Learn Thai · Survival
Survival Thai Phrases
If you only learn a dozen Thai phrases, make them these. They’re the survival kit, the words that handle greetings, politeness, prices, food and asking for help almost anywhere in Thailand.
The five you can’t skip
Start here. With hello, thank you, sorry, yes and no, plus the polite particle khráp/khâ, you can already be warm and understood.
| Thai | Say it | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| สวัสดี | sà-wàt-dii | Hello |
| ขอบคุณ | khàawp-khun | Thank you |
| ขอโทษ | khǎaw-thôot | Sorry / excuse me |
| ใช่ | châi | Yes |
| ไม่ใช่ | mâi-châi | No |
Asking for what you need
| Thai | Say it | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| เท่าไหร่ | thâo-rài | How much? |
| อยู่ที่ไหน | yùu thîi-nǎi | Where is…? |
| ขอ… | khǎaw… | May I have…? |
| ช่วยด้วย | chûay-dûay | Help! |
| ไม่เป็นไร | mâi-bpen-rai | It’s okay / no worries |
Numbers 1-10
Numbers show up constantly, prices, quantities, room numbers. Thai numbers are refreshingly regular once you know one to ten.
| Thai | Say it | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| หนึ่ง / สอง / สาม | nèung / sǎawng / sǎam | 1 / 2 / 3 |
| สี่ / ห้า | sìi / hâa | 4 / 5 |
| หก / เจ็ด | hòk / jèt | 6 / 7 |
| แปด / เก้า / สิบ | bpàet / gâo / sìp | 8 / 9 / 10 |
| ร้อย | ráauy | hundred |
Food and drink
| Thai | Say it | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| อร่อย | à-ròi | Delicious |
| ไม่เผ็ด | mâi-phèt | Not spicy |
| น้ำ | náam | Water |
| เช็คบิล | chék-bin | Check, please |
That’s the survival kit. Learn these and you’ll handle the great majority of everyday situations, and you’ll be ready to build real sentences next.
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 turns survival words into short spoken responses. You meet a small set, connect it to one useful pattern, produce the answer and retrieve it again before moving on.
Read the complete Dublo methodLock these in for good
Dublo turns this survival kit into short lessons that stick. 14-day refund on your first payment.
Frequently asked questions
What does khráp / khâ mean?
They’re polite particles added to the end of a sentence, khráp for men, khâ for women. They make anything you say more polite and are worth using constantly.
Is Thai hard to learn?
It has a reputation, but with the right method it’s very learnable. Starting from real, everyday words like these makes it click faster than grammar drills.
Where do I go after survival phrases?
Build from single words to short sentences. Dublo takes you there step by step, in the order you’ll actually use them.
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.