In this first lesson, practise five phrases you can use in a short Thai conversation. Allow about 5–10 minutes. By the end, you should be able to greet someone, say thank you, and ask for slower speech.
1. Learn five useful phrases
| Thai | Reading aid | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| สวัสดี | sawat dii | Hello |
| ขอบคุณ | khop khun | Thank you |
| ขอโทษ | kho thot | Sorry / excuse me |
| ไม่เข้าใจ | mai khao chai | I do not understand |
| พูดช้า ๆ หน่อย | phut cha cha noi | Please speak a little more slowly |
The English-letter spelling is a simple reading aid, not IPA. It does not show every sound or tone. Listen to the Thai and practise aloud rather than relying on spelling alone.
Add ครับ (khrap) or ค่ะ (kha) where it fits your speaking style. For example, สวัสดีครับ or สวัสดีค่ะ. These are common polite forms for statements; you do not use both together.
Watch the related Thai with Ton lesson on YouTube →
2. Practise a short exchange
| Speaker | Thai | English |
|---|---|---|
| Ton | สวัสดีครับ | Hello. |
| Learner | สวัสดีค่ะ | Hello. |
| Learner | ขอโทษค่ะ ไม่เข้าใจค่ะ พูดช้า ๆ หน่อยค่ะ | Excuse me. I do not understand. Please speak a little more slowly. |
| Ton | ได้ครับ | Sure. |
| Learner | ขอบคุณค่ะ | Thank you. |
This example uses ครับ for Ton and ค่ะ for the learner. Change the learner’s polite particle if another form fits your speaking style. Read the learner’s lines aloud twice.
3. Choose the phrase
- Someone helps you. What do you say?
- You meet your teacher for the first time. How do you greet them?
- You need a sentence repeated more slowly. What could you say?
Show the answers
1. ขอบคุณครับ / ขอบคุณค่ะ. 2. สวัสดีครับ / สวัสดีค่ะ. 3. พูดช้า ๆ หน่อยครับ / พูดช้า ๆ หน่อยค่ะ. If you did not understand, you can first say ไม่เข้าใจ.
4. Your quick challenge
Choose one phrase and use it in a real conversation today, or practise it with a friend. Record yourself once if you like, then listen for clear sounds rather than trying to speak fast.