Learn Thai · Expats
Learn Thai for Expats
Living in Thailand is a different game from visiting. You repeat the same daily moments, the market, the shop, the landlord, the small talk, so a little of the right Thai makes life smoother and warmer, fast.
Everyday politeness
As a regular, the small courtesies matter most, they’re what turn the shopkeeper on your street into someone who knows you.
| Thai | Say it | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| สวัสดีครับ / ค่ะ | sà-wàt-dii khráp / khâ | Hello (polite) |
| สบายดีไหม | sà-baai-dii mǎi | How are you? |
| ไม่เป็นไร | mâi-bpen-rai | No worries / it’s fine |
| ขอบคุณมาก | khàawp-khun mâak | Thank you very much |
At the market and shops
| Thai | Say it | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| อันนี้เท่าไหร่ | an-níi thâo-rài | How much is this? |
| มีไหม | mii mǎi | Do you have…? |
| เอาอันนี้ | ao an-níi | I’ll take this |
| ถุงพลาสติก | thǔng bpláat-sà-dtìk | plastic bag |
Home, rent and repairs
Dealing with a landlord or a repair is where a few words save real hassle.
| Thai | Say it | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| ค่าเช่า | khâa-châo | rent |
| น้ำ / ไฟ | náam / fai | water / electricity |
| เสีย | sǐia | broken / out of order |
| ซ่อมได้ไหม | sâawm dâai-mǎi | Can it be fixed? |
Small talk that builds bonds
| Thai | Say it | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| มาจากไหน | maa-jàak-nǎi | Where are you from? |
| ผม/ฉันมาจาก… | phǒm/chǎn maa-jàak… | I’m from… |
| อยู่ที่นี่นานแล้ว | yùu thîi-nîi naan láew | I’ve lived here a while |
| ยินดีที่ได้รู้จัก | yin-dii thîi-dâai rúu-jàk | Nice to meet you |
Move past survival phrases and you start to feel genuinely at home, understanding more of what’s around you and being understood in return.
Read next: Basic Thai Phrases, The common, everyday words and short sentences you’ll reach for most as a beginner.
How Dublo teaches this
Dublo builds around repeated daily moments such as shops, home, repairs and small talk. That repetition lets the same vocabulary move from lesson knowledge into everyday recall.
Read the complete Dublo methodSettle in with real Thai
Dublo teaches the everyday Thai of living here, the phrases you’ll reach for most. 14-day refund on your first payment.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to read Thai to live here?
It helps over time, but you can go a long way speaking first. Reading menus and signs comes naturally once you’ve built a base of spoken Thai.
How long until I can hold a basic conversation?
Most learners can handle simple conversations in a few weeks with a few minutes a day, faster when the words are ones you use daily.
What’s the fastest way to sound more natural?
Practise the exact phrases from your real life, out loud, until they’re automatic. Dublo is built around that.
Keep learning
BasicsBasic Thai Phrases
The common, everyday words and short sentences you’ll reach for most as a beginner.
TravelersLearn Thai for Travelers
The essential phrases for taxis, hotels, food and shopping, with Thai script, pronunciation and meaning.
GuideHow to Learn Thai
A simple, practical plan to start speaking real Thai, what to learn first, and how to make it stick.
PronunciationThai Tones & Pronunciation
How the five tones work, why they change meaning, and how to be understood, made simple.