5 Isan Thai Words You Should Learn

อีสาน Isaan is the name given to the North-Eastern region of Thailand, approximately one third of Thailand’s land area.

You maybe wondering why you should bother going to the trouble to learn some Isaan dialect. Surely learning Thai is quite enough without having to learn an extra language.

Well, as a visitor to Thailand or expat living here, it is very likely that you will spend a considerable amount of time with people from Isaan. They make up roughly 1/3 of Thailand’s population and are very often employed in jobs that bring them into close contact with foreigners. You may even be lucky enough to have an Issan lady as your girlfriend or wife. 😉

Here are 5 Isan words mentioned in the video:

1. เด้อ /dêr/ = นะ /ná/ : a friendly particle 

ข่อยฮักเจ้าเด้อ /kòi hák jâo dêr/ = I love you. (Isan dialect)

ผมรักคุณนะ / pŏm rák kun ná/ = I love you (Central dialect)

คิดถึงเด้อ /kít tŭeng dêr/ = I miss you (Central Thai mixed with Isan particle)

 

2. แซ่บ /sâeb/ = scrumcptious or hot looking guy

เขาแซ่บ /káo sâeb/ = He is so hot!

อาหารจานนี้แซ่บ /aa-hăan jaan níi sâeb/ = This dish is scrumptious!

 

3. นัว /nua/ = flavourful 

ส้มตำจานนี้นัวมาก /sôm-dtam jaan níi nua mâak/ = This Som Tam dish is flavourful.

ปลาร้านัวมาก /bplaa ráa nua mâak/ = Fermented fish is flavourful.

 

4. หลาย lăai = very much

แซ่บหลาย /sâeb lăai/ = It is very tasty.

คิดฮอดหลาย /kít hâwd lăai/ = I miss you very much.

คิดฮอด / kít hâwd/ = คิดถึง / kít tŭeng/ = miss sommen

 

5. ผู้สาว /pûu săao/ (woman) and ผู้บ่าว / pûu bàao/ (man)

 

You might also find these two lessons on Isan dialect that we made previously useful in your Isan dialect learning.

Isan 101 (22 Basic Northeastern Thai Phrases ​

Isan Conversation with Friend