Language

Greetings in Languages of Thailand

This page contains greetings in many of the languages spoken in Thailand.

Ethnologue lists 74 languages spoken in Thailand.

The Ethnologue list includes languages spoken by immigrant groups and refugees; not all of these languages are native to Thailand.

There are 36 of these languages on this page.

Standard Thai is spoken by about 95% of the population in Thailand.

Akha [ahk] (Thailand: Chaingmai, Chiangrai, Maehongson Provinces. Also spoken in China and Myanmar.)

Uq duq tanq ma
u du ta ma: general greeting. Also written: Uˬ duˬ tahˬ ma

Uq duq tanq ma de
u du ta ma de: general greeting. Also written: Uˬ duˬ tahˬ ma de

Jaol sal dovl mil-a lol?
jah sah doh mia loh: how are you? Also written: Jaw ̌ sa ̌ do^ mi ̌ -a lo ̌

Ngal jaol sal dovl mil-a
ngah jah sah doh mia: reply to Jaol sal dov mil-a lol. Also: Nga ̌ jaw ̌ sa ̌ do^ mi ̌ -a

Jaol sal dovl mil-a
jah sah doh mia: reply to Jaol sal dov mil-a lol. Also written: Jaw ̌ sa ̌ do^ mi ̌ -a

Rhaoq zaq hhaq maq lol?
hah dzah gah ma lo: literally, "have you eaten yet?" Also: Hawˬ dzaˬ g'aˬ maˬ lo ̌

Bisu [bii] (Thailand: Southwest Chiangrai and North Lampang. Also spoken in China and Myanmar.)
	Nang lakéung é-éu?	how are you?
	Lakéung é-éu?	how are you?
	Ga leu-ngé	reply to Nang lakéung é-éu and Lakéung é-éu
	Leu-ngé	reply to Nang lakéung é-éu and Lakéung é-éu

Blang [blr] (Thailand: Chiangrai, Mae Sai, Mae Chan. Also spoken in China.)
	买恰各门	mǎichiàgèmén: general greeting

Bru, Western [brv] (Thailand: Mukdahan, Dong Luang District. Also spoken in Vietnam.)
	Bán té	general greeting
	Bán san taã?	general greeting

Cham, Western [cja] (Thailand: Ban Khrue and Bangkok. Also spoken in Cambodia and Vietnam.)
	Salam	general greeting
	Salaamz	general greeting
	Salamu alaikum	Muslim greeting
	Alaikum salam	reply to Salamu alaikum

Chinese, Hakka [hak] (Thailand: Bangkok and other cities. Also spoken in China and Malaysia.)
	汝好	ngi hao: general greeting, also written 爾好
	汝好乜	ngi hao mo: general greeting. Ngi hao mao in Huizhou dialect; Ngi ho mo in Meixian dialect.
	爾好セ	ngi hao mo: general greeting. Ngi hao mao in Huizhou dialect; Ngi ho mo in Meixian dialect.
	安早	zo an: morning greeting
	欢迎	fon ngiang: welcome greeting to a visitor

Chinese, Mandarin [cmn] (Thailand: Bangkok and Kra Peninsula. Also spoken in China.)
	汝好	nî hâo: general greeting
	您好	nín hâo: general greeting
	早安	zâo an: morning greeting
	早晨好	zâo chén hǎo: morning greeting
	早上好	zâo shàng hǎo: morning greeting
	午安	wǔ ān: afternoon greeting
	晚上好	wǎn shàng hǎo: evening greeting
	晚安	wǎn ān: evening and nighttime greeting
	你好吗	nî hâo ma: how are you?, also written 你好嗎
	我很好	wǒ hěn hǎo: reply to 你好嗎
	欢迎	huan ying: welcome greeting, also written 歡迎
	欢迎光临	huan ying guang lin: welcome greeting, also written 歡迎光臨

Chinese, Min Dong [cdo] (Thailand. Also spoken in China.)
	汝好	nü ho: general greeting in Fuchou dialect

