Category: How to say this in Thai

A series of blog posts and video lessons teaching how to say or call “things” in Thai language. All essential words are well explained with great examples.

How to say this in Thai Situational Thai

How to Order Food in Thai as a Beginner

Post author By BananaThai
Post date April 2, 2025
No Comments on How to Order Food in Thai as a Beginner

Discovering food in Thailand is an exciting way to dive into its lively culture and delicious cuisine. Whether visiting for a short trip or making Thailand your home, learning how to order food in Thai can be a fun and rewarding experience.

This guide makes it easy by sharing keywords and phrases, popular dishes, and simple tricks to personalize your order. You’ll feel more at home exploring Thailand’s famous flavors.

Ready to spice things up? Let’s start your journey into Thai dining!

The Word "Food" in Thai

The word for “food” in Thai is “อาหาร” (aa-hăan). It comes from Pali-Sanskrit origins, which refers to “sustenance or nourishment” (from Pali) and “food or intake” (from Sanskrit).

In Thai, the word “อาหาร – aa-hăan” is commonly used in formal speech, writing, and compound words. However, in everyday conversation, Thais often use other words like “ข้าว (kâao)”, which literally means “rice” but is often used to mean “a meal” in casual speech.

🍚 Examples for formal/ general use:

restaurant = ร้านอาหาร – ráan aa-hǎan

Thai food = อาหารไทย – aa-hǎan tai

healthy food = อาหารเพื่อสุขภาพ – aa-hǎan pêeua sùk-kà-pâab

🍚 Examples for casual speech:

Have you eaten yet? = กินข้าวหรือยัง – gin kâao rěeu-yang

Let’s find something to eat! = ไปหาอะไรกินกัน – bpai hǎa à-rai gin gan

How to Say "I Want..." in Thai

In Thai, the word “เอา – ao” is commonly used when ordering food because it is a concise and versatile way to express “I want” or “I’ll have.”

The Thai language often relies on context and short, direct expressions. This is why the word “เอา – ao” fits perfectly into this conversational style.

💡 Saying “เอา – ao” while pointing to a dish on the menu communicates clearly that you want that dish without needing extra words.

Let’s look at how to order the food in Thai:

Identify Your Dish: Study the menu and decide what dish you’d like. For example, if you’re a fan of curry, you might choose dishes with the word แกง (gaaeng) which means “curry”.
Formulate Your Order: Start by saying “เอา – ao” followed by the name of the dish.
For instance, if you want one bowl of green curry, you could say,
“ao gaaeng kǐiaw-wǎan”- เอาแกงเขียวหวาน This means, “I’d like one bowl of green curry.”
Specify Quantity: Add the required quantity right after the dish name, such as “หนึ่ง” (one) or “สอง” (two).
Normally, to tell the amount of any food, we have to put its container (unit words) right after the number as a unit of nouns, but you can drop it if you don’t know the word in Thai.
Politeness Counts: Always finish your order with “ครับ – kráp“ if you’re male or “ค่ะ – kâ“ if you’re female. This small addition makes your order polite and respectful.

For an example,
เอาผัดกะเพราหมูหนึ่งจานค่ะ (ao pàt ga-prao muu nèung jaan kâ)

= I want a dish of pork stir-fried basil.

📝 Sentence breakdown
– เอา ao = to want (word to casually order)
– ผัดกะเพราหมู pàt ga-prao muu = pork stir-fried basil
– หนึ่ง nèung = one (quantity)
– จาน jaan = plate (container or unit word)
– ค่ะ kâ = polite Thai ending

Ten Examples of Thai Dishes

Thai cuisine is renowned for its vibrant flavors and diverse dishes. Here are 10 popular Thai dishes that you might encounter—and order—with confidence:

Pat-thai (Pàt-tai - ผัดไทย)

A world-famous stir-fried noodle dish with a perfect balance of sweet, sour, and spicy flavors.

🗣️ Example Order:

I want a plate of Pat-thai = ao Pàt-tai nèung jaan kráp / kâ – เอาผัดไทยหนึ่งจานครับ / ค่ะ

Dtôm-yam Gûng (Dtôm-yam Gûng - ต้มยำกุ้ง)

A spicy and sour shrimp soup packed with lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, and chili.

🗣️ Example Order:

I want a bowl of Dtôm-yam Gûng = ao Dtôm-yam Gûng nèung chaam kráp / kâ – เอาต้มยำกุ้งหนึ่งชามครับ / ค่ะ

Sôm Dtam (Sôm Dtam - ส้มตำ)

A refreshing green papaya salad known for its crisp texture and zesty, spicy flavor.

🗣️ Example Order:

I want a plate of Sôm Dtam = ao Sôm Dtam nèung jaan kráp / kâ – เอาส้มตำหนึ่งจานครับ / ค่ะ

Green Curry (Gaaeng Kǐiaw-Wǎan - แกงเขียวหวาน)

Also known as green curry, it is a creamy blend of coconut milk, green chili, fragrant herbs and meat.

🗣️ Example Order:

I want a bowl of Gree Curry = ao Gaaeng Ki̬iaw-Wǎan nèung chaam kráp / kâ – เอาแกงเขียวหวานหนึ่งชามครับ / ค่ะ

Massaman Curry (Gaaeng Mát-Sà-Màn - แกงมัสมั่น)

A rich, aromatic curry with spices like cinnamon, cardamom, and nutmeg, usually made with chicken (gài) or beef (néeua).

