Here is you first lesson in learning some simple things to help you through your Thai travels and oh boy is this
Interesting!
When in Thailand do as Thailand does.
Remember that if you are male, it is courteous to end the sentences with “krap.” For females, it is courteous to end with “ka.” For example a man would say, Khob khun krap, but a woman would say Khob khun ka. Now that’s a good start. Now for lesson number two try this:-
To say “thank you”try Khob Khun, and then “no thanks” is simply Mai ow. You want to say hello? Say Sawasdee. And now a most important word; Khor toat. That’s for when you have something to say “sorry” about. What may be the most useful if not redundant words are Khun poot Angrit dai mai? But then if the person you say that to gives you an answer you understand then you know they do. If they reply in a strange tongue you also have your answer that no, they don’t speak a word of English unless they know how to say Manchester United!
Now what does it matter if your waiter at the restaurant is old or young? It matters a lot. Excuse me waiter is Phee krab ka if he has grey hair and wobbles a bit when he approaches the table. Now if the waiter has sleek black hair and glides effortlessly in your general direction your should try Nong krab ka and you will be on the way to having a great dining experience at least as far as the service is concerned. You may want to point to the food being delivered to a nearby table and inquire
Tao rie? And then you can figure out if you can afford to eat the same delicious stuff but only if you understand the reply in bahts. Or if your a Cockney from London Town and know no Thai then you might say “wot abat that? How much bahts?
So have fun in Thailand by mangling the language just like you would in any other foreign country.
