So most of us don’t learn Thai language in school in our home countries, so it is out of our own further study, home or other courses or by visiting Thailand that you will start to encounter the thai language.
Thai language is tonal which is different for us westerners.
There can be one word but toned in different ways can mean three different things, but that’s more complex.
The best way to learn is to practice with the locals. If you go to a certain place once a day and befriend them then you will find they will gladly help and correct and also teach you with your Thai language skills.
Here are some basic Thai phrases to get you started and it will be appreciated and seen as polite by the locals of Koh Phangan if you at least try to use them...
Firstly after every sentance it is polite to say either ‘Ka’ if you’re a female and ‘Kap’ if you’re male.
Sawa Dee (Ka/Kap) - Hello
Sabai Dee Mai
Pronounced - Sabye dee my - How are you?
Kop Koon (Ka/Kap) - Thank you
Chai - Yes
Mai chai - No
Dai - (you/ I) can
Mai dai - can not
Mai Pen Rai
Pronoucend - My Pen Rye (or Lye down here on Koh Phangan as the language is more relaxed) - Never mind (handy all purpose phrase to express the Thai go-with-the-flow attitude)
Pood Thai mai dai - I can not speak Thai.
Kow jai mai - do you understand?
Mai kow jai - I do not understand
Tao Rai (or tao lai)? - How much?
Pang - expensive
Pang mak - very expensive
Basically MAK means very so you can say 'mak mak' a lot e.g. Alooy Mak Mak - very very tasty!
Took - cheap
Naam - water
Chok dee (ka/kap) - good luck
Sanaam bin - Airport (but you won't wanna go there to leave!)
Ron - Hot
Nao - cold
Hong naam - toilet
Naam keng - ice
Nit noi - small - not much - a little bit
Yai - large
Bia - beer
Soopburi - smoke (inhale cigarette smoke)
Numbers
Neung
1
Song
2
Sam
3
See
4
Haa
5
Hook
6
Jet
7
Paed
8
Gow
9
Sip
10
Sip-et
11
Sip-song
12
etc...
Yee sip
20
Saam sip
30
Roi/loi
100
These really are just the basics but it will help and Chuck Dee Ka on learning and improving your Thai language skills.