Thai-Insight-Book-One

THAI
INSIGHT

BOOK ONE

By: James Stoddart & Nisitra Tubtimdaeng
Designed by: Mayra Orozco

PREFACE

The following book is designed for beginners learning Thai and is
designed to give you new vocabulary, phrases and dialogues. The
book can be used either in a classroom or as self-study material.

The topics are everyday ones with the vocabulary and phrases
chosen, the ones you will most likely hear when out and about in
Thailand.

Both Thai script and phonetic spellings have been used
throughout the material and we have done our best to make the
words written phonetically sound as close to the correct Thai
word as possible.

We have not put tone markers on the phonetics as we have found
that for learners from non-tonal languages it is very difficult
to use the correct tone even with the markers. The only way to
achieve the correct tone is through practice and correction.

Finally, I hope that this book gives you enough Thai to begin
communicating with Thai people and good luck with your studies.

All the best

James Stoddart

THAI
INSIGHT

BOOK ONE

2

CONTENTS

1 INTRODUCTIONS
Page 5

2 INTRODUCTIONS AND JOBS
Page 9

3 NUMBERS
Page 15
4
CLASSROOM
Page 18

5 MONTHS / DAYS / DATES
Page 23

6 EVERYDAY PHRASES
Page 27

7 TELLING THE TIME
Page 29

3

CONTENTS

8 9 FAMILY
Page 40
MY DAY
10 RESTAURANT
Page 34 Page 45

11 FEELINGS
Page 54

12

DIRECTIONS

Page 61

13 SHOPPING
Page 65

14 AT HOME
Page 70

15 TRANSPORT
Page 74

4

INTRODUCTIONS

5

VOCABULARY THAI INTRODUCTIONS

KAM-SAP

/Chue/ /Chue jing/ /Namsakun/ /Chue Len/
Name First name Last name Nickname

/Jak/ /San chard/
From Nationality

/Tee nai/ /Pratet/
Where Country

/Arai/ /Yang rai/
What How

/Khun/ /Phom/Dee /Mar/ /Sakot/
You Chan/ Come Spell
I

6

PHRASES

Khun Chue Arai? What is your name?
Khun Ma Jak Tee nai? Where are you from?
Khun Ma Jak Pratet Arai? What country are you from?
Khun Pen Khon San chard Arai? What is your nationality?

Chue Len Khong Chan/Phom Kue My nickname Is...
Chan Ma Jak I come from

Khun Sakot Yang rai How do you spell...?

Khun is used by both males/females to say "You"

Dee Chan is used as "I" by female speakers

Phom is used as "I" by male speakers. Chan can be used by both male and female
speakers although it is not used by males that often.

Khrap often heard as Khap is used at the end of answers and questions to show
politeness if you are male.

Kha is used if you are female.

7

DIALOGUE

1 2

A) Khun Chue Arai? A) Khun Ma Jak Tee nai?
What is your name? Where are you from?

B) Phom/Chan Chue Somchai B) Phom/Chan Ma Jak Pratet
My name is Somchai Thai
I am from Thailand

3 A) Khun Namsakun Arai? 4
What is your last name?
A) Khun Pen Khon San chard
B) Namsakun Khong Chan/ Arai
Phom Kue Smith What is your nationality?
My last name is Smith
B) Chan Pen Khon Thai
A) Khun Sakot Yang rai? I am Thai
How do you spell that?

B) S-M-I-T-H
S-M-I-T-H

8

INTRODUCTIONS AND JOBS

9

VOCABULARY INTRODUCTIONS TWO

KAM-SAP

/You/Asai you/ /Pak/ /Tee You/ /Rahat
Live Stay Address praisanee/
Postcode

/Jangwat/ /Taweep/
Province Continent

/Ampoe/ /Muang yai/
District City

/Tambon/ /Muang/
Sub district Town

/Moo baan/ /Tap/ /Thanon/ /Soi/
Village Slash Road Street

10

PHRASES

Kun yuu tii nai? Where do you live?
Tii-yuu kong kun kuu a-rai? What is your address?
Which is your postcode?
Ra-hat-pri-sa-nii kong-kun kuu What city are you from?
a-rai? My address is...
I live in Hua Hin
Kun maa-jaak maung a-rai? What road do you live on?

