Phuket Travelers' Net

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Making Friends

Phuket Travelers' Net
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Introductions

On being introduced Thais will place both palms together beneath their chin, fingers pointing upwards. This gesture is known as wai. You will find most Thais very friendly and willing to strike up a conversation.

Smart conservative dress is appreciated, particularly if you are invited to a Thai home. Do not touch anyone on the head, which is considered sacred, and avoid pointing your feet towards another's body.

The polite form of calling Thais by their name is the same whether speaking to a man or a woman: the title kun followed by their first name.

Basic
May I introduce Mr/Mrs/Miss... kor naih nam hai roo jak
John, this is Mr/Mrs/Miss... jorn nee kun
My name is pom (di chan) cheur
Pleased to meet you! yin dee tee roo jak
What's your name? kun cheur arai
How are you? (b)pehn yang ngai barng
Fine thanks. And you? sa bai dee korp kun laiw
Where are you going? (b)pai nai
I'm going out. bai teaw
Where have you been? (b)pai nai mar
I've been out. (b)pai teaw mar
Follow Up
How long have you been here? kun yoo tee nee narn kair nai laiw
We've been here a week. row yoo tee nee dai ar tit neuhng laiw
Is this your first visit? nee (b)pehn krang rairk tee kun mar tee nee reua
No, we came here last year. mai chai row koey mar teenee laiw meua (b)pee tee laiw
Are you enjoying your stay? yoo tee nee chorp mai
Yes, I like it very much. chorp pom (di chan) chorp mark
Where do you come from? kun mar jark nai
I'm from... pom (di chan) mar jark
What nationality are you? kun (b)pehn kon chart arai
I'm... pom (di chan) (b)pehn kon
American a mey ri gan
British ang grit
Canadian kair nar dar
English ang grit
Irish ai rit
Where are you staying? kun pak tee nai
Are you on your own? mar teaw kon deaw rer
I'm with my... pom (di chan) mar gap...korng pom (di chan)
wife pan ra yar
husband sar mee
family krorp krua
children look look
parents por mair
boyfriend/girlfriend fairn
father/mother por/mair
son/daughter look chai/look sow
brother/sister pee (norng) chai/pee (norng) sow
uncle/aunt lung/(b)par
nephew/niece larn chay/larn sow
cousin yart
Are you married/single? kun taihng ngarn laiw reua yang/(b)pehn soet yoo reua (b)plow
Do you have children? kun mee look laiw reua yang
What do you do? kun tam ngan arai
I'm a student. pom (di chan) (b)pehn nak seuhk sar
What are you studying? kun gam lang seuhk sar darn nai
I'm here on a business trip/on holiday. pom (di chan) mar tura/teaw pak porn
Do you travel a lot? kun dern tarng (d)torng teaw mark mai
Do you play cards/chess? kun lehn pai/mark ruk (b)pehn mai
The Weather
What a lovely day! wan nee ar gart dee jang
What awful weather! ar gart yair jang loey
Isn't it cold/hot today? wan nee now/rorn na
Do you think it's going to...tomorrow? kit war prung nee...mai
be a nice day ar gart dee
rain fon (d)tok
What's the weather forecast? pa yar gorn ar gart war yang ngai bang
cloud meyk
fog mee mork
frost narm karng kaihng
lightning far lairp
monsoon mo ra sum
thunder far rorng
thunderstorm fon far ka norng
wind lom
Invitations
Would you like to have dinner with us on...? mar gin ar harn yehn gap row...mai
May I invite you to lunch? yark chuan (b)pai gin ar harn tearng duay
Can you come round for a drink this evening? waih mar deurm duay gan dai mai yehn nee
There's a party. Are you coming? mee ngarn (b)par tee mar dai mai
That's very kind of you. kun jai dee jang loey
Great. I'd love to come. dee mark pom (di chan) yark (b)pai mark
What time shall we come? row kuan (b)pai gee moeng
May I bring a friend? pom (di chan) par peuan (b)pai duay kon neuhng dai mai
I'm afraid we have to leave now. kor toet row (d)torng glap laiw la
Next time you must come visit us. krow nar kun (d)torng mar yearm row na
Thanks for the evening. It was great. learng yehn nee dee mark loey
Dating
Do you mind if I smoke? kun ja rang geart mai tar pom (di chan) ja soop bu ree
Would you like a cigarette? bu ree mai
Do you have a light, please? mee fai chaihk mai
Why are you laughing? kun hua ro arai rer
Is my Thai that bad? par sar tai korng pom (di chan) yair ka nart nan loey rer
Can I get you a drink? pom (di chan) (b)pai ow kreuang deurm hai ow mai
Are you waiting for someone? ror krai yoo reua (b)plow
Are you free this evening? kun warng mai yehn nee
Would you like to go out with me tonight? yark ork (b)pai teaw karng nork gap pom (di chan) mai
Would you like to go dancing? yark ork (b)pai (d)tehn ram mai
I know a good discotheque. pom (di chan) roo jak dit sa goe tehk dee dee tee neuhng
Where shall we meet? row ja jer gan tee nai dee
I'll call for you at 8. pom (di chan) ja waih (b)pai har (d)torn sorng tum
May I take you home? deaw pom (di chan) (b)pai song tee barn hai na
Can I see you again tomorrow? pom (di chan) ja jer kun eek tee prung nee dai mai
I hope we'll meet again. pom (di chan) wang war row ja dai jer gan eek
And You Might Answer...
I'd love to, thank you. pom (di chan) son jai mark korp kun
Thank you, but I'm busy. korp kun, (d)tair war pom (di chan) yung mark
No, I'm not interested, thank you. mai la pom (di chan) mai son jai korp kun
Leave me alonoe, please! kor rorng yar yung dai mai
Thank you, it's been a wonderful evening. korp kun ngarn learng yehn nee yearm jing jing
I've enjoyed myself. pom (di chan) roo seuhk sa nuk mark