VIDEO: Basic Directions

Sawatdee ka,

I think learning a few basic words for telling direction would help your stay in Thailand a little bit easier. Once my foreign friend wanted to say ‘turn right’ but instead he said ‘turn buffalo’!! since the word ‘right’ and ‘buffalo’ sounds kind of similar. It was nothing terrible but it created a fun laugh. I didn’t laugh at my friend because I thought he was stupid, I actually found it cute that he tried although he got it wrong.

Anyway, let’s learn to say it right together, shall we?

เลี้ยว[líao] means to turn
ซ้าย [sáai] means left
ขวา [kwăa] means right

I think you want to know what ‘buffalo’ in Thai. It is ควาย [kwaai] and you don’t want to call anyone ‘kwaai’ because it is also a slang for a stupid person. Now please don’t be afraid to make mistakes. We always learn from the mistakes, just like my friend he got it wrong once and he learned:)

Let me know in the below comment section if you have any questions.

Keep practicing!
Mod:)