Tii-yuu kong pom kuu...

Pom yuu tii Hua Hin

Baan kong- kun yuu bon ta-non
a-rai?

11

DIALOGUE 2

1 A) Baan kong kun yuu bon
ta-non a-rai?
A) Tii- yuu kong kun kuu What road do you live on?
a-rai? B) Baan kong pom yuu bon
What is your address? Ta-non Ratchada
B) 26/39 ta-non Petchkasem I live on Ratchada road
am-per Hua-Hin 10310
26/39, Petchkasem Road Hua
Hin District 10310

12

VOCABULARY

KAM-SAP

JOBS

/Kru/ /Pa nak ngan ton rab/ /Mhor/ /Pa ya barn/
Teacher Receptionist Doctor Nurse

/Tam-rhouad/ /Wissawakorn/ /Bor ri Korn | /Pa nak ngan khaii/
Policeman Engineer Pa nak ngan serve/ Salesperson
Waiter/Waitress

/Por krua/ /Ta harn/ /Khar rad cha karn/ /Khon khab rod/
Chef Soldier Government Driver
employee

/Khon tham kwam /Chang fhai farh/ /Chang mhaii/ /Khon suan/
sa - ard/ Electrician Carpenter Gardener
Cleaner

13

ASKING WHAT YOU DO?

Khun tham-ngarn keeow gap arai? – What is your job?
The literal translation is:
You work about what?
The answer to the above question is usually:
Phom bpen + (the job) = I am + (the job)
Practice the following and add your own job:
A) Khun tham-ngarn keeow gap arai?
B) Phom bpen
Here are a couple of extra words:
1) Nak rien = Student
2) Acheep = Career
3) Tham-ngarn = Work

14

NUMBERS

15

NUMBERS

0 /Soon/ 11 /Sib et/
1 /Neung/ 12 /Sib Song/
2 /Song/ 20 /Yee sip/
3 /Sam/ 30 /Sam sip/
4 /See/ 100 /Neung Roi/
5 /Har/ 1,000 /Neung Phan/
6 /Hok/ 10,000 /Nueng meun/
7 /Jet/ 100,000 /Neung saen/
8 /Bpaet/ 1,000,000 /Nueng Larn/
9 /Kgow/
10 /Sip/

16

GRAMMAR AND STRUCTURE

The number system in Thailand is quite simple. For
example, to make the number 35, you simply take
the number 3 (sam) plus the word to indicate 10 (sip)
plus the number for 5 (ha) and put them together.

35 = Sam sip ha

The exception to this is 20 to 29 with 20 expressed as
"yee sip"

The number after each ten, for example 11, 21, 31, 41 etc
is expressed as "et"

For Example: See sip et = 41

QUESTION PRACTICE:

Asking About Age:

Are you tao rai? Phom are you sam sip see pee

How old are you? I am 34 years old

For children from 1 year old up until about 9 years old
you usually use "kuap" to replace "Pee"

Q) Are you tao rai?

A) Phom are you 6 kuap

TELEPHONE NUMBERS

Bur torasap khong khun bur arai?
What is your telephone number?

Bur torasap kong phom kue 087 234 7653
My telephone number is ...

Kor bur torasap dai mai?
Can I have your telephone number?

17

CLASSROOM

18

VOCABULARY

KAM-SAP

CLASSROOM

/Dinsor/ /Pakka/ /Mai ban tat/ /Kradard/
Pencil Pen Ruler Paper

/Samut/ /Yanglop/ /Tee yeeap kradard/ /Tee Nep kradard/
Notebook Eraser Stapler Paperclip

/Kradarn Whiteboard/ /Pakka marker/ /Dinsor see/
Whiteboard Marker Pen Pencil crayon

/Dto/ /Gowee/
Desk Chair

19

PREPOSITIONS

/Nai/ /Bon/ /Phai dtai/ /Rawang/
In On Under Between

/Kaang na/ /Kaang Lang/ /Tat jak/ /Trong Karm/
In front of Behind Next To Opposite

20

PHRASES

Nee kur arai? Nee kur pakka chai mai? Kor pakka noi?
What is it? Is it a pen? Can I have a pen?

