100 THAI Survival Words for absolute beginners

[enterprise]

Its nice to know that water in Thai is nam but most guys coming to Pattaya are interested in knowing naughty for wank, fuck, blow job 555.  

Apart from the Canukes that is who like their Elks or Moose

[Bizface]

All you need in Patts is - 

Bai nai

Baa 

Lil Lil

[Doubleh]

Nemo-Thai and Thai Pro are 2 apps I use on my android they help with pronunciation and also have a test section I found them good for basic stuff ..I used the pay for version once I got through the free stuff I cant remember exactly how much but not much more than what a few beers cost at home

[muldoon]

I am studying Thai via heaps of downloads (docs, vids and mp3s) from Thaipod101 and some documents from websites like Country of the Blind and dcs.warwick.ac.uk and a Thai Grammar document from David Smyth

Learning how to read the script really helps on how to pronounce the words (next step is to recognise the unmarked tones).

Trying to follow phonetic translations are a minefield because you need to find one from your fellow countryman since they will pronounce syllables the same way as you, while another English speaking national most likely pronounce it slightly differently.  

At least I found out why Thais say check bin instead of check bill.

 

[secret tom]

tort mai krup.....all i need to no  555

[socrates]

Interesting thread ..

[Louis Ting Tong]

5 hours ago, muldoon said:

I am studying Thai via heaps of downloads (docs, vids and mp3s) from Thaipod101 and some documents from websites like Country of the Blind and dcs.warwick.ac.uk and a Thai Grammar document from David Smyth

Learning how to read the script really helps on how to pronounce the words (next step is to recognise the unmarked tones).

Trying to follow phonetic translations are a minefield because you need to find one from your fellow countryman since they will pronounce syllables the same way as you, while another English speaking national most likely pronounce it slightly differently.  

At least I found out why Thais say check bin instead of check bill.

 

Check bin, footbon, hospiton, centron... took me a long time to work that one out.

I have the Teach Yourself Thai book by David Smyth. It gives you Thai characters throughout each chapter, so as you work your way through the book you begin to understand the Thai script. I studied it years ago and got to a point where I could almost read and understand it. But I was too lazy to keep it up so it's now all forgotten. The book also gives a good example of why learning Thai phonetically isn't a good idea if you want to understand it at a decent level.

[flioflop]

If you want to do some flashcards to learn the words:

 

Go for the app: Quizlet

 

 

[deckard]

Great thread.  Even speaking a few words is helpful and local people do really appreciate it.  I can't speak a lot of thai, but the few things I know have ended up saving me money. 

[just hanging]

6 hours ago, flioflop said:

If you want to do some flashcards to learn the words:

 

Go for the app: Quizlet

 

 

I have been looking for good flash cards, expecially with the letters.   I looked at this but site is down

[MONOCHROMEMAN]

On 5/15/2017 at 6:26 AM, RAZZELL said:

I've just picked phrases up over the years.

But unfortunately, you don't really have a conversation - you just speak parrot-like sentences and answers.

What book did you use to learn the Thai script etc? I know the ones written by Dr. David Smyth at SOAS are supposed to be very good.

I've got a copy of this, somewhere - I think it's at my folks house:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fundamentals-Thai-Language-Stuart-Campbell/dp/B001NQKLHC

And, just out of interest how long did it take you to learn the script? And how did you practice writing it ?

Many, many moons ago (school days!), I managed to learn the Russian alphabet and basic Russian - it wasn't as bad as most people think.

RAZZ

 

 

i hv that book. it's okay but has at least one clanger in it.

On 5/15/2017 at 7:11 AM, Dr.Winston said:

I learned the script from a small book that came with the original 'Linguaphone' book/cassette tape course I bout in 1988.

 

I'm pretty sure that they have re-issued it in CD or maybe sound file format. The book totally ignores the Thai names for the letters which can actually be a distraction early on. It's the easiest book to learn the script I have ever seen.

This is the one I always wanted.

[MONOCHROMEMAN]

On 5/14/2017 at 4:16 PM, flioflop said:

100 THAI Words

Found this on the www and hope that the author doesn't get a heart attack if ever it is known that the list made it into the PA-Forum.

 

 