🗣️ Example Order:

I want a bowl of Massaman = ao Gaaeng Mát-Sà-Màn nèung chaam kráp / kâ – เอาแกงมัสมั่นหนึ่งชามครับ / ค่ะ

Dtôm Kàa Gài (Dtôm Kàa Gài - ต้มข่าไก่)

A mild yet flavorful soup made with coconut milk, galangal, and tender pieces of chicken.

🗣️ Example Order:

I want a bowl of Dtom Kaa Gai = ao Dtôm Kàa Gài nèung chaam kráp / kâ – เอาต้มข่าไก่หนึ่งชามครับ / ค่ะ

Thai Fried Rice (Kâao-Pàt - ข้าวผัด)

Thai fried rice that can be customized with various proteins and vegetables.

🗣️ Example Order:

I want a plate of fried rice with shrimp = ao Kâao-Pàt Gûng nèung chaam kráp / kâ – เอาข้าวผัดกุ้งหนึ่งจานครับ / ค่ะ

Chicken Rice (Kâao Man Gài - ข้าวมันไก่)

A simple yet savory chicken and rice dish, often served with a flavorful dipping sauce.

🗣️ Example Order:

I want a plate of Kaao-man Gai = ao Kâao Man Gài nèung jaan kráp / kâ – เอาข้าวมันไก่หนึ่งจานครับ / ค่ะ

Kâao Gà-prao Mǔu (Kâao Gà-prao Mǔu - ข้าวกะเพราหมู)

A popular savory and spicy Thai dish, it consists of stir-fried pork with holy basil (กะเพรา, Gà-prao), garlic, and chili. It is served over steamed rice (ข้าว, Kâao) and often has a fried egg on top. The meat can be customized to your preference.

🗣️ Example Order:

I want a plate of Kâao Gà-prao Mǔu = ao Kâao Gà-prao Mǔu nèung jaan kráp / kâ – เอาข้าวกะเพราหมูหนึ่งจานครับ / ค่ะ

Kâao Soy (Kâao Soy - ข้าวซอย)

A northern Thai specialty featuring egg noodles in a creamy, spiced curry broth.

🗣️ Example Order:

I want a bowl of Kâao Soy = ao Kâao Soy nèung chaam kráp / kâ – เอาข้าวซอยหนึ่งชามครับ / ค่ะ

Common Words for Ingredients in Thai

Let’s learn basic words for common ingredients so you can order food with particular protein and customize your dishes effectively.

Thai Word	Transliteration	English Translation
หมู	Mǔu	Pork
ไก่	Gài	Chicken
เนื้อ	Néeua	Beef
ปลา	Bplaa	Fish
กุ้ง	Gûng	Shrimp
หมึก	Mèuk	Squid
เต้าหู้	Tâo-hûu	Tofu
ไข่	Khài	Egg
ข้าว	Khâao	Rice
ก๋วยเตี๋ยว	Gùai-dtǐao	Noodles
น้ำปลา	Nám-bplaa	Fish sauce
น้ำตาล	Nám-dtaan	Sugar
พริก	Prík	Chili
กระเทียม	Grà-thiam	Garlic
ซีอิ๊ว	Sii-íw	Soy sauce
ซอสหอยนางรม	Sót hǒi naang rom	Oyster sauce
เกลือ	Gluuea	Salt
ผงชูรส	Phǒng chuu-rót	MSG (flavor enhancer)

How to Customize Your Dish with "sài / mâi sài" (ใส่ / ไม่ใส่)

Thai cuisine is famous for its rich, customizable flavors. One of the easiest ways to tailor your meal is by using the simple commands “ใส่ – sài” (to include) and “ไม่ใส่ – mâi sài” (to exclude).

When you customize your dish using “ใส่ sài (put)/ ไม่ใส่ mâi sài (don’t put)”, you control exactly what goes into your meal, ensuring it perfectly matches your taste preferences and dietary needs.

Here are some ideas to enhance your Thai dining experience by using “ใส่ sài/ ไม่ใส่ mâi sài”:

✅ Add Ingrediens: Use “ใส่ – sài” to add extra ingredients like chili (= sài prík), garlic (= sài grà-tiiam), or basil (= sài gà-prao) for a bolder taste that brings out the dish’s essence.
❌ Customize for Your Diet: Opt for “ไม่ใส่ – mâi sài” to remove ingredients such as peanuts (= mâi sài tùua), seafood (= mâi sài aa-hǎan tá-lee), or onions (= mâi sài hǎawm) if you have allergies or simply prefer a cleaner flavor profile.

With this simple order, you unlock the potential of Thai cuisine and create an interactive and satisfying dining experience.

Summary

Ordering Thai food doesn’t have to be overwhelming.

1). Start with simple phrases like “Ao…” (เอา = I want…) followed by the name of the dish and the number you want (nèung for 1 or sǎawng for

2). You can use the keywords like sài (ใส่ = include..) and mâi sài (ไม่ใส่ = don’t add/ exclude…) to customize your meal. Try out different dishes and don’t be afraid to experiment with flavors!

Thailand’s street food culture is one of the best in the world, and knowing how to order will make your experience even more enjoyable. You may want to check out the following to learn more about Thai food:

🎞️ YouTube

🥘 Comprehensible Thai: Thai Fast Food อาหารตามสั่ง (Beginner)

🍜 Learn Thai to order noodles like a boss

If you want to learn more Thai phrases and practice real-life conversations, check out Banana Thai’s online courses for a fun and engaging way to improve your Thai skills.

Now you’re ready to order your favorite Thai dish with confidence. Enjoy your meal! or Taan hâi à-ròi ná! (ทานให้อร่อยนะ!)

