Learn Thai for teaching in Thailand
Free resource to learn Thai phrases and school vocabulary for teachers in Thailand, with Thai script, pronunciation guides, and cultural notes.
👋 Introduction
สวัสดีค่ะ
Literal:
Hello • [politeness particle: kha]
Hello
Use this all-purpose greeting with a wai when the situation calls for one.
Random fact: Thai-language scholar Phraya Upakit Silapasan (Nim Kanchanachiva) introduced สวัสดี as a modern greeting in 1933 while teaching at Chulalongkorn University. On 22 January 1943, Prime Minister Plaek Phibunsongkhram’s government formally adopted it as Thailand’s standard greeting. The word itself is older, with roots in Pali and Sanskrit terms associated with well-being.
🔢 Numbers
ศูนย์
0: Zero
Useful in scores, room numbers, telephone numbers, temperatures, and quantities with nothing remaining.
Random fact: The Thai numeral for zero is ๐. Thai numerals sometimes appear on clocks, calendars, official documents, signs, and school materials, so learning to recognize them can be useful.
✏️ Classroom Pt.2
วันนี้ใครไม่มา คะ?
RTGS
wanni khrai mai ma kha?
Paiboon
wan-níi krai mâi maa ká?
IPA
wan˧.niː˦˥ kʰraj˧ maj˥˩ maː˧ kʰa˦˥?
Literal:
Today • Who • Not • Come • [politeness particle: kha]
Who is absent today?
Use this while checking attendance. Confirm the answer against the class list; the question does not ask why someone is absent.
🤝 Meeting the Parents
สวัสดีค่ะ ครูสอนภาษาอังกฤษให้น้อง ค่ะ
RTGS
sawatdi kha Khru son phasa-angkrit hai nong kha
Paiboon
sà-wàt-dii kâ kruu sɔ̌ɔn paa-sǎa-ang-grìt hâi nɔ́ɔng kâ
IPA
sa˨˩.wat˨˩.diː˧ kʰa˥˩ kʰruː˧ sɔːn˩˩˦ pʰaː˧.saː˩˩˦.ʔaŋ˧.krit˨˩ haj˥˩ nɔːŋ˦˥ kʰa˥˩
Literal:
Hello • [politeness particle: kha] • Teacher (I: Khru) • Teach • English • To • Your child • [politeness particle: kha]
Hello. I teach your child English
Use this at a first drop-off or at the start of a meeting. Here, น้อง refers warmly to the child you are discussing; use the student’s name if the reference is unclear. The speaker slot uses ครู, meaning teacher, as a self-reference.
🤝 Staffroom and Colleagues
ขอรบกวนหน่อย ค่ะ
Literal:
Request • Disturb/Bother • A little • [politeness particle: kha]
Excuse me for bothering you
Use this before asking a favor, especially with a busy or senior colleague.
🛠️ Facilities and School Support
ช่วยถ่ายเอกสารให้สามสิบชุดหน่อย ค่ะ
RTGS
chuai thai-ekkasan hai samsip chut noi kha
Paiboon
chûai tàai-èek-gà-sǎan hâi sǎam-sìp chút nɔ̀ɔi kâ
IPA
tɕʰuːaj˥˩ tʰaːj˨˩.ʔeːk˨˩.ka˨˩.saːn˩˩˦ haj˥˩ saːm˩˩˦.sip˨˩ tɕʰut˦˥ nɔːj˨˩ kʰa˥˩
Literal:
Please help • Photocopy • Document • For me • Thirty • Sets • Please / a little • [politeness particle: kha]
Please photocopy 30 sets
A practical request for a class of 30; show the original and indicate whether copies should be single- or double-sided.