Pakka you tee nai? You bon dto Dai/Nee
Where is the pen? It is on the desk Yes here you are

STRUCTURE

Ending a sentence with
"Chai mai?" is similar to
ending a sentence in English
with "Isn’t it?" The literal
translation is, "Yes, no".

Example: "Nee kur pakka
chai mai?"
Translated literally is "This is
a pen, yes, no?"

Mong hin kradarn whiteboard mai? Mong hin kradarn whiteboard
Can you see the whiteboard? Yes I can see the whiteboard

Arai you dtai nang Mee dinsor mai? Mai mee. Mai me
sur? Do you have a pencil? dinsor

What is under the No I don’t have a
book? pencil

21

DIALOGUE

1 2 3

A) Nee kur arai? A) Kor pakka dai mai? A) Mee samut mai?
What is this? Can I have a pen? Do you have a
B) Nee kur dinsor B) Dai, nee notebook?
It is a pencil Yes, here you are B) Mai mee. Kor samut
dai mai?
No I don’t. Can I have a
notebook?

A) Dai, nee
Yes, here you are
B) Kob khun
Thank you

22

MONTHS/DAYS/DATES

23

VOCABULARY MOOFNTTHHESW&EDEAKYS

KAM-SAP

Month - Duan

/Mok-ga-raa-kom/ /Kum-paa-pan/ /mee-naa-kom/
January February March

/Mae-saa-yon/ /Prut-sa-paa-kom/ /mi-tu-naa-yon/
April May June

/Ka-rak-ga-daa-kom/ /Sing-haa-kom/ /Kan-yaa-yon/
July August September

/Dtu-laa-kom/ /Prut-sa-paa-kom/ /Tan-waa-kom/
October November December

Kom at the end month indicates 31 days are in the month.
Yon indicates 30 days and for February it is Pan.

In spoken Thai Kom, Yon and Pan are dropped when speaking.

/Wan-jan/ /Wan-ang-kharn/ /Wan-pud/ /wan-pa-ru-hat
Monday Tuesday Wednesday (sa-bor-dee)/

Day of week /Wan-suk/ /Wan-sao/ Thursday
(wan) Friday Saturday
/Wan-ar-tiet/
24 Sunday

PHRASES

Wan-tee tao-rai? Wan a-rai? Wan-jan chai-mai?
What is the date? What day is it? Is it Monday?

Wan-yut kong kun Pom yut wan sao Khun gert duan a-rai?
mua-rai? I am off on Saturday What month were you

When is your day off? born?

Kun maa-tung Kun ork-bpai mua-rai? Pom gert duan prut-sa-
mua-rai? When do you leave? par-kom

When do you arrive? I was born in May

Pom maa-tung wan-tii 3 Pom ork-bpai wan-tii 15 duan
I arrive on the 3rd mi-tu-naa-yon

I leave on the 15th of June

25

DIALOGUE

1 2 3

A) Wan-nii wan-tii tao- A) Mua-waan nii wan A) Kun maa-tung Thai
rai? a-rai? mua-rai?
What is the date today? What day was it
B) Wan tii 1 duan mi-tu- yesterday? When do you arrive in
naa-yon B) Wan ruu wan-tii? Thailand?
It’s the first of June Day or date?
A) Wan B) Pom maa-tung wan-
A) Jing ror? Day tii 5 gan-yaa-yon
Really? B) Wan ang-kaan
B) Jing, prung-nii bpen It was Tuesday I arrive on the 5th of
wan-gert korng pom September
Yes, It’s my birthday
tomorrow A) Dii lae kun ork-bpai
mua-rai?

Good. And when do you
leave?

