Rude in Thai

“Rude” in Thai is ไม่สุภาพmâi sù-pâap; you'll also hear หยาบคายyàap-kaai (crude, vulgar) and เสียมารยาทsǐa maa-rá-yâat (bad manners).

ไม่สุภาพ mâi sù-pâap

impolite, rude adjective

mâi falling
sù low
pâap falling

Falling: start high and drop clearly, like a firm “No!”
Low: flat and lower than your normal voice, dropping a little at the end.

หยาบคาย yàap-kaai

rude, vulgar, crude adjective

yàap low
kaai mid

Low: flat and lower than your normal voice, dropping a little at the end.

เสียมารยาท sǐa maa-rá-yâat

bad-mannered, rude (behaviour) adjective bad manners

sǐa rising
maa mid
rá high
yâat falling

Rising: start low, dip, then rise to the top, like a doubtful “Really?”
High: start high and go a little higher, a bit tense; don’t let it fall.

How to use it

Thai separates three kinds of rude. ไม่สุภาพmâi sù-pâap is impolite: a curt answer, a missing ครับkráp or ค่ะkâ. หยาบคายyàap-kaai is crude language, swearing and insults. เสียมารยาทsǐa maa-rá-yâat is bad manners: pointing your feet at someone, touching an adult's head, raising your voice. Words that sound harsh are ไม่เพราะmâi práw, "not sweet".