Tags #Thai food, learn thai, order thai food

How to say this in Thai Thai Foundation Uncategorized

Mastering Thai Question Words

Post author By BananaThai
Post date March 17, 2025
No Comments on Mastering Thai Question Words

Learning to ask questions is one of the essential skills in any language, including Thai. Thai question words are not difficult to use, and once you understand the sentence structure, you’ll form questions like a native Thai!

Today we’ll cover the most common Thai question words, their syntax, exceptions, and practical examples to help you ask and answer questions with confidence. Let’s go!

Sentence Structure for Thai Question Words

In Thai, most question words are placed at the end of a sentence, unlike in English, where they put question words are placed at the beginning.

The basic structure for Thai questions with question words is:

[Subject] + [Verb] + [Object / Complement] + [Question Word?]

For example:

คุณชอบกินอะไร? (kun châawp gin à-rai?) = What do you like to eat?
คุณจะไปที่ไหน? (kun jà bpai tîi-nǎi?) = Where are you going?

However, some question words can appear at the beginning of a sentence. We will cover that in the exceptions section.

Exceptions: Question Words That Appear at the Beginning

While most Thai question words are at the end of a sentence, some can be placed at the beginning, especially in formal speech or writing. Examples include:

❓ทำไม (tham-mai?) = Why?

ทำไมคุณมาสาย? (tam-mai kun maa sǎai?) = Why are you late?

❓เมื่อไหร่ (mûuea-rài?) = When?

เมื่อไหร่คุณจะไปเมืองไทย? (mêeua-rài kun jà bpai meeuang-tai?) = When will you go to Thailand?

❓ใคร (krai?) = Who? – when it is asked for the “subject” of the sentence

ใครอยู่ที่นั่น? (krai yùu tîi nân?) = Who is there?

Common Thai Question Words

The Thai question words here are what we know in English as the “WH-question words”, e.g. what, when, where, why, how, etc. These question words are a group of interrogative words used to ask for specific information – not only for ‘yes’ or ‘no’.

Below you will find the common Thai question words with some examples in the questions:

🌺อะไร = What?

Used to ask about things, objects, or actions.

Examples:

คุณทำอะไร? (kun tam à-rai?) = What are you doing?
นี่คืออะไร? (nîi keeu à-rai?) = What is this?
คุณเห็นอะไร? (kun hěn à-rai?) = What do you see?

💡 Tip:

As mentioned, อะไร (à-rai) can be placed either at the beginnning or at the end of the sentence depending on if it works as the subject or an object.

As a subject (at the beginning)

Examples:

อะไรอยู่ในห้อง (à-rai? yùu nai hâawng) = What’s in the room?
อะไรอร่อย (à-rai? à-ròi) = What’s delicious? / What’s good?

As an object (At the end)

Examples:

คุณกินอะไรอยู่ (kun gin à-rai? yùu) = What are you eating?
มองอะไร (maawng à-rai?) = What are you looking at?
อยากทำอะไร (yàak tam à-rai?) = What do you want to do?

🌺ใคร = Who?

Used to ask about a person’s identity.

Examples:

เขาเป็นใคร? (kǎo bpen krai?) = Who is he?
ใครโทรหาผม? (krai too hǎa pǒm?) = Who called me?

🌺กับใคร = With whom?

Used to ask about ask about companions

Examples:

คุณไปเที่ยวกับใคร? (kun bpai-tîiaw gàp krai?) = Who are you traveling with?
เขากินข้าวกับใคร? (kǎo gin kâao gàp krai?) = Who are you eating with?

🌺ของใคร = Whose?

Used as possessive pronoun and possessive adjective

Examples:

นี่ของใคร? (nîi kǎawng krai?) = Whose is this?
หมาตัวนี้ของใคร? (mǎa dtuua níi kǎawng krai?) = Whose dog is this?

🌺ที่ไหน (tîi-nǎi) = Where?

Used to ask about locations

Examples:

คุณอยู่ที่ไหน? (kun yùu tîi-nǎi?) = Where are you?
ร้านอาหารอยู่ที่ไหน? (ráan aa-hǎan yùu tîi-nǎi?) = Where is the restaurant?
พวกเขาเจอกันที่ไหน? (pûuak-kǎo juuh gan tîi-nǎi?) = Where did they meet?

🌺อย่างไร / ยังไง (yàang-rai / yang-ngai) = How?

Both “อย่างไร – yàang-rai” and “ยังไง – yang-ngai” mean “How” in English, and are generally used in the same way as that in English – which is to ask questions about manner, condition, or degree.

คุณพูดภาษาไทยได้อย่างไร? (khun phûut phaa-săa Thai dâai yàang-rai?) = How can you speak Thai?
ทำยังไงให้เก่งภาษาไทย? (tham yang-ngai hâi gèng phaa-săa Thai?) = How do I become good at Thai?

💡Note:

However, there are cases when we use the question word “อย่างไร – yàang-rai” or “ยังไง – yang-ngai” in Thai instead of using “what (อะไร – à-rai) as in English. The nuance of it is the focus on manner, method, or qualitative information about something than merely listing something out.

Scenario:

You have had a headache for a few days with high fever, so you go to see the doctor.

The doctor may ask you:

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 English question: “What symptoms do you have? (direct translation is คุณมีอาการอะไร – kun mii aa-gaan à-rai)”
🇹🇭 Thai question: “คุณมีอาการยังไงบ้าง – kun mii aa-gaan yang-ngai bâang”

With the question word อย่างไร – yàang-rai / ยังไง – yang-ngai (= how?), the doctor is asking about the nature or quality of your symptoms.