Chinese, Min Nan [nan] (Thailand. Also spoken in China.)
	汝好	li ho: general greeting
	汝好無	li ho bo: general greeting, also written 你好嗎
	我好，谢谢	waah ho gaam sia: reply to 汝好無
	好，感谢	ho gaam sia: reply to 汝好無
	好，多谢	ho do sia: informal reply to 汝好無
	好無	ho bo: general greeting. Ho mo in Chaoshou dialect.
	食飽未?	chiah pa bue: common greeting, literally: have you eaten?, also written 吃饱未
	敖早	gau cha: morning greeting, also written 爻早
	午安	go on: afternoon greeting
	晚安	buan on: evening and nighttime greeting
	在生	jai sen: general greeting in Teochow dialect
	在生樣	jai sen ion: how are you? in Teochow dialect
	汝好汝好	di ho di ho: general greeting in the Lan Nang (咱人話) dialect of the Philippines

Chinese, Yue Cantonese [yue] (Thailand. Also spoken in China.)
	你好	néih hóu: general greeting (lu ha in Danjia dialect)
	喂	wei: general greeting
	早晨	jou san: morning greeting
	午安	ńgh ón: afternoon greeting
	晚安	máahn ón: evening greeting
	晚上好	máahn seuhng hóu: evening greeting
	早抖	jóutáu: nighttime greeting
	你好嗎?	néih hóu ma: how are you?
	點呀?	dím a: how are you?
	我幾好	ngóh géi hóu: reply to 你好嗎 and 點呀
	好好	hóu hóu: reply to 你好嗎 and 點呀
	幾好	gei hóu: reply to 你好嗎 and 點呀
	喂, 食咗飯未呀?	wei, sik jor fan mei a: greeting used around lunch and dinnertime: "did you have your meals?"
	歡迎	fun ying: welcome greeting
	歡迎光臨	fun ying guang lam: welcome greeting

Hmong Daw [mww] (Thailand: Petchabun, Tak, Maehongson, Chiangmai, Nan, Chiangrai, Pitsanalok, Loei, Sukhothai, Kamphaengphet, Prae, Phayao, Uttaradit, and Lampang. Also spoken in Laos.)
	Nyob zoo	general greeting
	Koj puas nyob zoo?	how are you?, literally: "do you live well"
	Kuv nyob zoo	reply to Koj puas nyob zoo
	Koj puas noj qab nyob zoo?	how are you?, literally: "do you eat and live well"
	Kuv noj qab nyob zoo	reply to Koj puas noj qab nyob zoo
	Koj nyob licas lawm?	how are you?
	Kuv nyob zoo kaws	reply to Koj nyob licas lawm

Hmong Njua [blu] (Thailand: Chiangmai, Chiangrai, Tak, Maehongson, Nan, Petchabun, Loei, Sukhothai, Kamphaengphet, Prae, Phayao, Uttaradit, and Lampang. Also spoken in Laos, China, and Vietnam.)
	Nyob zoo	general greeting
	Nyob zoo tsi zoo?	how are you?
	Koj puas nyob zoo?	how are you?
	Kuv nyob zoo	reply to Nyob zoo tsis zoo and Koj puas nyob zoo
	Koj nyob le caag lawm?	how are you?
	Kuv nyob zoo kawg	reply to Koj nyob le caag lawm

Iu Mien [ium] (Thailand: Chiangmai, Chiangrai, Maehongson, Tak, Phayao, Phrae, Nan, Loei, Sukhothai, Kampahengphet, Uthai, and Petchabun. Also spoken in Laos, China, and Vietnam.)
	Yiem longx	general greeting
	Yiem longx nyei	general greeting
	A'hneiv duqv buangh	general greeting
	Yiem longx nyei fai?	how are you?
	Yiem longx nyei saah?	how are you?
	Yiem longx nyei saqc?	how are you?
	Meih yiem longx nyei?	how are you?
	Meih longx nyei saah?	how are you?
	Meih longx nyei?	how are you?
	Longx nyei saah?	how are you?
	Baengh orn lungh ndorm	morning greeting
	Baengh orn lungh aanx	afternoon greeting
	Baengh orn lungh muonx	evening greeting
	Ov, meih daaih orh	welcome greeting
	A'hneiv zipv	welcome greeting
	A'hneiv zipv meih	welcome greeting