B) Pom ork bpai wan-tii
25 dtu-laa-kom

I leave on the 25th Of
October

26

EVERYDAY PHRASES

27

USEFUL PHRASES

Things you will hear when out and about

/Sawasdee Khrap /Kha/ /Ma nee/
Hello Come here

/Mai Khow Jai/ /Chai/
I don’t understand Yes

/Mai Saab/ /Khrap/Kha/
I don’t know (Polite) Yes (polite)

/Mai sarb/ /Mai/
I don’t know No

/Dai/ /Mai Chai/
Can No it is not

/Mai Dai/ /Kit War/
Can not I think

/Arai na/ /Mai nae jai/
What? Not sure

/Arai Khrap / kha/ /Nae Norn/
What? (Polite) For sure

/Chao Tang Chart/ /Kit Do Korn/
Foreigner Will think about it

"Kit do korn" means I will think about it but it is usually a polite way of saying –No I won’t be doing that
28

TELLING THE TIME

29

VOCABULARY

KAM-SAP

TELLING THE TIME

/Hok mung chao/ /Tieng wan/ /Bai mung/
6am Midday 1pm

/See mung yen/ /Nueng tum/ /Tieng Kuen/
4pm 7pm Midnight

/Tee neung/ /Ha mung kreung/ /Pramaan/
1am Half past 5 About

30

STRUCTURE

06:00 From 6am to 11am you put the number followed by "mung chao":
11:00 1) Hok mung chao
2) Jet mung Chao
13:00
15:00 From 1pm to 3pm you put "bai" before the number:
1) Bai song = 2pm
16:00
18:00 From 4pm to 6pm you put "mung yen" after the number:
19:00 1) See mung yen = 4pm
23:00
01:00 From 7pm to 11pm you put "tum" after the number:
05:00 1) Nueng tum = 7pm
2) Song tum = 8pm

From 1am to 5am you put "Tee" before the number

31

PHRASES

Gee mung laew? What time is it?
Rong rien burt Kee mung? What time does the school open?
Rong rien pit kee mung? What time does the school close?
Nang ruerm Kee mung? What time does the movie start?
Nang jop kee mung? What time does the movie finish?
32

DIALOGUE

1 2 3

A) Kee mung laew? A) Rong rien burt kee A) Nang ruerm kee
What time is it? mung? mung?
B) Bai sam What time does the
It is 3pm school open? What time does the
B) Burt baet mung chao movie start?
It opens at 8am
B) Ruerm tieng wan, jop
A) Pit kee mung? bai sam
What time does it
close? It starts at Midday and
B) Pit neung tum finishes at 3pm
It closes at 7pm

33

MY DAY

34

VOCABULARY MY DAY

KAM-SAP

/Dteurn norn/ /Look khuen/
Wake up Get up

/Ab nam/ /Praeng fan/ /Rap pratarn
Take a shower Brush your a-harn/

teeth Have breakfast

/Dtaeng dtua/ /Bpai sur Kong/ /Ork jak baan/
Get dressed Go shopping Leave home

/Rap pratarn /Bpai Yim/ /Do Toratat/ /Bpai deum/
a-haan tieng/ Go to the gym Watch TV Go for a drink

Have lunch

/Bpai jer peuarn/ /Rap pratarn /Khow norn/
Meet friends a-harn yen/ Go to bed
Have dinner

35

ADVERBS OF FREQUENCY

/samoe/ /Bang krang/
Always Sometimes

/Boi boi/ /Mai koi/
Often Rarely

/Mai kuei/ /Tuk wan/
Never Everyday

/Wan nee/ /Mue wan/
Today Yesterday

/Mue khuen/ /Sapda tee laew/
Last night Last week

/Dtorn chao/ /Dtorn bai/
Morning Afternoon

/Dtorn yen/
Evening

36

PHRASES

Dteurn norn kee mung? What time do you wake up?

Bpai sur khong tee nai? Where do you go shopping?

Rap pratarn a-harn chao rue yang? Have you had breakfast?
Rap pratarn arai? What do you eat?

