“Arrhhggg! What's Thai for …..?” We've all been here a million times before, searching for that simple word that will help the person we're talking to understand what we're trying to say.
So here it is, a definitive list of all those words you don't know but should know, need to know, and will help fill in the grammatical gaps in your sentences.
In addition to the video with full translation by a Thai speaker, not only is there phonetic translation below, but also the Thai script too. So print this out and put it in your pocket – that way you can always show a Thai person what you're trying to say if they still don't understand you.
Full 100 Thai Words Transcript:
1. come – มา (maa)
2. get – ได้รับ (dai-rub)
3. give – ให้ (hai)
4. go – ไป (pai)
5. keep – เก็บ (geb)
6. let – ปล่อยให้ (ploi- hai)
7. make – ทำให้ (thum-hai)
8. put – วาง (waang)
9. seem – ดูเหมือน (doo-hmoun)
10. take – ใช้เวลา (chai-ve-la) – Correction here: The video is incorrect. This actually means to “take time”, or to “spend time”. The general word for take is เอา (ao). To say to someone “take it”, you can use “ao bpai” – เอาไป.
11. be – เป็น (pen)
12. do – ทำ (thum)
13. have – มี (mee)
14. say – พูด (pood)
15. see – เห็น (hen)
16. send – ส่ง (song)
17. may – อาจ (arj)
18. will – จะ (ja)
19. about – เกี่ยวกับ (giaw-gub)
20. across – ข้าม (kaam)
21. after – หลังจาก (hlang-jaag)
22. against – กับ (gub)
23. among – ในหมู่ (nai- moo)
24. at – ที่ (tie)
25. before – ก่อน (gorn)
26. between – ระหว่าง (ra- hwaang)
27. by – โดย (doy)
28. down – ลง (long)
29. from – จาก (jaag)
30. in – ใน (nai)
31. off – ปิด (pid)
32. on – เปิด (peod)
33. over – มากกว่า (maak-gwao)
34. through – ผ่าน (paan)
35. to – ถึง (thueng)
36. under – ข้างล่าง (kaang-laang)
37. up – ข้างบน (kaang-bon)
38. with – กับ (gub)
39. as – เนื่องจาก (nuang-jaag)
40. for – สำหรับ (sum-hrub)
41. of – ของ (korng)
42. till – จนกระทั่ง (jon-gra-thung)
43. than – กว่า (gwao)
44. a – หนึ่ง (hnueng)
45. them – พวกเขา (pouk-khao)
46. all – ทั้งหมด (thung-hmod)
47. any – ใดๆ (dai-dai)
48. every – ทุกๆ (thoog-thoog)
49. no – ไม่ (mai)
50. other – อื่นๆ (oen-oen)
51. some – บาง (baang)
52. such – ดังกล่าว (dung-glao)
53. that – นั่น (nunn)
54. this – นี่ (nie)
55. i – ฉัน (chan)
56. he – เขา (kao)
57. you – คุณ (koon)
58. who – ใคร (krai)
59. and – และ (lae)
60. because – เพราะว่า (prao-waa)
61. but – แต่ (tae)
62. or – หรือ (sreo)
63. if – ถ้า (taa)
64. though – แม้ว่า (mae-waa)
65. while – ในขณะที่ (nai-ka-na-tie)
66. how – อย่างไร (yaang-rai)
67. when – เมื่อไหร่ (mua-hrai)
68. where – ที่ไหน (tie-nai)
69. why – ทำไม (tum-mai)
70. again – อีกครั้ง (eeg-krung)
71. ever – ตลอด (ta-hlord)
72. far – ไกล (glai)
73. forward – ไปข้างหน้า (pai-kaang-hnaa)
74. here – ที่นี่ (tie-nie)
75. near – ไกล้ (glaii)
76. now – ตอนนี้ (torn-nie)
77. out – ข้างนอก (kaang-norg)
78. still – ยังคง (yung-kong)
79. then – จากนั้น (jaag-naan)
80. there – ที่นั่น (tie-nun)
81. together – ด้วยกัน (douy-gun)
82. well – ดี (dee)
83. almost – เกือบจะ (guab-ja)
84. enough – พอ (por)
85. even – แม้แต่ (mae-tae)
86. little – นิดหน่อย (nid-noi)
87. much – มาก (maak)
88. not – ไม่ได้ (mai-dai)
89. only – เท่านั้น (tao-naan)
90. quite – ค่อนข้าง (korn-kaang)
91. so – ดังนั้น (dung-naan)
92. very – มาก (maak)