Karen, Phrae Pwo [kjt] (Thailand: Phrae Province.)
	Ná à hsà hà?	how are you?
	Mwéh	reply to Ná à hsà hà

Karen, Pwo Northern [pww] (Thailand: Mae Sarieng, and Mae Ngaw.)
	Lii moh lii tang	general greeting

Karen, S'gaw [ksw] (Thailand: Tak, Maehongson, Chiangmai, and Chiangrai.)
	Na o su ha?	how are you?
	Me	reply to Na o su ha
	Ya o su	reply to Na o su ha
	Na o su o klay ha?	how are you?
	Ya o su o klay	reply to Na o su o klay ha
	Na mo o chua?	how are you?
	O chua?	how are you?
	O chu	reply to Na mo o chua and O chua
	Na aw me wee lee ah?	have you eaten?
	Me, wee lee	reply to Na aw me wee lee ah
	Tabblu	general greeting
	Kaw leh ah gay	morning greeting
	Ni leh ah gay	afternoon greeting
	Ha leh ah gay	evening greeting
	Nah leh ah gay	nighttime greeting

Kayah [eky] (Thailand: Maehongson Province. Also spoken in Burma.)
	Tɛryabɛ nɛ	general greeting spoken to one person
	Tɛryabɛ thi	general greeting spoken to more than one person
	Nɛ omo orya ɛ?	how are you?
	Va omo orya prɛ	reply to Nɛ omo orja ɛ
	Nɛ et^hɯəhɔ ɛ?	have you eaten?
	Et^hɯəhɔ	reply to Nɛ et^hɯəhɔ ɛ
	Nɛ dʒɯə bite?	where are you going?
	Va dʒɯə ole prɛ	reply to Nɛ dʒɯə bite, "I'm traveling/visiting"
	Va dʒɯə ole	reply to Nɛ dʒɯə bite, "I'm visiting"
	Va dʒɯə də dɔ	reply to Nɛ dʒɯə bite, "I'm going to the village"
	T^hya onya də hi	welcome greeting at a house, "come and sit down"

Kensiu [kns] (Thailand: Yala, Phattaloong, Satun, and Narathiwat. Also spoken in Malaysia.)
	Nâhyé	general greeting in the Kerbu dialect
	Tabé	general greeting in the Sungai Raya dialect
	Tabek	general greeting in the Ulu Pahang dialect

Khmu [kjg] (Thailand: Chiangrai, Nan, and Phayao. Also spoken in Laos and Vietnam.)
	Samai lə	general greeting
	Sambai lə	general greeting
	Yat lə	general greeting
	Jɔh mə	general greeting, "where are you going"
	Ta jɔh mə	greeting spoken to an elder man, "grandfather, where are you going"
	Ma jɔh mə	greeting spoken to an elder woman, "grandmother, where are you going"
	Jong teng jɔh mə	greeting spoken to an older man, "older uncle, where are you going"
	Jong aw jɔh mə	greeting spoken to an older man, "younger uncle, where are you going"
	Ma teng jɔh mə	greeting spoken to an older woman, "aunt, where are you going"
	Siə jɔh mə	greeting spoken to a younger man, "where are you going"
	Pə jɔh mə	greeting spoken to a younger woman, "where are you going"

Korean [kor] (Thailand: Bangkok. Also spoken in North Korea and South Korea.)
	안녕하십니까	annyeong hasimnikka: general greeting
	안녕하세요	annyeong haseyo: informal greeting
	안녕	annyeong: informal greeting
	안녕히 주무셨습니까	annyeonghi jumusyeotseumnikka: morning greeting
	좋은아침입니다	joun achimipnida: morning greeting
	좋은저녁입니다	joun jonyokipnida: evening greeting
	좋은밤입니다	joun bamipnida: nighttime greeting
	어떻게 지내세요?	eotteoke jinaeseyo: how are you?
	잘지대요	jaljinaeyo: reply to 어떻게 지내세요
	어디 가니?	eodi gani: informal greeting, literally "are you going somewhere"
	응, 어디 가	eung, eodi ga: reply to 어디 가니
	어서 오세요	eoseo oseyo: welcome greeting
	환영함니다	hwanyeong hamnida: welcome greeting
	안녕하십네까	annyong hashipnegga: general greeting in Pyongyang dialect (평안)
	반갑시오	ban gapsio: general greeting in the Jeju dialect (제주방언)
	혼저옵서예	honjeo opseoye: welcome greeting in the Jeju dialect (제주방언)

Kuy [kdt] (Thailand. Cambodia. Laos.)
	Sangap sampa ing?	how are you?