🍜 School Canteen
เอาข้าวผัดไก่หนึ่งจาน ค่ะ
RTGS
ao khaophat kai nueng chan kha
Paiboon
ao kâao-pàt gài nʉ̀ng jaan kâ
IPA
ʔaw˧ kʰaːw˥˩.pʰat˨˩ kaj˨˩ nɯŋ˨˩ tɕaːn˧ kʰa˥˩
Literal:
Want/Take • Chicken fried rice • One • Plate • [politeness particle: kha]
I’ll have one plate of chicken fried rice
Chicken fried rice is widely available and makes this a complete order you can use at a school canteen.
🍲 Thai Food
ขอโต๊ะสำหรับสองคนได้ไหม คะ?
RTGS
kho to samrap song khon dai mai kha?
Paiboon
kɔ̌ɔ dtó sǎm-ràp sɔ̌ɔng kon dâai mǎi ká?
IPA
kʰɔː˩˩˦ to˦˥ sam˩˩˦.rap˨˩ sɔːŋ˩˩˦ kʰon˧ daːj˥˩ maj˩˩˦ kʰa˦˥?
Literal:
Request / may I have • Table • For • Two • People • Can? • [politeness particle: kha]
Can I have a table for two?
Ask the host or server when you arrive at a restaurant. สองคน means two people; replace สอง with another number to change the party size.
🏠 At Home
ห้องห้าศูนย์แปดมีพัสดุไหม คะ?
RTGS
hong ha sun paet mi phatsadu mai kha?
Paiboon
hɔ̂ɔng hâa sǔun bpɛ̀ɛt mii pát-sà-dù mǎi ká?
IPA
hɔːŋ˥˩ haː˥˩ suːn˩˩˦ pɛːt˨˩ miː˧ pʰat˦˥.sa˨˩.du˨˩ maj˩˩˦ kʰa˦˥?
Literal:
Room • Five-zero-eight • Have • Parcel • Question particle • [politeness particle: kha]
Are there any parcels for room 508?
Room 508 is a realistic condominium example; ask security or the juristic office and have identification ready if required.
🛵 Transport
ไปสนามบินเท่าไหร่ คะ?
RTGS
pai sanambin thaorai kha?
Paiboon
bpai sà-nǎam-bin tâo-rài ká?
IPA
paj˧ sa˨˩.naːm˩˩˦.bin˧ tʰaw˥˩.raj˨˩ kʰa˦˥?
Literal:
Go • Airport • How much • [politeness particle: kha]
How much to go to the airport?
For an unmetered ride, agree on the fare before setting off.
🩺 Health and Pharmacy
มียาแก้ปวดหัวไหม คะ?
RTGS
mi yakaepuat hua mai kha?
Paiboon
mii yaa-gɛ̂ɛ-bpùat hǔa mǎi ká?
IPA
miː˧ jaː˧.kɛː˥˩.puːat˨˩ huːa˩˩˦ maj˩˩˦ kʰa˦˥?
Literal:
Have • Medicine for / remedy • Headache • Question particle • [politeness particle: kha]
Do you have medicine for a headache?
A complete pharmacy question for a common headache; also tell the pharmacist how long it has lasted and what medicines you take.
💆 Thai Massage
ขอนวดไทยหนึ่งชั่วโมง ค่ะ
RTGS
kho nuat thai nueng chuamong kha
Paiboon
kɔ̌ɔ nûat tai nʉ̀ng chûa-moong kâ
IPA
kʰɔː˩˩˦ nuːat˥˩ tʰaj˧ nɯŋ˨˩ tɕʰuːa˥˩.moːŋ˧ kʰa˥˩
Literal:
Request • Thai massage • One • Hour • [politeness particle: kha]
A one-hour Thai massage, please
Use this at reception to confirm both the massage style and a one-hour session.
Random fact: Traditional Thai massage commonly combines pressure and assisted stretching, so tell the therapist about your comfort and mobility before the session begins.
💛 Dating
มีแฟนหรือยัง คะ?
Literal:
Have • Romantic partner • Or not yet • [politeness particle: kha]
Do you have a romantic partner?
This is direct and personal, so ask only when the conversation already feels comfortable and private.
Random fact: In Thai, faen can refer to a girlfriend, boyfriend, or romantic partner without specifying gender.