It’s akin to asking, “How are you feeling?” or “In what way are you experiencing these symptoms?”

🌺เท่าไหร่ (tâo-rài) = How much?

Used when asking about price or quantity.

อันนี้ราคาเท่าไหร่? (an-níi raa-kaa tâo-rài?) = How much is this? – Asking for “price”
คุณจะซื้อมะม่วงเท่าไหร่? (kun jà séeu má-mûuang tâo-rài?) = How much mango do you want to buy? – Asking for “quantity”

🌺ทำไม (tam-mai) = Why?

Used to ask for reasons

ทำไมคุณเรียนภาษาไทย? (tam-mai kun riian paa-sǎa tai?) = Why are you learning Thai?
ทำไมเขาถึงไม่มาเมื่อวานนี้? (tam-mai kǎo těeung mâi maa mêeua-waan-níi?) = Why didn’t he come yesterday?

💡Note:

The word ถึง – těeung in the second example can be called “Emphasis Particle”. In this case, it is sometimes put before the verb to emphasize the unexpected outcome: Yesterday he was expected to come here, but he did not. That is why the person asking this question wants to know the reason for not showing up as expected.

However, the word ถึง – těeung is omittable if the person asking the question wants only the factual reason of him not showing up.

🌺เมื่อไหร่ (mêeua-rài) = When?

Used to ask about time in a general sense, covering broader contexts

คุณจะกลับมาเมื่อไหร่? (kun jà glàp maa mêeua-rài?) = When will you come back?
งานเลี้ยงเลิกเมื่อไหร่? (ngaan-líiang lûuhk mêeua-rài?) = When does the event end?
คุณจะไปเที่ยวเชียงใหม่เมื่อไหร่? (kun ja bpai-tîiaw chiiang-mài mêeua-rài?) = When will you go to Chiangmai?

🌺กี่โมง (gìi-moong) = What time?

Used to ask about a specific time of day, equivalent to “what time?”

It focuses on asking for a specific hour in the day, unlike เมื่อไหร่ (muea-rai), which broadly asks “when?” and can refer to any point in time—past, present, or future.

ตอนนี้กี่โมง? (dtaawn-níi gìi moong?) = What time is it now?
คุณจะมาถึงที่นี่กี่โมง? (kun jà maa těung tîi-nîi gìi moong?) = What time will you arrive here?
เครื่องออกกี่โมง? (krêeuang àawk gìi moong?) = What time will the plane leave/ What is the flight time?

Mastering Thai question words can make your conversations in Thai so much smoother and more meaningful. They’re handy for asking the right questions and showing that you’re becoming more confident in the language. The more you practice, the easier it gets!

You may want to check out the following for more interesting information about questions:

Youtube –> Ask Questions in Thai | Basic Thai 101

Want to learn more about forming Thai sentences and speaking naturally? Check out Banana Thai’s online courses to master Thai in a fun and engaging way!

Happy learning!

How to say this in Thai Thai life style Uncategorized

Learn Common Thai Ingredients: A Guide for Thai Food Lovers

Post author By BananaThai
Post date March 6, 2025
No Comments on Learn Common Thai Ingredients: A Guide for Thai Food Lovers

Thai food is famous worldwide for the perfect balance of its bold flavors and aromatic herbs. Whether you’re learning Thai cuisine for fun or diving into Thai culture, understanding the essential ingredients will help you cook authentic Thai dishes and appreciate the rich culinary heritage of Thailand.

In this guide, we’ll explore eight common Thai ingredients, their uses in Thai cooking, where to find them, and how to manage allergies if needed. Those learning Thai will also find the Thai names and scripts useful so you can recognize them when ordering food or shopping in Thailand.

The Characteristics of Thai Food

Thai food is famous for its delicious and bold flavors. Here are some elements that make Thai food special:

Balanced Flavors – Thai dishes mix sweet, sour, salty, and spicy flavors perfectly.
Fresh Herbs and Spices – Ingredients like lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, and basil add depth and fragrance to the dishes.
Spicy Kick – Thai food often uses chili peppers, but you can adjust the spice level to your preference.
Rich Umami – Fish sauce, shrimp paste, and fermented soybeans give Thai food its deep, savory taste.

By understanding these key points, you can better understand and enjoy the unique taste of Thai dishes.

What Are "Ingredients"?

Ingredients – or “เครื่องปรุง (krêeuang-bprung)” in Thai – are the individual food items or components used to create a dish or recipe.

Ingredients include vegetables, meats, spices, herbs, and other seasonings.

For instance, when making ‘Pad Thai’, common ingredients include rice noodles, tamarind paste, fish sauce, shrimp, peanuts, bean sprouts, chives, and lime.

8 Common Thai Ingredients

As mentioned earlier, Thai food is known for its harmonious blend of sour, sweet, salty, and spicy flavors. So it’s no surprise that these seasonings are essential ingredients for creating the delicious taste of Thai cuisine.

Let’s have a look at these 8 common Thai ingredients:

🥘Fish Sauce (น้ำปลา - nám-bplaa)

Fish sauce is a key ingredient in Thai food, adding a salty and savory taste. Fish sauce is often used in stir-fries, soups, and curries. Fish sauce is an important ingredient used by mixing with lime juice, sugar, garlic, and chili to create flavorful dipping sauces for spring rolls, grilled meats, and seafood.