2011 by Jennifer Runner. www.elite.net/~runner/jennifers/

Lahu [lhu] (Thailand: Chiangmai, Chiangrai, Maehongson, Lampang, and Tak. Also spoken in China and Burma.)
	Cheh˅ sha la˅?	how are you? (literally: is life easy?)
	Cheh˅ sha la˅	reply to Cheh˅ sha la˅
	Cheh˅ sha cheh˅-aw la˅?	how are you?
	Cheh˅ sha ve yo ̬	reply to Cheh˅ sha cheh˅-aw la˅
	E cheh˅ sha cheh˅-aw	reply to Cheh˅ sha cheh˅-aw la˅
	Aw_ ca˅ o ̬ la˅?	general greeting (literally: have you eaten?)
	Aw_ ca˅ peu ̬ o ̬ la˅?	general greeting (literally: have you eaten?)
	Ca˅ o ̬	reply to Aw_ ca˅ peu ̬ o ̬ la˅ and Aw_ ca˅ o ̬ la˅ (I have eaten)
	Aw_ ca˅ peu ̬ o ̬	reply to Aw_ ca˅ peu ̬ o ̬ la˅ and Aw_ ca˅ o ̬ la˅ (I have eaten)
	Ma˅ ca˅ she_	reply to Aw_ ca˅ peu ̬ o ̬ la˅ and Aw_ ca˅ o ̬ la˅ (I have not eaten)
	Aw_ ma˅ ca˅ she_	reply to Aw_ ca˅ peu ̬ o ̬ la˅ and Aw_ ca˅ o ̬ la˅ (I have not eaten)
	Hk'aw_ k'ai le?	greeting to a person going somewhere ("where are you going")
	Naw_ hk'aw_ k'ai le?	greeting to a person going somewhere ("where are you going")
	Naw_ hk'aw_ k'ai ve le?	greeting to a person going somewhere ("where are you going")
	Hk'aw_ ka ̭ la ̬ le?	welcome greeting to a visitor ("where are you coming from")
	Aw_ bo ui ja˅	welcome greeting to a visitor

Lisu [lis] (Thailand: Chiangmai, Chiangrai, Maehongson, Tak, Sukhothai, and Kamphaeng Phet. Also spoken in China and Myanmar.)
	Ali nga?	general greeting, "what is it?", written ALI Ʌ in the Fraser script
	Atdor nat niaq nga	reply to Ali nga spoken by a person who isn't busy
	Alshit lil mat yi niaq	reply to Ali nga spoken by a person who isn't busy
	Tei zil mit atkel cat niaq nga	reply to Ali nga spoken by a person who is busy
	Nu zza zzat woh?	general greeting: have you eaten yet?
	Hwa hwa ney ney	morning greeting, written HW HW N∀ N∀ in the Fraser script
	Nu hwa hwa nga?	how are you?, written NU HW HW Ʌ in the Fraser script
	Nu ali nga wa?	how are you?, written NU ALI Ʌ W in the Fraser script
	Ngaw hwa hwa ngo	reply to Nu ali nga wa, written ɅW HW HW ɅO in the Fraser script
	Jahp you ah?	how are you?
	Jyah kah?	how are you?
	Ah kleu	greeting spoken by children

Lü [khb] (Thailand: Chiangrai, Phayao, Lamphun, Nan, and Chiangkham. Also spoken in China and Laos.)
	Shawasha li	general greeting in the Xishuangbanna Dai dialect
	Douzao li	general greeting in the Xishuangbanna Dai dialect
	Douzao	general greeting in the Xishuangbanna Dai dialect

