13 Thai Slang Words To Help You Speak Like A Local

Sign up for our newsletter and stay afloat with the latest trends, without the fear of missing out. No spam, just the good stuff – pinky promise! So, you think you’ve got Thai down just because you can say "Sawasdee" and "Khop khun"? Nah, that’s just scratching the surface. If you really want to sound like you’re part of the Bangkok scene, you’ve gotta learn how to speak their language. And by that, I mean Thai Gen Z slang.

These young Thais have their own twist on the language, with slang that’s fresh, fast, and often hilarious. Ready to fit in with Thailand's coolest TikTokers or impress your friends at a Thai cafe? We're breaking down 14 essential Thai Gen Z slang words that'll instantly upgrade your vocab. Let’s dive into the latest lingo that’s trending on the streets of Bangkok! This is basically the Thai way to say “this person” or “this one.” But when Gen Z uses it, it’s got some attitude. It's typically used when referring to someone in a playful or slightly sarcastic way.

Pronunciation: “Ka-nee” (sounds like "kah-knee")How to use it: "This person is so talented."In short: Use this to talk about someone in a cute, sometimes teasing way. Because textbooks won’t teach you how real people actually talk. You’ve practiced your polite phrases like sawasdee (hello) and khob khun (thank you). But then someone walks past and casually drops a line like “แซ่บเวอร์” (saep ver - super spicy or hot) or “จัดจ้าน” (jat jaan - bold, flashy) and you freeze. It’s fast. It’s funny.

It’s full of flavor. And you’ve never seen anything like it in your textbook. Learning a new language is an exciting journey, and diving into local slang and informal phrases can make the experience even more enriching. Thai, spoken by millions and the national language of Thailand, is rich with colloquialisms that can make you sound like a native. This guide will introduce you to some everyday Thai slang and informal phrases that are commonly used among Thais in various situations. The most efficient way to learn a language

One of the first things you’ll need when interacting with locals is a set of casual greeting and response phrases. While you might already know the formal “สวัสดี” (sawasdee) for hello, locals often use more relaxed expressions in everyday conversation. “ว่าไง” (wa ngai) can be translated as “What’s up?” and is a very casual greeting among friends. For instance, you might hear: – ว่าไง มีอะไรใหม่บ้าง? (wa ngai, mee arai mai bang?) – What’s up, anything new? Another useful expression is “เฮ้ย” (hoey), equivalent to “hey” or “yo” in English, used to grab someone’s attention.

– เฮ้ย มานี่สิ! (hoey, ma nee si!) – Hey, come here! When you travel around Phuket, you’ll quickly notice that a smile and a few Thai words go a long way.Locals love when visitors try to speak even a little Thai — it shows respect... Here’s your complete Phuket phrase glossary, broken into easy categories: greetings, food, directions, transport, and everyday expressions.Each phrase includes its karaoke-style pronunciation, Thai script, meaning, and a real-life example. Meaning: Hello / HiExample: “Sawasdee ka!” — a polite way to greet anyone, anytime. Meaning: Thank youExample: “Khop khun krub!” (“Thank you very much!”)

Meaning: How are you?Example: “Sabai dee mai?” — “I’m good, sabai dee!” Let’s face it, the Thai language can be pretty impenetrable to foreigners. Thai slang? Not so tough, actually! The unfamiliar alphabet, the different vocabulary and the exotic intonations can all make it feel pretty difficult to pick up the lingo. But do you really have to become fluent on your trip?

No, of course not! What you need instead is a few slang words to drop in every now and again. They’ll help you get a good deal in shops, build rapport with the locals and sound like a pro in the Land of Smiles. Here’s our list of must-know Thai slang phrases to turn a normal conversation into a great one. If you haven’t learned intro level Thai language just to get around and order food, you’ll want to get that out of the way first: Basic Thai Phrases in 15 Minutes Do you like putting ‘LOL’ at the end of everything you say?

Well number one you shouldn’t, but number two it’s way cooler if you do it in Thai! ‘Haa’ is what you say to show that you’re being funny or you understand a joke, so it’s a good one to stick on the end of something sarcastic. Brits in particular can benefit from using this one so that everyone else has a chance of understanding their sense of humor! Picture yourself haggling at one of the many night markets on Koh Samui. Or trying to see if someone agrees with you. Literally translated as ‘right?’ in the question sense (as in ‘am I right’), it’s a useful one to check understanding when you want to be sure that everyone knows what’s going on.

‘We’re getting one more beer, chi-mi?’ would be an excellent example. The answer is always yes, by the way.

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