If you’ve just landed in Thailand, one of the sweetest things you can do is learn how to introduce yourself in Thai.
So, this week’s Thai Phrasebook teaches you how to:
- Say hello
- Introduce your name
- Ask someone their name
- Say where you’re from
- Ask where they’re from
It’s super simple, but the moment you say it out loud to a Thai person they’ll smile. Maybe even giggle. Because we love when foreigners try to speak Thai, even just a little.
It shows you care. And that small effort can turn an everyday situaton into a fun moment.
Let’s get into it!
1) "hello, my name is _____"
Say: sàwàtdii kráp/kâ. chán/pŏm chûu ____
สวัสดีครับ/ค่ะ ฉัน/ผมชื่อ ____
Thai Vocabulary Broken Down:
-
sàwàtdii = hello — สวัสดี
-
kráp/kâ = polite particle — ครับ / ค่ะ
-
chán/pŏm = I (female/male) — ฉัน / ผม
- chûu = name is / to be named — ชื่อ
- ____= your name
Example:
- sàwàtdii kâ. chán chûu Anna
- สวัสดีค่ะ ฉันชื่อแอนนา
2) "what's your name?"
Say: kun chûu arai kráp/ká?
คุณชื่ออะไรครับ/คะ?
Thai Vocabulary Broken Down:
- kun = you — คุณ
- chûu = name — ชื่อ
- arai = what — อะไร
- kráp/ká = polite particle — ครับ / คะ
3) "I'm from _____"
Say: chán/pŏm maa jàak ____ kráp/kâ
ฉัน/ผมมาจาก ____ ครับ/ค่ะ
Thai Vocabulary Broken Down:
- chán/pŏm = I (female/male) — ฉัน / ผม
- maa jàak = come from — มาจาก
- ____ = your country
- kráp/kâ = polite particle — ครับ / ค่ะ
Example:
- pŏm maa jàak Canada kráp
- ผมมาจากแคนาดาครับ
4) "where are you from?"
Say: kun maa jàak tîinǎi kráp/ká?
คุณมาจากที่ไหนครับ/คะ?
Thai Vocabulary Broken Down:
- kun = you — คุณ
- maa jàak = come from — มาจาก
- tîinǎi = where — ที่ไหน
- kráp/ká = polite particle — ครับ / คะ
Key Things To Remember:
This is one of the most common types of conversation you’ll have in Thailand. And because of how often it happens, it’s a great one to practice and get comfortable with early on.
You can mix and match these four phrases in any order and use them with Thai people you meet at cafés, co-working spaces, hostels, markets… anywhere.
Even if your pronunciation isn’t perfect, just speaking up shows respect and curiosity and Thai people LOVE that.
Want to practice?
Just hit reply and introduce yourself in Thai using what I taught you above. Tell me your name and where you’re from and I’ll reply back with where I’m from too 😊
Ready To Speak Thai For Real?
The Thai Language Challenge is a 100-day program I built to take you from zero to having a 10-minute conversation entirely in Thai.
Every student who completes the challenge proves it in a live exam with me.
And every single one has passed.
The next cohort opens September 4.
Spots are limited to 50 students only.
Curious what my students really sound like?
Click here to watch their final conversation exam fully in Thai.
See you in next week’s Thai Phrasebook!
~ Kru Fah
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