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Verbs

Greet in Thai

“Greet” in Thai is ทักทายták-taai; you'll also hear ทักták (say hi; message).

ทักทาย ták-taai

to greet, to say hello verb

  • ták high
  • taai mid
  • High: start high and go a little higher, a bit tense; don’t let it fall.
ทัก ták

to message someone (first); to greet verb say hi; message

  • ták high
  • High: start high and go a little higher, a bit tense; don’t let it fall.

You'll hear ทักták in Phak Kon (พักก่อน).

How to use it

ทักทายták-taai is greeting someone. Thais greet with a ไหว้wâai and สวัสดีsà-wàt-dii, and friends often with a question instead: ไปไหนมาbpai nǎi maa, where have you been?, or กินข้าวหรือยังgin kâao rǔue-yang, have you eaten? They're friendly hellos, not real questions. Handshakes, จับมือjàp muue, are mostly for business and for foreigners. ทักták alone is saying hi, or sending someone the first message.

Other spellings you'll see

There's no single official way to write Thai in English letters. We mark the tone of every syllable; online you'll also find:

  • thak thai
  • tak tai
  • takthai

Read more

More verbs in Thai

All verbs
  • เป็น bpen Be

    to be (a nationality, a job, a role)

  • มี mii Have

    to have

  • ไป bpai Go

    to go

  • มา maa Come

    to come

  • กิน gin Eat

    to eat

  • ดื่ม dùuem Drink

    to drink

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Written by the Learn Thai For Free team
Audio: AI voices, quality-checked for tones