🥘Lemongrass (ตะไคร้ - dtà-krái)

Lemongrass is a fragrant herb that adds a citrusy aroma to Thai dishes. It’s one of the three must-have ingredients for any spicy soup (known as ‘ต้มยำ – Dtôm-yam’ in Thai). Finely chopped or ground lemongrass is often mixed into curry pastes, which are used in a range of Thai curries like Green Curry or Red Curry. Lemongrass tea is a popular drink, due to its refreshing taste and potential health benefits.

🥘Kaffir Lime Leaves (ใบมะกรูด - bai má-grùud)

Kaffir lime leaves are famous for their strong citrus smell and taste. They give a fresh, zesty scent similar to lime, lemon, and a hint of flowers. Unlike regular limes, kaffir lime leaves have a special and unique taste that’s hard to replace. It is a key ingredient in soups such as ต้มยำ (Dtôm-yam) and ต้มข่าไก่ (Dtôm-kàa Gài), contributing to the distinctive taste and aroma.

🥘Chilies (พริก - prík)

The term in British English and in Australia, New Zealand, India, Malaysia and other Asian countries is just “chilli” without “pepper”. The renowned spiciness of Thai food comes mainly from this chili. There are 5 types of chili used in Thai food, of which the hottest one is called พริกขี้หนูสวน – prík kîi nǔu sǔuan (garden mouse-dropping chili). Thai chilies are used both fresh and dried.

🥘Galangal (ข่า - kàa)

Galangal is sometimes referred to as Thai or Siamese Ginger. It has a sharp, peppery flavor and is often mistaken for ginger. Galangal is a key ingredient in Thai spicy soups and curries. It is the main ingredient in ต้มข่าไก่ (Dtôm-kàa Gài) – a coconut milk-based soup featuring galangal prominently, lending it a slightly spicy and tangy taste.

🥘Tamarind Paste (มะขามเปียก - má-kǎam-bpìiak)

Tamarind paste is made from the tamarind fruit, which has a sweet and tangy flavor. It’s a staple ingredient in Thai cuisine, adding depth and complexity to various dishes by balancing out savory and spicy elements. If you are a fan of ผัดไทย (Pàd Thai), you may still recall the balanced flavors of the sauce used in this well-known Thai dish, which is contributed to by tamarind paste.

🥘Coconut Milk (กะทิ - gà-tí)

Coconut milk is a key ingredient in Thai cuisine, adding a rich and creamy texture to many dishes. If you love Thai curries, you may also recall the contribution of coconut milk in those curries, such as แกงเขียวหวาน (Green Curry), แกงเผ็ด (Red Curry), and แกงมัสมั่น (Mássàmàn Curry). Coconut milk. Coconut milk is also a popular ingredient in Thai desserts, such as ข้าวเหนียวมะม่วง (Sticky Rice with Mango) and สังขยา (Sangkaya) or a Thai custard.

🥘Holy Basil (กะเพรา - gà-prao)

Raise your hand if you have not tried our ผัดกะเพรา (Pàd Gà-prao)! This classic dish is named after holy basil and features it prominently, providing a fragrant and flavorful kick. Many people come to Thailand with this dish among the top of their ‘must-do’ list in Thailand. Holy basil can also be found in other Thai dishes such as ผัดฉ่า (pàd chàa) and spicy soups.

Below is a quick guide to our 8 common Thai ingredients with some sample dishes you may want to try:

Where to Find These Ingredients

In Thailand, you can find all these ingredients at every fresh market, and supermarket. Morning markets in all provinces have these ingredients for those who enjoy walking along in the early morning, shopping for fresh foods, vegetables, and fruits like the locals.

If you’re outside Thailand, you can still find these essential ingredients in various places:

Asian Grocery Stores – Most cities have specialty Asian markets that carry Thai ingredients.
Online Retailers – Websites like Amazon and specialty Asian food stores offer dried or preserved versions.
Local Supermarkets – Some mainstream supermarkets now carry Thai essentials in their international sections.
Grow Your Own – If you love Thai cooking, consider growing herbs like Thai holy basil and lemongrass at home!

How to Manage Allergies to Thai Ingredients

Thai food is flavorful but can contain common allergens.

If you have food allergies, it is important to know how to navigate Thai cuisine safely. Here are some tips:

Communicate Clearly – When eating out, learn how to say your allergy in Thai:

“I am allergic to seafood” = “ฉัน/ผมแพ้อาหารทะเล” (Chǎn/Pǒm páae aa-hǎan tá-lee)

“I am allergic to shrimp” = “ฉัน/ผมแพ้กุ้ง” (Chǎn/Pǒm páae gûng)

“I am allergic to peanut” = “ฉัน/ผมแพ้ถั่ว” (Chǎn/Pǒm páae tùua)

Ask for modifications – When ordering in Thailand, you can say:

“Can I have it without …?” = “ไม่ใส่… ได้ไหม (Mâi sài …… dâai mǎi?)”

So, if you are allergic to peanut and you want it without peanut, you can say:

“ไม่ใส่ถั่วได้ไหม ฉัน/ผมแพ้ถั่ว (Mâi sài tùua dâai mǎi? Chǎn/Pǒm páae tùua)

📝 Note:

If you have a seafood allergy, be particularly careful, as shrimp paste and fish sauce are common in Thai dishes.

Check food labels – Many Thai sauces and pastes contain fish, shrimp, or nuts, so always read labels carefully.
Bring allergy cards – If you have a severe allergy, carrying a Thai-language allergy card can help you communicate your dietary restrictions clearly.