Mue Khuen khun bai tee nai? Where did you go last night?

Rap pratarn a-harn tieng arai? What did you have for lunch?

Rap pratarn a-harn tieng gap krai? Who did you have lunch with?

Ja tham arai nai khuen prung nee? What are you doing tomorrow
Ja tham arai nai wan yuut suut sapdar? night?

What do you do at the weekend?

37

WORD USE DIALOGUE

You will often hear the word "Kin" for 1
eat. This is the informal way to say eat.
A more formal way in "Tarn" and the A) Khun tuern norn kee mung?
most for formal is "Rap pratarn". What time do you wake up?
B) Chan tuern 7 mung chao
EXAMPLES: I wake up at 7am?

1) Kin khow rue yang?

2) Tarn khow rue yang?

Both of the phrases above mean:
Have you eaten yet?

Typical replies are:

1) Kin laew or Tarn laew
I have eaten

2) Yang mai kin or yang mai tarn
I have not eaten yet

You can add "khow" after kin or tarn
if you want to. If you want to add
emphasis and show you have not had
time to eat or are probably hungry you
can "loei" to the end of the reply.
38

DIALOGUE

2 A) Meu wan khun rap pratarn 3 A) Khun ja tham arai wan yuut
a-harn tee nai? suut sapdar?
What are you doing at the week-
Where did you have lunch yester- end?
day?
B) Chan rap pratarn a-harn tieng B) Chan ja bai jer peuarn nai wan
teehaan sap sin car sao lae wan athit ja you baan
kong chan
I had lunch at the shopping mall I am going to meet friends on Satur-
A) Khun bai gap krai? day and on Sunday I am staying in
Who did you go with?
B) Chan bai gap peuarn A) Khun bai jer peuarn tee nai?
I went with my friend Where are you meeting your
friends?

B) Tee suan sat a rana
At the park

4 A) Khun bai yim boi kae nai? 5 A) Khun rap pratarn a-harn yen
How often do you go to the gym? rue yang?
Have you had dinner?
B) Chan mai keui bai yim/ Lae B) Yang, dter chan rap pratarn
khun la? a-harn tieng laew
I never go to the gym. What about No not yet, but I had lunch
you?
39
A) Chan bai yim tuk wan yuut
suud sapdar
I usually go at the weekend

B) Khun sanuk mai?
Do you enjoy it?

A) Sanuk
Yes, I do

FAMILY

40

VOCABULARY MY FAMILY

KAM-SAP /Ya/Yai/
Grandmother
78
1 9 2 10
/Bpoo/Dta/
Grandfather

11 12

13 4 5 36

14 15

1 /Por/ 11 /Loong/Nar/Ar/
Father Uncle

2 /Mae/ /Faen/ 12 /Bpa/Nar/Ar/
Mother Boyfriend Aunt
7

3 /Pee sao/Nong sao/
Sister
/Faen/ /luuk pee luuk
4 /Pee chai/nong chai/ 8 Girlfriend 13 nong/
Brother Cousin

5 /Luuk chai/ 9 /Samee/ 14 /Larn chai/
Son Husband Nephew

6 /Luuk sao/ 10 /Panraya/ 15 /Larn sao/
Daughter Wife Niece

41

TALKING ABOUT FAMILY IN THAI

Talking about family is one of the most confusing aspects of Thai.
Here is a brief guide to understanding how to talk about Thai family.

- Brothers and Sisters:
A Thai will almost always add "older" or "younger" before the word
for brother or sister.

Example:
Pee chai = Older brother / Nong sao = Younger sister

It is also common for a close friend or cousin to be referred to as a
brother or sister even though they are not biologically a brother or
sister.

- Aunts and Uncles:
The younger brother and sister of a child’s father is referred to as
"Ar" by the child.

The younger brother and sister of a child’s mother is referred to as
"Nar" by the child.

The older brother of both the child’s mother and father is referred to
as "Loong".

The older sister of both the child’s mother and father is referred to
as "Bpa".