93. tomorrow – พรุ่งนี้ (prung-nie)
94. yesterday – เมื่อวาน (mua-waan)
95. north – เหนือ (hnua)
96. south – ใต้ (taii)
97. east – ตะวันออก (ta-wan-org)
98. west – ตะวันตก (ta-wan-tok)
99. please – โปรด (prod)
100. yes – ใช่ (chai)
BruceS says
Hope you don’t mind a clarification? The word “take” in your example – 10. take – ใช้เวลา (chai-ve-la)
This means to “take up time” or “take time / use up time” (same as กินเวลา – gin-we-la)
The common word for take (to take something) is เอา (ao)
May 10, 2017 at 3:39 pm
TheThailandLife says
Hi Bruce, good spot. ใช้เวลา (chai-ve-la) can be used to refer to take time or spend time. I can edit the text but the video was recorded ages ago. To think I employed a Thai person to help me with this, haha!
To say “take it” to someone would be ao bpai – เอาไป.
I will have to look into getting the video done again.
May 11, 2017 at 6:58 pm
Geoff says
Thanks for this.
Apr 24, 2017 at 1:00 pm
Troy says
These are good however i have noticed that when gor gai is used at the end of the words you have it as a “G” sound, should it not be more of a “K” sound? But pronounced softly!
I know that loose translations can be difficult.
Mar 20, 2017 at 6:46 pm
TheThailandLife says
Gor Gai is generally a Gg sound, but sure, I do hear softer tones where it is like a mixture of a Gg and a Kk. But bear in mind that the Kk sound is Kor Kai (egg), so there is a distinct difference.
Mar 20, 2017 at 7:06 pm
Troy says
I understand what you are saying but if you look at Thai grammer rules Gor Gai is a G sound at the start and a K at the end.
Example
มาก
Is pronounced MAAK not MAAG but the K is soft almost incomplete.
Just an observation. Its hard when you see it both ways.
Your list is very helpful by the way. Just what I have been looking for.
Mar 20, 2017 at 7:43 pm
TheThailandLife says
Yes, you are right and there are quite a few examples like that. Ls and Rs are often seemingly used interchangeably, but are actually being used softly or lazily.
Mar 20, 2017 at 8:25 pm
Barjesh kumar says
nice
Oct 07, 2015 at 4:18 pm
chris berry says
I find this simple enough to follow to learn new word to increase my vocabury tones are not shown which are important in learning the thai language
Jul 24, 2015 at 6:26 pm
Hawaiieric. says
Like “glai” for example. Near or far? Tone is everything sometimes. I like the 100 word collection though.
I’ve been fumbling through ” Learn Thai Podcast” for years”. I like it. Tried a few others. My Thai native speaking coaches seem to like the format and way in which it presents tonal aspects of the language. I do not have enough experience with other programs to really compare or promote it above any other. It is the best for me that I have tried so far. Hope this helps.
Jun 27, 2017 at 1:27 pm
Kevin says
Hi, thanks for a perfect video with the 100 grammar words. Might I suggest the speaker skip saying the English numbers. I find we are trying to commit the words to memory and the stating of the numbers is obvious and distracting. Just a suggestion. But great compilation . Kev
Jul 20, 2015 at 1:11 pm
TheThailandLife says
Thanks for your feedback Kevin. I’m going to be doing some more audio lessons soon so I will bear that in mind.
Jul 20, 2015 at 2:34 pm