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Unit 1 · Lesson 4 · Conversation

Conversation: First morning at the café

Your first morning in Bangkok. You step into a small café on Sukhumvit, and the barista, Nam, looks up and smiles. On the way to a table you bump into a chair. Later she brings you a glass of water, and after your coffee you head off to explore.

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First morning at the café

Your first morning in Bangkok. You step into a small café on Sukhumvit, and the barista, Nam, looks up and smiles. On the way to a table you bump into a chair. Later she brings you a glass of water, and after your coffee you head off to explore.

11 lines · tap a line to hear it

  1. Namน้ำ

    สวัสดี sà-wàt-diiค่ะ kâยินดีต้อนรับ yin-dii dtâwn-rápค่ะ kâ

    Hello, welcome!

  2. You

    สวัสดี sà-wàt-diiครับ kráp

    Hello.

    Men สวัสดีครับ Women สวัสดีค่ะ

  3. Namน้ำ

    เชิญ choenค่ะ kâ

    Please, have a seat.

  4. You

    ขอโทษ kǎw-tôotครับ kráp

    Sorry!

    Men ขอโทษครับ Women ขอโทษค่ะ

  5. Namน้ำ

    ไม่เป็นไร mâi bpen raiค่ะ kâโอเค oo-keeไหม mǎiคะ ká

    That's okay! Are you all right?

  6. You

    โอเค oo-kee

    I'm okay.

  7. Namน้ำ

    เชิญ choenค่ะ kâ

    Here you are.

  8. You

    ขอบคุณ kàwp-kunครับ kráp

    Thank you.

    Men ขอบคุณครับ Women ขอบคุณค่ะ

  9. Namน้ำ

    ไม่เป็นไร mâi bpen raiค่ะ kâ

    You're welcome.

  10. You

    ไปก่อนนะ bpai gàwn náครับ kráp

    I'm off now!

    Men ไปก่อนนะครับ Women ไปก่อนนะคะ

  11. Namน้ำ

    แล้วเจอกัน láew joe ganค่ะ kâโชคดี chôok-diiนะ náคะ ká

    See you! Take care!

Did you understand?

  1. How does Nam greet you when you walk in?

    Show the answer

    Hello, welcome!· Staff greet every customer with <span class="tt"><span class="th" lang="th">สวัสดีค่ะ</span><span class="rm">sà-wàt-dii kâ</span></span> and <span class="tt"><span class="th" lang="th">ยินดีต้อนรับค่ะ</span><span class="rm">yin-dii dtâwn-ráp kâ</span></span>. A smile and a hello back is all they expect.

  2. What does Nam say after you bump into the chair?

    Show the answer

    It's okay. Are you all right?· <span class="tt"><span class="th" lang="th">ไม่เป็นไร</span><span class="rm">mâi bpen rai</span></span> is the classic reply to <span class="tt"><span class="th" lang="th">ขอโทษ</span><span class="rm">kǎw-tôot</span></span>, and with <span class="tt"><span class="th" lang="th">โอเคไหมคะ</span><span class="rm">oo-kee mǎi ká</span></span> she checks that you're all right.

  3. What do you say when you leave?

    Show the answer

    I'm off now, bye!· Thais leave with <span class="tt"><span class="th" lang="th">ไปก่อนนะ</span><span class="rm">bpai gàwn ná</span></span>, 'I'll go first, okay?', and the other person answers <span class="tt"><span class="th" lang="th">แล้วเจอกัน</span><span class="rm">láew joe gan</span></span>, 'see you'.

The next morning

The next morning you're back at the same café. Nam recognises you right away.

6 lines · tap a line to hear it

  1. Namน้ำ

    สวัสดี sà-wàt-diiค่ะ kâ

    Hello!

  2. You

    สวัสดี sà-wàt-diiครับ kráp

    Hello.

    Men สวัสดีครับ Women สวัสดีค่ะ

  3. Namน้ำ

    สบายดี sà-baai diiไหม mǎiคะ ká

    How are you?

  4. You

    สบายดี sà-baai diiครับ kráp

    I'm fine.

    Men สบายดีครับ Women สบายดีค่ะ

  5. Namน้ำ

    เชิญ choenค่ะ kâ

    Please, have a seat.

  6. You

    ขอบคุณ kàwp-kunนะ náครับ kráp

    Thank you!

    Men ขอบคุณนะครับ Women ขอบคุณนะคะ

Did you understand?

  1. What does Nam ask you this time?

    Show the answer

    How are you?· Thais ask <span class="tt"><span class="th" lang="th">สบายดีไหม</span><span class="rm">sà-baai dii mǎi</span></span> of people they've met before. That's why she didn't ask on your first visit.

  2. How do you answer?

    Show the answer

    I'm fine.· A plain <span class="tt"><span class="th" lang="th">สบายดี</span><span class="rm">sà-baai dii</span></span> with your particle is the natural answer. Thais don't usually add thanks for the question.

Culture note: The wai

The ไหว้wâai is the Thai greeting: palms pressed together, fingers pointing up, and a small bow of the head. It goes with hello, thank you, sorry and goodbye, and it always shows respect.

Who goes first? The younger person wais first, and the older one wais back or simply smiles and nods. When an adult wais you, return it.

How high? The higher the hands, the deeper the respect. Fingertips around the chin suit most adults; raise them to the nose for elders, monks and your partner's parents.

Staff and shops. Hotel and restaurant staff often wai you as you walk in. You don't need to wai them first, and a smile and a nod is enough in return. Add a friendly สวัสดีครับsà-wàt-dii kráp or สวัสดีค่ะsà-wàt-dii kâ and you're being exactly as polite as Thais expect: your particle does the work your hands would do.

Read more: Sanuk, Sabai, Mai Pen Rai: Thai Values in 3 Phrases

ConversationPart of Unit 1: Hello, Thailand in the free Thai course.