How to say “check, please” in Thai

Check bin: the loanword everyone knows

เช็คบิลchék bin is English "check" and "bill" put together, Thai-style, and every server in the country understands it. Thais often add a little gesture: pretending to write a signature in the air. Pronounce it chék (high, short, with an unreleased k) and bin: Thai turns a final l into an n, so "bill" becomes bin.

Get attention first

Thai servers don't hover, and nobody minds you calling them, as long as it's gentle. Catch an eye and raise a hand slightly, then say น้องnáwng to a younger server or พี่pîi to an older one, or start with ขอโทษนะkǎw-tôot ná. Snapping your fingers or whistling is rude.

Stalls, food courts and restaurants

• Street stalls: you usually pay when you've finished. Say เก็บเงินด้วยgèp ngoen dûay; the vendor remembers what you had.
• Local restaurants: staff come to your table and add up the plates and bottles.
• Mall food courts: many work on a prepaid card or a QR payment at the counter, so you pay before you eat.
• Upscale places and hotels: "++" on the menu means a service charge and tax are added to the bill.

Splitting, treating and tipping

Among friends, the bill is usually shared: หารกันhǎan gan, split evenly, rather than everyone paying for exactly what they ate. Often the oldest or most senior person simply pays for everyone (เลี้ยงlíang, to treat), and the others thank them with ขอบคุณที่เลี้ยงนะkàwp-kun tîi líang ná and pick up the next one. Tipping isn't required in Thailand, but leaving the coins or rounding up with ไม่ต้องทอนmâi dtâwng tawn ("keep the change") is always appreciated.

Common mistakes

• Shouting เช็คบิลchék bin across the room. Wait for eye contact, then say it at normal volume.
• Fighting over the bill when a senior Thai friend insists on paying. Accept graciously with a thank-you and treat them next time; that's the Thai way of keeping things even.
• Leaving without paying at a stall because nobody asked. Vendors trust you to come to them.

Paying

Cash works everywhere, cards in most restaurants, and many places accept a PromptPay QR code if you have a Thai banking app: สแกนจ่ายได้ไหมsà-gaen jàai dâi mǎi.