Lua' [prb] (Thailand: Nan Province.)
	Mah pen si'ee	general greeting

Malay [mly] (Thailand: near Thai-Malay border. Also spoken in Malaysia and Brunei.)
	Selamat	general greeting
	Selamat pagi	morning greeting
	Selamat petang	afternoon greeting
	Selamat tengah hari	afternoon greeting
	Selamat malam	evening greeting
	Apa kabar?	how are you?
	Kabar baik	reply to Apa kabar
	Kabar baik, terima kasih	reply to Apa kabar

Malay, Pattani [mfa] (Thailand: Songkhla, Chana, Pattani, Narathiwat, Yala, Saiburi, and Tak Bai.)
	Salam	general greeting
	Suelarma datae	general greeting

Mlabri [mra] (Thailand: Phayao, Nan, Phrae, Utaradit, Phitsanuloke, and Loei. Also spoken in Laos.)
	อะเล้แล	a leh la: general greeting
	จั๊กเกร้แล	jak kre la: how are you?
	อะเอ้อแล	a uhr la: general greeting, literally "have you eaten?"
	อะเอ้อ	uhr la: reply to อะเอ้อแล, literally "already eaten"
	จั๊กกะแลง	jak ka laeng: greeting to a person going somewhere, literally "where are you going?"

Mon [mnw] (Thailand: Kanchanaburi, Pathum Thani, Ratburi, Surat Thani, Lopburi, Khorat, and Bangkok. Also spoken in Myanmar.)
	Mangera ʔaw	general greeting
	Mangera roa	greeting spoken to a friend
	Mang mip ha?	how are you?
	Mang mip mang ha?	how are you?
	Mang mip mang ra	reply to Mang mip ha and Mang mip mang ha
	Mang mip ra	reply to Mang mip ha and Mang mip mang ha
	Mip	reply to Mang mip ha and Mang mip mang ha

Mpi [mpz] (Thailand: Phrae and Phayao.)
	Na hà yé?	greeting spoken to a visitor
	Ngó só í he	reply to Na hà yé

Tai Nüa [tdd] (Thailand: near the Mekong River. Also spoken in China, Laos, Vietnam, and Myanmar.)
	Mo de ga tai?	greeting spoken to a person passing by on the street, literally "where are you going?"

Thai [tha] (Thailand: Bangkok, Ratchasima, and elsewhere throughout Thailand. Official language of Thailand.)
	สวัสดี	sawatdi: general greeting
	สวัสดีครับ	sawatdi krap: general greeting spoken by a man
	สวัสดีค่ะ	sawatdi ka: general greeting spoken by a woman
	สวัสดีจ๊ะ	sawatdi ja: general greeting spoken to a person of lower status
	สบายดีไหม	sabaidi mai: how are you?
	สบายดีไหมครับ	sabaidi mai krap: how are you? spoken by a man
	สบายดีไหมค่ะ	sabaidi mai ka: how are you? spoken by a woman
	สบายดีหรือ	sabaidi reu: how are you?
	สบายดีรึเปล่า	sabaidi reu bplao: how are you?
	สบายดีครับ	sabaidi krap: reply to สบายดีไหมค, สบายดีหรือ, and สบายดีรึเปล่า spoken by a man
	สบายดีค่ะ	sabaidi ka: reply to สบายดีไหมค, สบายดีหรือ, and สบายดีรึเปล่า spoken by a woman
	หวัดดี	watdi: informal greeting
	หวัดดีครับ	watdi krap: informal greeting spoken by a man
	หวัดดีค่ะ	watdi ka: informal greeting spoken by a woman
	กินข้าวหรึอยัง	gin kao reu yang: general greeting, "have you eaten?"
	ไปไหน	pai nai: general greeting, "where are you going?"
	ยินดีต้อนรับ	yindi torn lap: welcome greeting
	สวัสดีคับ	sawatdi kap: general greeting spoken by a man in the Chiang Mai dialect
	สวัสดีเจ้า	sawatdi jao: general greeting spoken by a woman in the Chiang Mai dialect
	หวัดดีเจ้า	waddi jao: informal greeting spoken by a woman in the Chiang Mai dialect

