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  3. I’m sorry, but my Thai isn’t very good. Could you please speak slowly?

I’m sorry, but my Thai isn’t very good. Could you please speak slowly? in Thai

Day-one Thai for greetings, introductions, titles, and basic courtesies.

Topic 8 of 19
Choose your preferences

Voice: In Thai language, different wording is used depending whether you identify as male or female. You can choose your preference here. Male speakers use ครับ; female speakers use ค่ะ for statements and คะ for questions. Polite endings, personal pronouns, and pronunciation guides follow your choice. Note: The audio recordings are currently only available if you choose the female option.


Romanization: Thai language is written in Thai script. It looks like this: เรียนภาษาไทย. Since you are here, you probably cannot read that, yet. Therefore, there are many transcription systems to convert Thai script into the more familiar A to Z alphabet. RTGS is the official Thai transcription system used on road signs and in official documents. Paiboon adds tone and vowel-length guidance. IPA, the International Phonetic Alphabet, uses symbols for speech sounds. Select any combination to compare them, or none to practise reading Thai script on its own.


Thai font: This website also allows you to choose between two different fonts for the Thai script. The classic font is easier to read, but many places will use a more modern font which can be harder to read for beginners. If you want to learn reading Thai script, you can first start with the classic font and then move on to the modern one.

Your voice
Romanization
Thai font
👋 Lesson overview

Prepare for your first meetings with administrators, colleagues, and students. This lesson covers polite greetings, personal introductions, teacher titles, where you are from, and courteous ways to begin and end a conversation.

👋 Introduction
Vocabulary
ขอโทษนะ ฉันพูดภาษาไทยไม่ค่อยเก่ง ช่วยพูดช้าๆ หน่อยได้ไหม คะ?
RTGS khothot na Chan phut phasathai maikhoi keng chuai phut cha cha noi dai mai kha?
Paiboon kɔ̌ɔ-tôot ná chán pûut paa-sǎa-tai mâi-kɔ̂ɔi gèeng chûai pûut cháa cháa nɔ̀ɔi dâai mǎi ká?
IPA kʰɔː˩˩˦.tʰoːt˥˩ na˦˥ tɕʰan˩˩˦ pʰuːt˥˩ pʰaː˧.saː˩˩˦.tʰaj˧ maj˥˩.kʰɔːj˥˩ keːŋ˨˩ tɕʰuːaj˥˩ pʰuːt˥˩ tɕʰaː˦˥ tɕʰaː˦˥ nɔːj˨˩ daːj˥˩ maj˩˩˦ kʰa˦˥?
Literal: Sorry • Friendly softener • I (female: chan) • Speak Thai • Not very well • Please help • Speak slowly • Please / a little • Can? • [politeness particle: kha]
I’m sorry, but my Thai isn’t very good. Could you please speak slowly?
Example sentence
RTGS
Paiboon
IPA
Use this when a conversation is moving too quickly. It explains your current level and asks the listener to slow down without requiring them to switch to English.
💡 The pattern mai khoi plus an adjective softens a negative statement. Here, mai khoi keng means “not very skilled” rather than making an absolute claim.

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📖 Topic guide
Lesson quiz

Test Yourself

Question 1 of 19

Listening uses recorded items only. Changing mode or voice starts a new quiz.

Listening is unavailable for this voice. Try the reading quiz or choose another voice.

👋 Choose the English meaning
RTGS
Paiboon
IPA

✓

Quiz complete

🎯 Goals
Lesson complete

In this lesson, you will practice how to:

  • • Greet students, staff, and school leaders politely.
  • • Introduce your name, role, and home country.
  • • Use common teacher titles and ask how someone prefers to be addressed.
  • • Thank, apologize to, and take leave of someone naturally.
Thai for Teachers
Thai for Teachers
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A free guide to everyday Thai for the classroom, staffroom, and school day.

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