Summary

Starting to learn Thai language and food is like discovering a world full of flavors and culture. Knowing these common Thai ingredients will not only make you a better cook but also help you understand Thai culture and language better.

So, why not visit your local Asian market, get these ingredients, and begin cooking? Your taste buds and Thai language skills will be happy!

If you’re keen to learn more about Thai cooking and culture, check out Banana Thai School’s online courses and Private Lessons where you can explore the Thai language and cuisine in an engaging way!

Happy cooking and enjoy your Thai food journey!

How to say this in Thai Situational Thai Uncategorized

How Are You? / I’m Fine in Thai – Greetings and Answering Them

Post author By BananaThai
Post date February 21, 2025
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One of the most important skills when learning a new language is knowing how to greet people and respond naturally. Thai people often use casual and friendly greetings in daily conversations, and mastering these phrases can help you sound more natural and confident.

In this blog, we will explain why greetings matter in Thai culture, tell you common greetings the Thai way and different ways to respond, and tips for using greetings effectively.

Why Greetings Matter in Thai Culture

For those familiar with greetings such as “Hello-How are you-I’m fine, thank-you, and you?”, you may find the Thai way of greetings and questions irrelevant or somewhat nosy. They are not so, because greetings for Thai people mean a lot, such as

Respect and Hierarchy

Thai society places a strong emphasis on respect, especially when interacting with elders, superiors, or new acquaintances. Using appropriate greetings helps convey politeness and acknowledgment of social status.

Building and Maintaining Relationships

Greeting someone properly fosters good relationships, whether with friends, colleagues, or family members. It helps create a sense of warmth and friendliness in interactions.

Creating a Positive Atmosphere

A simple greeting can brighten someone’s day and set a positive tone for the conversation. Using the right greeting can make you appear more approachable and culturally aware.

Common Thai Greetings

Let’s have a look at some greetings you might have already come across:

👋 เป็นไงบ้าง (bpen ngai bâang) = How’s it going?

This is a casual and friendly way to ask someone how they are doing, commonly used among friends.

👋 สบายดีไหม (sà-baai dii mǎi) = Are you doing well?

A polite way to check in on someone’s well-being.

👋 ครอบครัวเป็นอย่างไรบ้าง (krâawp-kruua bpen yàang-rai bâang) = How’s your family?

A polite and warm way to show interest in someone’s personal life, often used in more formal or caring situations. It is mainly aimed at expressing concern and care – not trying to be nosy!

📝 Note:

In Thai culture, family is considered the foundation of social life. This is why asking about family shows that you care about the family of the other as well.

👋 ทุกคนสบายดีใช่ไหม (túk kon sà-baai dii châi mǎi) = Is everyone doing well?

This phrase is useful when asking about a group of people, such as family or friends.

👋 ไม่ได้เจอกันนานเลย (mâi dâai juuh gan naan looei) = Long time no see!

This phrase is perfect for catching up with someone you haven’t seen in a while.

👋 ว่าไง (wâa ngai) = What’s up?

This is a very casual way to greet a friend and is used among close friends only, similar to “Hey” or “What’s up?” in English.

Responses to the Greetings

Responding to the Thai greeting may be awkward for you to do, considered that the question is not a typical way of greeting like in other parts of the world. However, there are ways for you to choose from, such as:

🙂 Positive Responses

If you’re feeling good and want to give a positive response, you can say:

สบายดี ขอบคุณ (sà-baai dii, kàawp-kun) = I’m fine, thank you.
ดีมากเลย (dii mâak looei) = Very good!
ช่วงนี้ดีมาก (chûang níi dii mâak) = Lately, things have been great.

☹️ Negative Responses

If things aren’t going so well, you can express it politely:

ไม่ค่อยดีเท่าไหร่ (mâi kôi dii tâo-rài) = Not so good.
เหนื่อยมากเลย (nèuuay mâak looei) = Very tired.
ช่วงนี้เครียดนิดหน่อย (chûang níi krîiat nít nòi) = A little stressed lately.

📝 Note: You may have to be ready to tell more about it as your Thai friend or acquaintance is likely to ask further!

😐 Neutral Responses

If you don’t want to express too much, a neutral response works:

ก็เรื่อยๆ นะ (gâw rûueai rûueai ná) = Just so-so.
โอเคนะ (oh-kee ná) = I’m okay.

📝 Note: With this kind of responses, you politely give a hint that you probably are not ready to discuss it further, or are in a hurry to do some other things.

🗣️ Explanatory Responses

If you want to elaborate, try these phrases:

สบายดี งานยุ่งนิดหน่อย (sà-baai dii, ngaan yûng nít nòi) = I’m fine, just a little busy with work.
ไม่ค่อยดี ป่วยนิดหน่อย (mâi kôi dii, bpuài nít nòi) = Not so good, I’m a little sick.
โอเคนะ แต่มีเรื่องให้คิดเยอะ (oh-kee ná, dtàae mii rûueang hâi kít yúuh) = I’m okay, but I have a lot on my mind.

📝 Note: With this kind of response, it is likely that the conversation will continue, which is a way Thai people use greetings as a tool for relationship building.

Tips for Using Greetings

To help you properly and comfortably interact with your Thai acquaintances or friends in the next greeting with them, here are some tips!

1️⃣ Match the Tone

When greeting someone, consider the setting and relationship. Use casual greetings with friends and more formal ones in professional or respectful situations.

2️⃣ Ask Back

To keep the conversation flowing, ask the person back by adding แล้วคุณล่ะ? (láaew kun lâ?) = “And you?”