🛂 Visiting Immigration
สำนักงานตรวจคนเข้าเมืองอยู่ที่ไหน คะ?
RTGS
samnakngan truat khonkhaomueang yu thinai kha?
Paiboon
sǎm-nák-ngaan dtrùat kon-kâo-mʉang yùu tîi-nǎi ká?
IPA
sam˩˩˦.nak˦˥.ŋaːn˧ truːat˨˩ kʰon˧.kʰaw˥˩.mɯːaŋ˧ juː˨˩ tʰiː˥˩.naj˩˩˦ kʰa˦˥?
Literal:
Office • Immigration (check people entering the country) • Be located • Where • [politeness particle: kha]
Where is the immigration office?
Ask for directions to the office. Showing its name or address helps distinguish it from an immigration checkpoint.
Random fact: You may see immigration abbreviated as ตม., pronounced ตอ มอ (to mo).
🏖️ Recreational
เสาร์อาทิตย์นี้จะไปเที่ยวไหน คะ?
RTGS
sao athit ni cha paithiao nai kha?
Paiboon
sǎo aa-tít níi jà bpai-tîao nǎi ká?
IPA
saw˩˩˦ ʔaː˧.tʰit˦˥ niː˦˥ tɕa˨˩ paj˧.tʰiːaw˥˩ naj˩˩˦ kʰa˦˥?
Literal:
Saturday and Sunday • This • Will / going to • Go • Visit / go on an outing • Where • [politeness particle: kha]
Where are you going this weekend?
Ask a friend or colleague about their plans. เสาร์อาทิตย์นี้ means this Saturday and Sunday.
📅 Days passing by
วันนี้วันอะไร คะ?
Literal:
Today • Day • What • [politeness particle: kha]
What day is it today?
Ask which day of the week it is, for example when checking the classroom calendar. Answer with วันนี้ followed by a day name.
🧑 Humans
ส่วนนี้ของร่างกายเรียกว่าอะไร คะ?
RTGS
suan ni khong rangkai riak wa arai kha?
Paiboon
sùan níi kɔ̌ɔng râang-gaai rîak wâa à-rai ká?
IPA
suːan˨˩ niː˦˥ kʰɔːŋ˩˩˦ raːŋ˥˩.kaːj˧ riːak˥˩ waː˥˩ ʔa˨˩.raj˧ kʰa˦˥?
Literal:
Part • This • Of • Body • Be called • What • [politeness particle: kha]
What is this part of the body called?
Point to a body diagram when asking. Use the answer to learn the name of a body part.
💻 Clankers
ขอชาร์จมือถือที่นี่ได้ไหม คะ?
RTGS
kho chat muethue thini dai mai kha?
Paiboon
kɔ̌ɔ châat mʉʉ-tʉ̌ʉ tîi-nîi dâai mǎi ká?
IPA
kʰɔː˩˩˦ tɕʰaːt˥˩ mɯː˧.tʰɯː˩˩˦ tʰiː˥˩.niː˥˩ daːj˥˩ maj˩˩˦ kʰa˦˥?
Literal:
May I • Charge • Mobile phone • Here • Can • Question marker • [politeness particle: kha]
May I charge my phone here?
Ask permission before using a socket in a classroom, staffroom, or café. มือถือ is the everyday short form of โทรศัพท์มือถือ.
Thai Culture
Thai culture and school life
The Wai greeting
The Wai is a common sign of greeting and respect. Learn when to use it with senior colleagues and how to acknowledge a student’s Wai naturally.
Dress code matters
Expectations vary by school, but neat, modest clothing is a safe starting point. Check what your colleagues wear and ask about special uniform days.
Keep your cool ("Jai Yen")
Plan clear routines, check that students understand, and respond to classroom problems without humiliating anyone.
Thailand is not an amusement park
Moving to Thailand means adjusting to a working week, daily errands, and a new language. Read about the changes to expect after the holiday.