I have been giving private lessons for almost ten years. My students are from around the world; America, Europe, Australia, Middle East, and Asia. One if the same mistakes they make is using words that Thai people don’t use because those terms are too formal or old-fashioned. In this lesson I share with you ten common Thai words that I keep hearing my students say but Thai native speakers don’t speak in everyday speech.
- Don’t use เธอ /ter/ for “she, he,him,her“. Use “เขา /kăo/“
- Don’t use ดิฉัน /dì-chăn/ for “I”. Use “ชั้น /chán/” or “เรา /rao/” or your nickname.
- Don’t use อรุณสวัสดิ์ /à-run-sà-wàt/ or สวัสดีตอนเช้า /sà-wàt-dii dtawn-cháao/ for “good morning. Use “สวัสดี sà-w-àt-dii“. And don’t use ราตรีสวัสดิ์ /ra-dtrii sà-wàt/ for “goodnight“. Use “ฝันดีนะ /făn dii ná/“
- Don’t use ดื่ม /dùem/ for “drink“. Use “กิน /gin/“
- Don’t use พบ /pòb/ for “meet“. Use “เจอ /jer/“
- Don’t use สัปดาห์ /sàb-daa/ for “week“. Use อาทิตย์ /aa-tít/
- Don’t use นาฬิกา /naa-lí-gaa/ for “o’clock“. Watch this video to learn to tel the time.
- Don’t use ต้องการ /dtâwng-gaan/ for “need“. Use อยาก /yàak/ + verb.
- Don’t use ปุ้มปุ้ย /bpûm-bpûi/ for “fat“. Use “อ้วน /ûan/“.
- Don’t use และ /láe/ for “and“. Use แล้วก็ /láew-gâw” or “กับ /gàb/“.
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Okay, a Thai woman recently told me to say sà-wàt-dii dtawn-cháao for “good morning,” so now I’m a little confused. Was she just being formal… perhaps trying to teach me the very proper way instead of the common way?
Your videos are very easy to watch and listen to, and incredibly helpful. I wish the language was as easy to learn!
The direct translation for “good morning” is “sà-wàt-dii dtawn-cháao”, but it is not common. 🙂
I am happy to hear that you found my lessons useful in your Thai learning. Keep practicing. 🙂
Thank you for your answer.
I don’t know if I will EVER be able to learn the tonal skills necessary, even with much practice. 🙁 She can communicate pretty well in English, and we use translation apps when we need to (although they’re not always correct), so I might have to be content to be able to speak just a few basic useful and kind phrases. I am just starting so I haven’t given up yet.
Your list includes all my favourite words !!! Maybe you want to add those, too : สักครู่ครับ, ภัตตาคาร, ท้องร้อง, …
I never had the impression, that those words are unusual, because thai people use them in conversation with me.
I found it very helpful and love the style in which you present, very good
You say you and your friend never heard of “ปุ้มปุ้ย” bpûm-bpûi undoubtedly mispronounced by farangs students because in fact it exists in all dictionaries as พุงพลุ้ย pronounced phung phluy meaning having a fat belly
Having cleared the mispronounciation and spelling would you say it is ok to use it or not ? And if yes could you clarify it in your video please
Kind regards
Joëlle Carter
Thank you for your comment. Yes, พุงพลุ้ย is commonly used in everyday speech.
To Joëlle Carter.
No, etymology of the word “ปุ้มปุ้ย” is not associated with พุงพลุ้ย at all. And it has nothing to do with mispronunciation of farangs. This word (ปุ้มปุ้ย) has been used for a long time in such regions where there were no foreigners at all.
I looked up the word ป้มป้ย on Google Translate and it gave a result of “chubby” which is a polite way to say that someone is Fat or overweight. I am from Australia and have been here in Bangkok for almost 4 years.
hi, i would like to study thai on skaip, i’m a medium-low level. can we write?
Sawatdee ka Marianna, I am sorry for my late reply. Can I send you email to discuss further detials to this address? mariannademicheli@gmail.com
Great information & video. I’ve been guilty of using some of these words. Searching the dictionary is hit or miss trying to find the right word for the right situation. This is very useful, thanks…
I am happy that you are having private lessons with me as well as watching my videos. You are student of the year! kà-yăn mâak kâ kun Paul! 🙂
The word ปุ้มปุ้ย is of Chinese origin. In Chinese language the word พุ้ยพุ้ย is a thick, round-sided fish and also means “fat”, “overweight”. Thai people borrowed this word in their own way, in modified form – ปุ้มปุ้ย.
about pui…not exactly sure how but i know for sure pui… is a chinese word meaning fat.
I have as a fact been corrected for saying gin and not duem when talking about wanting to drink water (or beer). The same when asking what would you like to drink?
It has happened more than once – but perhaps it is a generation issue speaking with Thai people of my own age being somewhat older than you?