Food plays an integral part in Thai culture and one way this is demonstrated is in the question used in everyday life, ‘kin khao reu yang?’ The phrase translates as ‘have you eaten yet?’ It’s a social pleasantry used between friends and acquaintances along the same lines as saying ‘how are you?’ or ‘how’s it [...]
Thai Body Language – Saying it with the Eyebrows
July 29, 2009 by
Body language is probably more important in Thailand than it is in the West. Without expressing words, much can be conveyed in the type of smile a Thai person gives or the level of the wai when meeting somebody for the first time. One common form of non-verbal communication is known in Thai as yak [...]
Som Nam Naa
May 25, 2009 by
Som nam naa is a common phrase used in Thailand which is roughly the equivalent of saying ‘serves you right’ or ‘you got what you deserved’. Somebody complaining of feeling unwell and having a severe headache might get some sympathy until he reveals the reason behind his illness; a late night drinking session at the [...]
Pai Nai – Where You Go?
March 20, 2009 by
When certain Thai phrases are translated into English they can lose something in translation and in their English form may appear abrupt or impolite. One example is the Thai phrase ‘pai nai’ which is a form of greeting used in everyday speech between Thai people. Saying ‘pai nai’ when you see someone you know on [...]
Telling the Time Thai Style
March 4, 2009 by
The Thai way of expressing the time can be confusing for Westerners who are used to a 12-hour clock divided between am and pm. That’s because the time system commonly used in Thailand is the 6-hour clock. And just to make it even more confusing for newcomers, there is also a 12-hour clock and a [...]
Thai Numbers
March 4, 2009 by
Some of the most useful Thai words you can learn are those for numbers. I’ve written down a list below, but as with all Thai words given on this site, the list is only a guide to pronunciation; there really is no substitute for listening to a Thai person to note how each word should [...]
Thai Love Phrases
February 14, 2009 by
With today being Valentine’s Day (Wan Valentine in Thai) it’s a day when couples can be expected to be ro-man-tik mak ma (very romantic). Those who are bpakwaan (sweet mouth) can woo their other half by telling them they are mao rak (drunk on love). To hai dokmai (give flowers) to your waan jai (sweet [...]
Thai Small Talk
October 5, 2008 by
When you meet a Thai person for the first time and engage in conversation you may be surprised by the directness of some of the questions. What may be considered impolite or nosey in your home country is often perfectly normal in Thailand. Don’t be offended by questions about age, marital status or what job [...]
Hearts and Minds
September 25, 2008 by
The Thai word for heart is ‘hua-jai’. The word ‘jai’ in isolation is also used for heart although in this context the nearest English equivalent is probably ‘mind’. The word ‘jai’ is frequently used in combination with other words to denote emotional states. Thai people often talk about having a good heart, a black heart, [...]
Fast Food Thai Style
September 24, 2008 by
One of the joys of visiting Thailand is sampling the food. Thai people seem to have an obsession with food and it’s been said that if a Thai person isn’t actually eating then they will almost certainly be thinking about food. That may be an exaggeration but food does play an integral part in Thai [...]