Speak · Beginner Thai
Thai Greetings for Beginners
Learn a small set of greetings that sound polite and useful throughout the day—then build a real two-way introduction instead of stopping at “hello.”
sà-wàt-dii khráp / khâ · hello
First win: play the greeting, repeat it, then say your name.
Build an introduction ↓Politeness changes the feeling
ครับ (khráp) and ค่ะ (khâ) commonly soften a sentence. They are traditionally associated with male and female speakers, while real usage also reflects identity and context. Listen to Thai speakers around you and use the form appropriate for you.
สวัสดี works as a general hello. Thai does not require a different everyday greeting for morning, afternoon, and evening.
Six greetings you will reuse
Introduce yourself
| Thai | Pronunciation | Meaning | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|
| คุณชื่ออะไร | khun chûue à-rai? | What is your name? | |
| ผมชื่อ… / ฉันชื่อ… | phǒm chûue… / chǎn chûue… | My name is… | |
| ยินดีที่ได้รู้จัก | yin-dii thîi dâai rúu-jàk | Nice to meet you. | |
| คุณมาจากประเทศอะไร | khun maa jàak bprà-thêet à-rai? | Which country are you from? |
Reply naturally
สบายดีไหม literally asks whether someone is well, but it is not required every time you say hello. A clear reply is สบายดี (sà-baai dii, “I’m well”), followed by แล้วคุณล่ะ (láaeo khun lâ, “and you?”).
A complete mini dialogue
A: สวัสดีครับ คุณชื่ออะไร
B: สวัสดีค่ะ ฉันชื่อแอนค่ะ แล้วคุณล่ะ
A: ผมชื่อเดวิดครับ ยินดีที่ได้รู้จัก
B: ยินดีที่ได้รู้จักค่ะ
Three mistakes to avoid
- Using English sound rules instead of listening to Thai rhythm and tone.
- Skipping polite particles in short requests with strangers.
- Memorizing a question without learning the reply you are likely to hear.
Take it offline
All 84 travel phrases, ready when you need them
Carry the complete phone-friendly pack for restaurants, markets, transport, hotels, directions, and getting help.
Optional learning support
Practise a real introduction with a tutor
Use the free lesson first. A live tutor is most useful when you bring a prepared dialogue and ask for specific feedback.
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