already (tense marker): แล้ว /láew/
be [v]: เป็น /bpen/
be at, live at, stay: อยู่ /yòo/
beautiful, attractive, pretty: สวย /sŭay/
big: ใหญ่ /yài/
can: ได้ /dâai/
cannot: ไม่ได้ /mâi-dâai/
come, arrive (shows direction to the speaker): มา /maa/
delicious: อร่อย /a-ròi/
do, make: ทำ /tam/
doctor: หมอ /mŏr/
don’t!: อย่า! /yàa/
excuse me, I’m sorry: ขอโทษ /kŏr tôht/
expensive: แพง /paeng/
far: ไกล /glai/
fast: เร็ว /reo/
full (food): อิ่ม /ìm/
get, receive, accept: รับ /ráp/
go, leave, depart (shows direction away from the speaker): ไป /bpai/
good: ดี /dee/
have: มี /mee/
he, she, him, her, they, them: เขา /kăo/
hello, goodbye, see you later: สวัสดี /sà-wàt-dee/
help, aid, assist [v]: ช่วย /chûay/
here: ที่นี่ /têe-nêe/
hot (spicy): เผ็ด /pèt/
hot (temperature): ร้อน /rón/
hotel: โรงแรม /rohng-raem/
how: ยังไง /yang-ngai/
how much, how many: เท่าไหร่ /tâo-rài/
how much, how many: กี่ /gèe/
hungry: หิวข้าว /hĭw kâao/
I, me, my [f]: ฉัน /chăn/
I, me, my [m]: ผม /pŏm/
injured: บาดเจ็บ /bàat jèp/
know (someone, something, someplace): รู้จัก /róo-jàk/
know (something): ทราบ /sâap/ รู้ /róo/
left: ซ้าย /sáai/
like: ชอบ /chôp/
little bit: นิดหน่อย /nít-nòi/
look, see, appear, seem, watch: ดู /doo/
lost: หลงทาง /lŏng taang/
market: ตลาด /dtà-làat/
name: ชื่อ /chêu/
near: ใกล้ /glâi/
no problem, that’s ok, nevermind: ไม่เป็นไร /mâi-bpen-rai/
no, not: ไม่ /mâi/
now, right now, at this moment: ตอนนี้ /dton-née/
stop, park: จอด /jòt/
one more time: อีกที /èek-tee/
person, people, classifier for people: คน /kon/
police: ตำรวจ /dtam-rùat/
P: Polite particle [f]: ค่ะ /kâ/
P: Polite particle [m]: ครับ /kráp/
P: Question particle: ไหม /măi/
P: Question particle [f]: คะ /ká/
P: Question, confirmative [m/f]: เหรอ or หรือ /rĕr or rĕu/
P: Question, “what about …?”: ล่ะ /lâ/
P: Softener, makes it more persuasive: นะ /ná/
P: Softens request or command, a bit: หน่อย /nòi/
P: Used in requests, congratulations or condolences ด้วย (ค่ะ/นะคะ) /dûay/ (ka/ná-ka)
really: จริงๆ /jing-jing/
restaurant: ร้านอาหาร /ráan aa-hăan/
right: ขวา /kwăa/
slowly, slower: ช้าช้า /cháa-cháa/
speak: พูด /pôot/
stop!: หยุด! /yùt/
straight: ตรงไป /dtrong-bpai/
sure [v]: แน่ใจ /nâe-jai/
Thai currency: บาท /bàat/
thank you: ขอบคุณ /kòp-kun/
that: นั่น /nán/
there: ที่นั่น /têe-nân/
there (further): ที่โน่น /têe-nôhn/
think, calculate: คิด /kít/
thirsty: หิวน้ำ /hĭw-náam/
this, these: นี่ /nêe/
tired: เหนื่อย /nèuay/
to, at, that, which, who, the place, area: ที่ /têe/
today: วันนี้ /wan-née/
toilet: ห้องน้ำ /hông-náam/
tomorrow: พรุ่งนี้ /prûng-née/
turn: เลี้ยว /líeow/
understand: เข้าใจ /kâo-jai/
u-turn: กลับรถ /glàp-rót/
very much, a lot, very: มาก /mâak/
want, take, bring: เอา /ao/ (รับ /ráp/)
want to: อยาก /yàak/
we, us, our: เรา /rao/
well, fine: สบายดี /sà-baai-dee/
what: อะไร /a-rai/
when, whenever: เมื่อไหร่ /mêua-rài/
where (shortened version of ที่ไหน), whichever one: ไหน /năi/
where is: ที่ไหน /têe năi/
who, someone, anyone: ใคร /krai/
why: ทำไม /tam-mai/
write: เขียน /kĭan/
yes: key-word response, ใช่, ครับ, ค่ะ /châi, kráp, kâ/
yesterday: เมื่อวานนี้ /mêua-waan-née/
you: คุณ /kun/

 

 

Enjoy and learn.

May be you wold have some more super basic words for the list 100 - 200?

A decent list (but lacking context) and as usual my always criticism of how do we know how to pronounce it?

eg fast: เร็ว /reo/

is that reo as in rio de janeiro or reo speedwagon?

eg be [v]: เป็น /bpen/

wouldn't /ben/ be better? an english speaking newbie wouldnt know what to do with that bp

eg like: ชอบ /chôp/

I'm having pork chops for tea as it happens. Not easy to represent this one in English but it sure aint how the English would say chop.

Answer: learn the script

[flioflop]

The list gives you a comfortable starting position.

If you go to:

https://translate.google.com/

You can get the correct pronunciation from there.

 

[shonkyimp]

True story, I remember fucking a few bargirls and I started to notice them calling me a name. I didnt really follow it up for years then one day someone explained to me that, "Jeb" means hurt. I felt kinda bad about it once l found out :(

Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

[fatfrank]

On 2017-5-15 at 07:11, Dr.Winston said:

I learned the script from a small book that came with the original 'Linguaphone' book/cassette tape course I bout in 1988.

 

I'm pretty sure that they have re-issued it in CD or maybe sound file format. The book totally ignores the Thai names for the letters which can actually be a distraction early on. It's the easiest book to learn the script I have ever seen.

 

On 2017-5-18 at 13:33, MONOCHROMEMAN said:

i hv that book. it's okay but has at least one clanger in it.

This is the one I always wanted.

I still have this book if you want a copy PM me an email address and i will scan it and send you a PDF copy of it.

[just hanging]

killer app...........free on computer        http://www.clickthai-online.com/wbtde/dictionary.php

and i have the moblie version on my phone that you must pay for, worth it, I used it all the time

[Corbin73]

On 5/14/2017 at 1:18 PM, Skalliwag said:

 

I will gladly pay for you a trip to Thailand if you host me for a moose hunt in Canada! I ALMOST bought a Whitetail hunt near Lake Saskatoon this fall instead of the month long trip i have to Patts in a few weeks.