3️⃣ Use Polite Ending Particles ครับ (kráp) or ค่ะ (kâ)

Adding these particles makes your speech sound more polite and respectful. For example:

สบายดีไหมครับ? (sà-baai dii mǎi kráp?) – Polite way for men
สบายดีไหมคะ? (sà-baai dii mǎi ká?) – Polite way for women

All meanings of ได้ (dâi)

Post author By Kru Smuk
Post date February 5, 2023
No Comments on All meanings of ได้ (dâi)

ได้ (dâi) is one of the most frequently used in daily Thai. Maybe it’s because this word has many meanings. In this post, I will teach you all meanings of ได้ (dâi) and ways to use it in your Thai sentences. Let’s enjoy!

ได้ dâi (Verbs)

ได้ (dâi) can be verbs in Thai.

1. ได้รับ (dâi) = to receive to get
Please note that, many times Thai people just say “ได้” (dâi) for example, คุณได้เงินหรือยัง (khun dâi nguen reǔ-yang) = Did you received the money?

2. ได้ยิน (dâi-yin) = to hear
คุณได้ยินฉันไหม (khun dâi-yin chǎn mǎi) = Do you hear me?

3. อยากได้ (yàak-dâi) = to want to have/to get/to buy
ฉันอยากได้รถคันใหม่ (chǎn yàak-dâi ròt kan mài) = I want to have a new car.

ได้ dâi as “Yes!”

The word ได้ (dâi) is used to confirm the possibility, ability, availability, and permission. So it can be a reply as “sure”, “of course!” or “absolutely”.

When someone asked you to go to the cinema, and you want to respond as “yes, sure!”, you can say “ได้ (dâi)”.

ได้ + ending words

You can add some particles (ending words) to use with ได้ (dâi) to give specific feelings or implications.

For examples
– ได้เลย (dâi loey) = Absolutely yes.
– ได้สิ (dâi sì) = Ys, of course!
– ได้มั้ง (dâi máng) = Probably yes.

Example dialogue

A: คืนนี้เราไปดูหนังกันไหม (keun née rao bpai doo năng gan măi)
= Let’s go watch a movie tonight?

B: ได้เลย (dâi loey)
= Yes, Absolutely!

ได้ dâi as “Verb Can/Could”

The helping Verb “can” in Thai is ได้ (dâi). Please note that there are other words that can be used as “can” in English. For now, I will only explain the ได้ (dâi) as “can”.

If you put the word ได้ (dâi) at the end of the sentence, it works as Verb can.

ได้ (dâi) = “can” for availability

If you want to state that something/someone is available, you can use ได้ (dâi).

For examples
– ฉันไปทำงานพรุ่งนี้ได้ (chǎn bpai tam-ngaan prûng-níi dâi) = I can go to work tomorrow (because I am free.)
– คุณใช้คอมเครื่องนี้ได้ (kun chái kom krêuuang née dâai) =You can use this computer (because no one is using it now)

ได้ (dâi) “can” for ability

If you want to state that someone has the ability to do something, you can use ได้ (dâi).

For examples
– ฉันขับรถได้ (chǎn khàb-rót dâi) = I can drive. (because I do not have a visual disability)
– ฉันว่ายน้ำได้ (chǎn wâai-náam dâi) = I can swim (because I do not have skin infection)

ได้ (dâi) “can” for permission

If you want to state that someone has permission to do something, you can use ได้ (dâi).

For examples
– เข้ามาได้ (kâo maa dâi) = You can come in.
– ฉันไปเที่ยวกับเธอได้ (chǎn bpai tîiaw gàb ter dâi) = I can go out with you (because my mom allowed me to)

📍This topic is also taught in the Intensive Thai course. You can see the free preview lesson of the Verb “can/could” in Thai on YouTube.

Tips for Verb can

As you learned above, there are many cases to use ได้ (dâi) as the “Verb can”. It depends on the context.

For example

ฉันนขับรถได้ (chǎn kàp-ròt dâi) means, I can drive.

It can be because I do not have a visual disability, because I am available to drive or because I am allowed to drive.

ได้ dâi for past tense

As you might know that there is no conjugation of verbs in Thai including for tenses, we use filling words (aka. particles) to indicate tense. ได้ (dâi) is one of the past tense indicators.

📍 Learn more about Past Tense on our blog post (5-min read)

“Subject + ได้ (dâi) + verb” is one of the syntaxes for past tense as “I got a chance to…”.

For examples

– ฉันได้กินเค้กแล้ว (chǎn dâi gin cake láew) = I already ate the cake. (got a chance to eat the cake)
– ฉันไม่ได้กินเค้ก (chǎn mâi-dâi gin cake) = I did not eat cake.

Tips to differentiate “past tense” and “verb can”

As you can use ได้ (dâi) for both cases, here is a tip from me. Look at the position of ได้ (dâi):

ได้ (dâi) at the end of the sentence = Verb can
ได้ (dâi) before a verb = Past tense

– ฉันกินเค้กได้ (chǎn gin cake dâi) = I can eat cake.
– ฉันได้กินเค้ก (chǎn dâi gin cake) = I got a chance to eat cake.

Summary

That’s it for the common ways to use ได้ (dâi) in Thai. One word can have many meanings and also use in different locations of a sentence. I hope you enjoy reading and learning from this blog post.

In case want to improve your Thai foundation and syntax, please feel free to check out the Intensive Thai course, a fundamental course to learn basic Thai foundation (A1-A2 levels). Or if you’d like to have lessons with our certified BananaThai teachers, please check out our private lessons.

