How much to go to...?)

Save this article and refer to it anytime during your trip to Thailand!