- Grandparents:

On the mother’s side:

Grandfather = Dta
Grandmother = Yai

On the father’s side:

Grandfather = Bpoo
Grandmother = Yar

- Cousins:
You will sometimes here the word "luuk pee, luuk nong" to refer to
cousins.

- Husband & Wife:
The word "faen" which means boyfriend or girlfriend is often used to
mean husband or wife.

CAUTION!

The impolite words for husband (Puua) and wife (Mia) are used and
you will probably hear them in some situations. It is not uncommon
for a taxi driver to ask a male passenger – "Mee mia yang?" or "Do
you have a wife?"

It is NOT recommended you use these words in conversation.

42

Khun mee krop krua yai mai? PHRASES
Do you have a big family?
Khun mee pee, nong chai rue pee,
Khun taeng ngarn rue yang? nong sao mai?
Are you married?
Do you have any brothers or
Khun mee pee sao/nong sao mai? sisters?
Do you have a sister?
Khun Sote rue plao?
Khun mee luuk mai? Are you single?
Do you have children?
Khun mee pee chai/ nong chai
Chan bpen mai?
I am...
Do you have a brother?

Chan mee
I have a...

43

DIALOGUE

1 2 3

A) Khun mee krop krua A) Khun taeng ngarn A) Khun mee luuk mai?
yai mai? rue yang? Do you have children?
B) Chai. Chan mee luuk
Do you have a big Are you married? chai khon nueng
family? Yes, I have one son
B) Chai. Taeng ngarn A) Khow are you tao rai?
B) Chai, mee pee chai laew
sam khon lae nong sao How old is he?
song khon Yes, I am
B) Khow are you 7
Yes, I have 3 older A) Khun taeng ngarn kuap?
brothers and 2 younger narn tao rai laew? He is 7
sisters
How long have you been
A) Puak khow you tee married?
nai?
B) 5 pee laew
Where do they live?
For 5 years
B) Puak khow you tee
Angkrit

They live in England

44

RESTAURANT

45

VOCABULARY

KAM-SAP

FOOD & DRINK

/Som/ /Chorn/ /Meet/
Fork Spoon Knife

/Tao kiap/ /Chan/ /Charm/
Chopsticks Plate Bowl

/Tooay/ /Kaew/ /Kuwat/
Cup Glass Bottle

/Lort/ /Nam keng/
Straw Ice

46

COMMON DISHES

Menu

/Khao pad gai/ Chicken fried rice

/Khao pad mhoo/ Pork fried rice
/Pad ga prao gai/ Chicken with basil leaves
/ Som tum/
Papaya salad

/ Khao kai jiew/ Omelet & rice
/ Kai daow/ Fried egg

47

Sai nam keng duay mai? PHRASES
Would you like ice?
Khun yark duem arai mai?
Rap perm mai? What would you like to drink?
Would you like another one?
Khun yark tarn arharn arai mhai?
What would you like to eat?

Kor kaew nueng bai dai mai? Chan bai nee sokaprok
Can I have a glass? This plate is dirty

Kor perm eek nueng chan dai Kor num kaeng plao nueng
mai? kaew dai mhai?

Can I have another plate? Can I have a glass of ice?

48

DIALOGUE

1 2 A) Khun yark duem arai mhai?
What would you like to drink?
A) Khun tong kan sung aria mhai?
What would you like? B) Kor coke nueng kaew
Can I have a glass of coke?
B) Kor num plao nueng kaew
Can I have a glass of water? A) Sai num kaeng mhai?
Would you like ice?
A) Yin dee
Of course B) Mai pen rai, korb khun
No thank you

3 4 A) Khun yark tarn arharn arai mhai?
What would you like to eat?
A) Chan bai nee sokaprok
This plate is dirty? B) Kor pen pad ga prao gai dai mhai
I would like chicken with basil
B) Kor tod, ja aow bai mhai ma hai leaves
I am sorry. I will get a new one
A) Sai kai daow mhai?
A) Korb khun Would you like a fried egg?
Thank you
B) Sai, korb khun
Yes please

49