How to say this in Thai Situational Thai Uncategorized

Common New Year Wishes in Thai คำอวยพรวันปีใหม่

Post author By Kru Smuk
Post date January 11, 2022
No Comments on Common New Year Wishes in Thai คำอวยพรวันปีใหม่

As many of you are celebrating the New Year and spending quality time with family and loved ones in Thailand, I would love to teach you how to say “Happy New Year!” in Thai. You will also learn some common phrases to wish your Thai friends, colleagues, and family during this joyful time.

How to say this in Thai Thai Podcasts

10 Sentences for Thai learners to use in the Thai class

Post author By Kru Smuk
Post date October 12, 2021
No Comments on 10 Sentences for Thai learners to use in the Thai class

Whether you’re attending a Thai language class or just learning Thai on your own, being curious or being enthusiastic to learn more is a great personality to have as a student.

In This blog post, I gathered 10 sentences for you to use in order to expand your Thai knowledge and to ask important questions.

(more…)

How to say this in Thai Thai Podcasts

Making a Comparison in Thai language (with podcast)

Post author By Kru Smuk
Post date October 5, 2021
No Comments on Making a Comparison in Thai language (with podcast)

You might already know the word มากกว่า (mâak-gwàa) as “more than” but there are more to learn. Listen to my Thai podcast and learn from this blog post.

(more…)

How to say this in Thai

List of 40 Country Names and Languages in Thai

Post author By Kru Smuk
Post date April 8, 2020
No Comments on List of 40 Country Names and Languages in Thai

Thai people are always curious where you are actually from. To be able to answer them properly, you should learn country names in Thai.

(more…)

How to say this in Thai Situational Thai

Learn Thai words from Thai audio – Covid-19

Post author By Kru Smuk
Post date March 19, 2020
No Comments on Learn Thai words from Thai audio – Covid-19

Covid-19 (aka. Corina Virus) has been the hottest topic to discuss in our society. If you want to be part of the discussion with your Thai friends, you should learn some Thai words on the topics of health and medicine.

(more…)

Table of Contents

The Word "Food" in Thai

How to Say "I Want..." in Thai

Ten Examples of Thai Dishes

Pat-thai (Pàt-tai - ผัดไทย)

Dtôm-yam Gûng (Dtôm-yam Gûng - ต้มยำกุ้ง)

Sôm Dtam (Sôm Dtam - ส้มตำ)

Green Curry (Gaaeng Kǐiaw-Wǎan - แกงเขียวหวาน)​

Massaman Curry (Gaaeng Mát-Sà-Màn - แกงมัสมั่น)

Dtôm Kàa Gài (Dtôm Kàa Gài - ต้มข่าไก่)

Thai Fried Rice (Kâao-Pàt - ข้าวผัด)

Chicken Rice (Kâao Man Gài - ข้าวมันไก่)

Kâao Gà-prao Mǔu (Kâao Gà-prao Mǔu - ข้าวกะเพราหมู)

Kâao Soy (Kâao Soy - ข้าวซอย)

Common Words for Ingredients in Thai

How to Customize Your Dish with "sài / mâi sài" (ใส่ / ไม่ใส่)

Summary

Table of Contents

Sentence Structure for Thai Question Words

Exceptions: Question Words That Appear at the Beginning

Common Thai Question Words

🌺อะไร = What?

As a subject (at the beginning)

As an object (At the end)

🌺ใคร = Who?

🌺กับใคร = With whom?

🌺ของใคร = Whose?

🌺ที่ไหน (tîi-nǎi) = Where?

🌺อย่างไร / ยังไง (yàang-rai / yang-ngai) = How?

Scenario:

🌺เท่าไหร่ (tâo-rài) = How much?

🌺ทำไม (tam-mai) = Why?

🌺เมื่อไหร่ (mêeua-rài) = When?

🌺กี่โมง (gìi-moong) = What time?

Table of Contents

The Characteristics of Thai Food

What Are "Ingredients"?

8 Common Thai Ingredients

🥘Fish Sauce (น้ำปลา - nám-bplaa)

🥘Lemongrass (ตะไคร้ - dtà-krái)

🥘Kaffir Lime Leaves (ใบมะกรูด - bai má-grùud)

🥘Chilies (พริก - prík)

🥘Galangal (ข่า - kàa)

🥘Tamarind Paste (มะขามเปียก - má-kǎam-bpìiak)

🥘Coconut Milk (กะทิ - gà-tí)

🥘Holy Basil (กะเพรา - gà-prao)

Where to Find These Ingredients

How to Manage Allergies to Thai Ingredients

Summary

Table of Contents

Why Greetings Matter in Thai Culture

Respect and Hierarchy

Building and Maintaining Relationships

Creating a Positive Atmosphere

Common Thai Greetings

Responses to the Greetings

🙂 Positive Responses

☹️ Negative Responses

😐 Neutral Responses

🗣️ Explanatory Responses

Tips for Using Greetings

Related Topics

Content Overview

ได้ dâi (Verbs)

ได้ (dâi) can be verbs in Thai.

ได้ dâi as “Yes!”

ได้ + ending words

ได้ dâi as “Verb Can/Could”

ได้ (dâi) = “can” for availability

ได้ (dâi) “can” for ability

ได้ (dâi) “can” for permission

Tips for Verb can

ได้ dâi for past tense

Tips to differentiate “past tense” and “verb can”

Summary

Green Curry (Gaaeng Kǐiaw-Wǎan - แกงเขียวหวาน)