# Learn a little Thai: phrases that go a long way

> A friendly starter kit of Thai for Chiang Mai: the polite words khrap/kha, must-know phrases, food vocabulary, numbers 1–10, and where to learn more.

You don't need fluent Thai to live happily in Chiang Mai — English gets you a long way in tourist areas. But a *handful* of phrases changes everything: faces light up, prices feel friendlier, and you stop being just another visitor. Thai is tonal (five tones) and has its own script, so reading is a long project — but **speaking the basics is very doable**. Here's the starter kit.

## The two magic words: khrap & kha

The single highest-impact thing you can learn is the **politeness particle** you add to the end of sentences:

- Men say **khrap**, women say **kha**.

Tack it onto anything — *sawatdee khrap*, *khop khun kha* — and your Thai instantly sounds respectful and warm. Pair it with the **wai** (palms together, slight bow) when greeting elders, hosts or staff, and you'll be met with real smiles.

![Learn a little Thai: phrases that go a long way](/blog/learn-thai-language-chiang-mai/visual.webp)

## Phrases to start with

Approximate phonetics (spellings vary — focus on the sound, add khrap/kha to be polite):

- **sawatdee** — hello
- **khop khun** — thank you
- **chai** / **mai chai** — yes / no
- **kho thot** — sorry / excuse me
- **mai pen rai** — it's okay / no worries (you'll hear this constantly)
- **thao rai?** — how much?
- **… yu thi nai?** — where is …? (e.g. *hong nam yu thi nai?* — where's the bathroom?)
- **check bin** — the bill, please
- **mai ao thung** — no plastic bag (handy at 7-Eleven and markets)

## Food language: your highest-value words

You'll use these every single day — start here:

- **aroi** (or *aroi mak*, very delicious) — the easiest way to delight a cook
- **phet** / **mai phet** / **phet nit noi** — spicy / not spicy / a little spicy
- **ao …** — "I'd like …" (e.g. *ao pad thai*) · **an nii** — "this one" (point and smile)
- Building blocks: **khao** (rice), **sen** (noodles), **gai** (chicken), **moo** (pork), **nuea** (beef), **pla** (fish), **phak** (vegetables)
- Plant-based? **gin jay** — "I eat vegan/vegetarian" — see our [vegan & vegetarian guide](/blog/vegetarian-chiang-mai)

Armed with these, the [Northern Thai food](/blog/northern-thai-food) world opens right up.

## Numbers 1–10

Useful for prices, orders and bus seats:

**neung** (1), **song** (2), **sam** (3), **si** (4), **ha** (5), **hok** (6), **jet** (7), **paet** (8), **kao** (9), **sip** (10).

Combine with pointing and the price display and you'll manage almost anything.

![Learn a little Thai: phrases that go a long way](/blog/learn-thai-language-chiang-mai/visual-2.webp)

## Tones & script, briefly

Thai's five tones mean one syllable can carry several meanings — *mai* alone can mean "not," "new" or "burn" depending on tone. Don't let that scare you: aim to be **understood**, not perfect, and locals are remarkably patient and encouraging. The script is beautiful but a separate, longer study — not needed for everyday speaking, though it helps later with local menus and bus signs.

## Going further

Chiang Mai is a genuinely great place to study Thai — low cost, relaxed pace, and plenty of options:

- **Language schools** — group and private classes abound. Some historically offered Education (ED) visas; since the **DTV** reshaped long-stay options, confirm current visa rules directly with the school or immigration (our [digital nomad guide](/blog/digital-nomad-chiang-mai) has the visa picture).
- **Apps** — Ling, Pimsleur, Drops, Duolingo for vocabulary and listening.
- **Tutors & exchanges** — one-to-one online tutors, plus language-exchange meetups around Nimman's cafés and coworking spaces — a low-pressure way to practise *and* make local friends. [Volunteering in Chiang Mai](/blog/volunteering-chiang-mai), done thoughtfully, is another way to use your growing Thai in the community without doing harm.

Our advice: learn **politeness, food and numbers first**, sprinkle khrap/kha generously, and don't overthink the tones. Even a clumsy *aroi mak!* to the lady at the noodle stall will earn you a grin — and that's really the whole point. Ask us at the house for our favourite phrases and where the next language exchange is on.