Out & About
1At the Shopร้านสะดวกซื้อ
The shop counter is the lowest-stakes conversation in the country — a few set phrases and a smile do the whole thing. Nail these and you'll never freeze when the cashier rattles something off.
| Thai | Sounds like | English | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| อันนี้เท่าไหร่ | an-ní thâo-rài | How much is this? | Point at the item |
อันนี้an-níthis oneเท่าไหร่thâo-ràihow much | |||
| เอาอันนี้ครับ | ao an-ní khráp | This one, please | Point and nod |
เอาaowant/takeอันนี้an-níthis oneครับkhráp(polite, m.) | |||
| ขอถุงด้วย | khǒr thǔng dûai | A bag, please | thǔng = bag |
ขอkhǒrmay I haveถุงthǔngbagด้วยdûaitoo/please | |||
| จ่ายบัตรได้ไหม | jàai bàt dâai mǎi | Can I pay by card? | |
จ่ายjàaipayบัตรbàtcardได้ไหมdâai mǎican I? | |||
| ไม่เอาถุง | mâi ao thǔng | No bag, thanks | |
ไม่mâinotเอาaowantถุงthǔngbag | |||
| อุ่นให้หน่อย | ùn hâi nòi | Heat it up, please | For ready meals |
อุ่นùnwarm upให้hâifor (me)หน่อยnòia bit/please | |||
You almost never need a full sentence at a counter. Set your item down, say the short phrase, and let the cashier guide you — a nod handles everything you didn't catch.
2Orderingสั่งอาหาร
Pointing plus one polite word gets you fed anywhere. You don't need the menu memorised — “this one, please” and a finger covers most of it, and asking what's good opens an actual chat.
| Thai | Sounds like | English | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| สองคนครับ | sǒng khon khráp | Table for two | Hold up two fingers |
สองsǒngtwoคนkhonpeopleครับkhráp(polite, m.) | |||
| เอาอันนี้ | ao an-ní | This one, please | Point at the menu |
เอาaowantอันนี้an-níthis one | |||
| แนะนำอะไรดี | náe-nam à-rai dii | What do you recommend? | Opens a chat |
แนะนำnáe-namrecommendอะไรà-raiwhatดีdiigood | |||
| เอาเหมือนกัน | ao mǔuan gan | The same, please | Order what they had |
เอาaowantเหมือนกันmǔuan ganthe same | |||
| ไม่เผ็ด | mâi phèt | Not spicy | You'll want this one |
ไม่mâinotเผ็ดphètspicy | |||
| ขอน้ำหน่อย | khǒr nám nòi | Water, please | |
ขอkhǒrmay I haveน้ำnámwaterหน่อยnòiplease | |||
Point at the dish — on the menu, on the next table, on your phone — and add the polite word. Staff would much rather you point than stay silent.
3Payingจ่ายเงิน
Asking for the bill and paying cleanly is its own tiny social skill. Get it smooth and you walk out looking like you've done it a hundred times — and “it's on me” is a warm little offer.
| Thai | Sounds like | English | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| เก็บเงินด้วย | gèp ngern dûai | The bill, please | The standard call |
เก็บgèpcollectเงินngernmoneyด้วยdûaiplease | |||
| คิดเงินด้วย | khít ngern dûai | Check, please | Same idea |
คิดkhíttally upเงินngernmoneyด้วยdûaiplease | |||
| จ่ายแยกได้ไหม | jàai yâek dâai mǎi | Can we pay separately? | |
จ่ายjàaipayแยกyâekseparatelyได้ไหมdâai mǎican we? | |||
| เดี๋ยวเลี้ยงเอง | dǐao líang eng | It's on me | A warm offer |
เดี๋ยวdǐaoin a secเลี้ยงlíangtreatเองengmyself | |||
| อร่อยมาก | à-ròi mâak | It was delicious | Always appreciated |
อร่อยà-ròideliciousมากmâakvery | |||
| ขอบคุณครับ | khòp-khun khráp | Thank you | On your way out |
ขอบคุณkhòp-khunthank youครับkhráp(polite, m.) | |||
Rounding up or leaving the small change is plenty — tipping is optional and casual. A genuine smile lands better than the amount.
4At the Barบาร์
The bar is where a phrase becomes a moment. “What are you having?” and “may I buy you a drink?” are tiny lines that can open a whole evening — say them light, smile, and let the drink do the rest.
| Thai | Sounds like | English | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| ดื่มอะไรอยู่ | dùuem à-rai yùu | What are you drinking? | Easy opener |
ดื่มdùuemdrinkอะไรà-raiwhatอยู่yùu(right now) | |||
| ขอเลี้ยงเครื่องดื่มได้ไหม | khǒr líang khrûeang-dùuem dâai mǎi | May I buy you a drink? | Light and warm |
ขอkhǒrmay Iเลี้ยงlíangtreatเครื่องดื่มkhrûeang-dùuema drinkได้ไหมdâai mǎican I? | |||
| เอาอีกแก้วไหม | ao ìik gâeo mǎi | One more? | |
เอาaowantอีกìikanotherแก้วgâeoglassไหมmǎi(question) | |||
| ชนแก้ว！ | chon gâeo! | Cheers! | Lit. “clink glasses” |
ชนchonclinkแก้วgâeoglass | |||
| มาบ่อยไหม | maa bòi mǎi | Do you come here often? | Classic, and it works |
มาmaacomeบ่อยbòioftenไหมmǎi(question) | |||
| ที่นี่บรรยากาศดี | thî-nî ban-yaa-gàat dii | Nice atmosphere here | A shared observation |
ที่นี่thî-nîhereบรรยากาศban-yaa-gàatatmosphereดีdiigood | |||
“May I buy you a drink?” lands as a light, easy offer — not a transaction. Ask, smile, and be just as happy with a no. The relaxedness is the attractive part, not the drink.
dùuem à-rai yùu khráp
What are you drinking?
bia khâ
Beer.
khǒr líang sàk gâeo dâai mǎi khráp
May I buy you a drink?
dâai khâ, khòp-khun
Sure, thanks.
chon gâeo! maa bòi mǎi khráp
Cheers! Do you come here often?
★Pocket Linesคำเดียว
When your brain blanks, these are the words that still come out. One or two syllables each — impossible to fumble. Keep them on the tip of your tongue.
| Thai | Sounds like | English | When to use it |
|---|---|---|---|
| อันนี้ | an-ní | This one | Point and you're understood |
อันan(thing)นี้níthis | |||
| เหมือนกัน | mǔuan gan | Same for me | Order what they had |
เหมือนmǔuanalikeกันgantogether | |||
| เท่าไหร่ | thâo-rài | How much? | Works anywhere |
| ชนแก้ว！ | chon gâeo! | Cheers! | Glasses up |
ชนchonclinkแก้วgâeoglass | |||
| อร่อย！ | à-ròi! | Yum! | Say it mid-bite |
| เก็บเงินด้วย | gèp ngern dûai | Check, please | Flag the staff |
เก็บgèpcollectเงินngernmoneyด้วยdûaiplease | |||
One confident word with a smile beats a perfect sentence mumbled. These six get you through almost any counter, table or bar — lean on them when your mind goes blank.