Thai, Northeastern [tts] (northeastern Thailand: Bangkok, Sakon Nakhon and Nakhon Phanom.)
	สวัสดี	sawatdi: general greeting spoken in the Isaan dialect
	สวัสดีคับ	sawatdi khap: general greeting spoken by a man spoken in the Isaan dialect
	สวัสดีค่ะ	sawatdi kha: general greeting spoken by a woman spoken in the Isaan dialect
	ซำบายดี	sumbaidi: general greeting spoken in the Isaan dialect
	สบายดี	sabaidi: general greeting spoken in the Isaan dialect
	สบายดีบ๊อ	sabaidi boh: how are you? spoken in the Isaan dialect
	ซำบายดีบ๊อ	sumbaidi boh: how are you? spoken in the Isaan dialect
	ซำบายดีคับ	sumbaidi khap: reply to ซำบายดีบ๊อ spoken by a man spoken in the Isaan dialect
	ซำบายดีค่ะ	sumbaidi kha: reply to ซำบายดีบ๊อ spoken by a woman spoken in the Isaan dialect
	กินเข่ายั่ง	gin kao yang: general greeting, "have you eaten?" spoken in the Isaan dialect
	ไปไส	pai sai: general greeting, "where are you going?" spoken in the Isaan dialect

Thai, Northern [nod] (Thailand: Chiangmai, Chiangrai, Lamphun, Lampang, Maehongson, Hot, Nan, Phayao, Phrae, Uttaradit, and Tak. Also spoken in Laos.)
	สบายดีก่อครับ	sabaidi kor krap: how are you? spoken by a man
	สบายดีก่อเจ้า	sabaidi kor jao: how are you? spoken by a woman
	สบายดีครับ	sabaidi krap: reply to สบายดีก่อครับ and สบายดีก่อเจ้า spoken by a man
	สบายดีเจ้า	sabaidi jao: reply to สบายดีก่อครับ and สบายดีก่อเจ้า spoken by a woman
	กิ๋นข้าวหรือยัง	gin kao reu yang: general greeting, "have you eaten?"
	ยังบ่อได้กิ๋น	yang bo dai gin: reply to กิ๋นข้าวหรือยัง, literally " I haven't eaten yet"

Ugong [ugo] (Thailand: Kanchanaburi, Uthai Thani and Suphanaburi.)
	Nàwng a náwng kàwwê?	greeting to a person who is going somewhere, "where are you going?"
	A náwng kàwwê?	greeting to a person who is going somewhere, "where are you going?"
	Ngá kawíng di-o	greeting spoken by a visitor, "I have come to visit"
	Kawíng di-o	greeting spoken by a visitor, "I have come to visit"
	Mang sa lá?	greeting spoken to a visitor, "have you eaten?"
	Mang sí hke	reply to Mang sa lá, "I have eaten"

© 2010 - 2012 Jennifer Runner. All rights reserved.

Copyright information
Site: www.elite.net/~runners/jennifers/Country Greetings Thailand.htm

Akha [ahk] (Thailand: Chaingmai, Chiangrai, Maehongson Provinces. Also spoken in China and Myanmar.)
	Uq duq tanq ma	u du ta ma: general greeting. Also written: Uˬ duˬ tahˬ ma
	Uq duq tanq ma de	u du ta ma de: general greeting. Also written: Uˬ duˬ tahˬ ma de
	Jaol sal dovl mil-a lol?	jah sah doh mia loh: how are you? Also written: Jaw ̌ sa ̌ do^ mi ̌ -a lo ̌
	Ngal jaol sal dovl mil-a	ngah jah sah doh mia: reply to Jaol sal dov mil-a lol. Also: Nga ̌ jaw ̌ sa ̌ do^ mi ̌ -a
	Jaol sal dovl mil-a	jah sah doh mia: reply to Jaol sal dov mil-a lol. Also written: Jaw ̌ sa ̌ do^ mi ̌ -a
	Rhaoq zaq hhaq maq lol?	hah dzah gah ma lo: literally, "have you eaten yet?" Also: Hawˬ dzaˬ g'aˬ maˬ lo ̌

© 2010 - 2012 Jennifer Runner. All rights reserved.

Copyright information Site: www.elite.net/~runners/jennifers/Country Greetings Thailand.htm

Copyright information
Site: www.elite.net/~runners/jennifers/Country Greetings Thailand.htm