First of all, if you would like to speak Thai like a Thai let’s start by pronoucing the word “Thai” correctly. It is pronounced "ไทย /tai/", not "ทาย /taai/". I heard many foreigners say Thai food -อาหารทาย /aa-hăan taai/, Thai boxing- มวยทาย /muai-taai/, Thai langugae- ภาษาทาย /paa-săa taai/, ผัดทาย /pàd-taai/, BUT these word are pronounced with SHORT vowel. The correct way … [Read more...] about 10 Thai Words You’re Probably Mispronouncing!
Speak Like a Thai
Talk Like a Thai : I Got Ditched!
This episode of Talk Like a Thai, teacher Pear introduces you a Thai slang for "I got ditched!". First let's learn a couple of words; ทิ้ง /tíng/ means "to throw away something" เท /tay/ means "to pour" A formal language for "someone has been dumped" is โดนทิ้ง /doan tíng/, but if you want to communicate nuances of meaning or emotion better than formal language you … [Read more...] about Talk Like a Thai : I Got Ditched!
VIDEO: Talk Like a Thai EP.3
The full pattern for describing an action that is happening as you speak is: กำลัง gam-lang + do something + อยู่ yùu Please read more explanation and examples in my post here . It is the exception for the phrase "I am on my way", it is a fixed phrase "กำลังไป /gam-lang bpai/", we don't say กำลังไปอยู่ gam-lang bpai yùu … [Read more...] about VIDEO: Talk Like a Thai EP.3
VIDEO: Talk Like a Thai EP.1 & 2
Vocabulary from the lessons ฤดูใบไม้ผลิ /rúe-duu bai-máai plì/ = spring ฤดู /rúe-duu/ = season ใบไม้ /bai-máai/ = leaf ผลิ /plì/ = blossom, sprout ลมแรง /lom raeng/ = windy Other seasons: ฤดูร้อน /rúe-duu ráwn/ = hot season, summer , ร้อน /ráwn/ = hot ฤดูหนาว /rúe-duu năao/ = cold season, winter, หนาว /năao/ = cold ฤดูฝน /rúe-duu fŏn/ = rainy season, … [Read more...] about VIDEO: Talk Like a Thai EP.1 & 2
VIDEO: Which Dishes do You Recommend?
Teacher Pear is taking you to a seafood restuarant in Hua Hin. She shows you different types of seafood. Dialogue Waiter: จะรับอะไรดีครับ /jà ráp à-rai dii kráp/ What would like to order? Pear: อยากกินอาหารทะเลค่ะ /yàak gin aa-hăan tá-lay kâ/ I would like to have seafood. มีอะไรแนะนำคะ /mii à-rai náe-nam ká?/ What do you recommend? Waiter: จะเป็น … [Read more...] about VIDEO: Which Dishes do You Recommend?
Thai Proverbs 2018
"ยกพริกมาทั้งสวน / yók prík maa táng sŭan/ " Let's look at the meaning of each word in this phrase: "พริก /prík/" means chilli. It is hot and spicy, so the word พริก /prík/ is used to describe someone who appears hot or sexy. ยก /yók/ means to lift something up high ยก /yók/ + something + มา /maa/ means to bring something over to a place ทั้ง /táng/ means entire, … [Read more...] about Thai Proverbs 2018
Learn Most Thai Popular Words
At the moment no Thai is not talking about "บุพเพสันนิวาส Buppesannivas". It is the most popular Thai drama series of all time! This TV series is based on the history that took place in year 1682 which was in the era of the King Narai of Ayutthaya Kingdom (year 1656 to 1688). Thai language that is spoken in that era is different from Thai language that is spoken nowadays. If … [Read more...] about Learn Most Thai Popular Words
VIDEO: 5 Useful Phrases for Talking to a Native Thai
We have learned so many Thai lessons and you want to use it in real life with a native. However sometimes some Thai people speak too fast and you don't quite sure what they are saying. Let's practice these few phrases so you can continue your conversation with them smoothly. I am sorry, I don't understand. ขอโทษครับ ผมไม่เข้าใจครับ kăw-tôot kráp , pŏm mâi … [Read more...] about VIDEO: 5 Useful Phrases for Talking to a Native Thai
VIDEO: Useful Phrases “I Can’t Wait!”
There are two ways to say “I can’t wait” in Thai. รอไม่ไหวแล้ว /raw mâi-wăi láew/ Pattern: รอ/raw/ + do something + ไม่ไหวแล้ว /mâi-wăi láew/ รอกลับประเทศไทยไม่ไหวแล้ว รอกลับประเทศไทยไม่ไหวแล้ว /raw glàp bprà-têet-tai mâi-wăi láew/ รอเจอคุณไม่ไหวแล้ว /raw jer kun mâi-wăi láew/ ตั้งหน้าตั้งตารอ / dtâng-nâa-dtâng-dta-raw/ which could be … [Read more...] about VIDEO: Useful Phrases “I Can’t Wait!”
VIDEO: Isan Dialect (Lesson 2)
อีสาน /i-săan/ the nickname for Northeastern Thailand is the largest region in the country. Isan food is available in almost every corner especially "ส้มตำ Som Tam" (green papaya spicy salad) which is popularly consumed across the whole country, not just in the Northeast. When you travel to Bangkok you will likely come across a local from Isan, majority of taxi drivers … [Read more...] about VIDEO: Isan Dialect (Lesson 2)
VIDEO: Pronunciation Focus!!
ถุง /tŭng/ means "bag". It is a simple word but it is one of the commonly confused word as this word is used for bags that are used for shopping like plastic bag, paper bag, fabric bag or cloth bag. Many students misunderstand this word for bags like purse, suitcase or luggage which are actually called "กระเป๋า grà-bpăo". We can combine the word ถุง /tŭng/ with … [Read more...] about VIDEO: Pronunciation Focus!!
5 Best Ways to Say Beautiful
How to Compliment a Woman in Thai Beautiful is the classic way to describe a feminine beauty. I am sure most of you already knew the word "/สวย sŭai/" which means ‘beautiful’. There are interesting and useful phrases that you could use when you want to give a woman a nice compliment that she is beautiful. Let’s have a look; สวยไม่เปลี่ยน /sŭai mâi … [Read more...] about 5 Best Ways to Say Beautiful
VIDEO: Long Time No See
In this lesson we teach the useful phrase "long time no see" in Thai and a couple more common phrases Thai people often use to talk about after haven't seen each other for a while. "ไม่ได้เจอกันนาน /mâi-dâai jer gan naan/" is the phrase used for long time no see. ไม่ได้ /mâi-dâai/ + do something = did not do something เจอ /jer/ = to meet someone กัน /gan/ … [Read more...] about VIDEO: Long Time No See
VIDEO: Commonly Confused Words EP.3
The two useful phrases we clarify the confusion in the video are as followings; ขอโทษ /kăw-tôot/ is used when you want to apologise to someone or used for the phrase 'excuse me' when you want to ask someone to make way for you. เสียใจ /sǐa-jai/ means 'sad, sorry, regret'. We say "เสียใจด้วยนะ sǐa-jai dûai ná" when we want to express sympathy such as when your friend's … [Read more...] about VIDEO: Commonly Confused Words EP.3
VIDEO: Commonly Confused Words EP.2
This episode we will talk about the word “tired”. In Thai we have TWO different words and we found that most students are often confused when to use each word. So let’s have a look! We have TWO words which are “1. เหนื่อย /nùeai/” and “2. ง่วงนอน/ngûang-nawn/” both can be translated as ‘tired’ in English but what is the difference? It is so … [Read more...] about VIDEO: Commonly Confused Words EP.2
VIDEO: Commonly Confused Words EP.1
This lesson we will talk about Thai words that are used for ‘when’. We have three different words for ‘when’. It sounds like why we need to complicate things, right? Don’t worry it is simpler than you think. Just watch this video to the end and you will understand it clearly. เมื่อไหร่ /mûea-rài/ is a question word used to form any 'when' questions. For … [Read more...] about VIDEO: Commonly Confused Words EP.1
VIDEO: Customizing Food Order
Dialogue from the video Waitress : สวัสดีค่ะ รับอะไรดีคะ sà-wàt-dii kâ, ráp à-rai dii ká? (Hello, what would you like to order?) Pear: เอาต้มยำกุ้งพิเศษเห็ดค่ะ ao dtôm-yam-gûng pí-sèet hèt kâ (I would like to have Spicy Prawn Soup with extra mushrooms please.) เอาผัดผักเพิ่มกุ้งค่ะ ao pàt-pàk pêrm gûng kâ (I would like to have stir-fried vegetable and add shrimps … [Read more...] about VIDEO: Customizing Food Order
VIDEO: Money Matters
Useful Vocabulary and Phrases: Money = เงิน /ngern/ (formal term) ตังค์ /dtang/ (informal term) Banknote = แบงค์ /báeng/ Small banknote = แบงค์ย่อย /báeng yâwi/ To exchange = แลก /lâek/ Do you have smaller notes? = คุณมีแบงค์ย่อยมั้ย /kun mii báeng yâwi mái?/ I only have 1000 Baht note = ผมมีแค่แบงค์พัน /pŏm mii kâe báeng pan/ Can I exchange a big note … [Read more...] about VIDEO: Money Matters
VIDEO: Isan 101 (Basic Northeastern Thai Dialect)
Northeastern region of Thailand or what Thai people refer to as ‘อีสาน Isan also Isaan, Isarn, Esan, or Esarn’ is the largest part of the country. You might hear the official term is “ภาคตะวันออกเฉียงเหนือ pàak dtà-wan-àwk-chǐang-nŭea”. The main language is Isan, which is a dialect of the Lao language. Isan belongs to the Chiang Saeng and Lao–Phutai language groups, which … [Read more...] about VIDEO: Isan 101 (Basic Northeastern Thai Dialect)
VIDEO: Thai Short Vowels
To speak Thai clearly and make local people understood, it is not only getting the tones right it is also pronouncing the vowels correctly. There are in total 32 vowel sounds in Thai language, 14 of them are long vowel sounds and 18 are short vowel sounds. Similar to pronouncing Thai tones, when the vowel changes the meaning changes too. So you should make sure you … [Read more...] about VIDEO: Thai Short Vowels