How to say “cheers” in Thai

Chon kaew

ชนchon means to bump or knock together and แก้วgâew is a glass, so ชนแก้วchon-gâew is exactly "clink glasses". Raise your glass, say it, clink, drink. With someone older or more senior, many Thais touch their glass a little lower than the other person's, a small, friendly sign of respect.

Toasts at weddings and parties

At weddings, ordination parties and company dinners, someone gives a short speech and then calls the toast, for example ดื่มให้กับบ่าวสาวdùuem hâi gàp bàao-sǎao, "to the bride and groom". The room answers ไชโยchai-yoo, often three times, glasses high. You'll also hear ไชโยchai-yoo on its own at any happy moment: a football goal, a birthday, a new year.

Thai drinking etiquette

• Beer over ice is normal. Large bottles of local lager are shared, and a bucket of น้ำแข็งnám-kǎeng sits in the middle of the table.
• Someone keeps your glass full. In a group, the youngest person often pours, adds ice and mixes the drinks. If you're the junior one, offer to do it; if you've had enough, leave your glass partly full or cover it with your hand and say พอแล้วpaw láew.
• The bill is usually shared or treated. Rounds bought one by one are rare; groups split the bill, or the most senior person pays.
• Spirits are mixed at the table. เหล้าlâo is the general word for liquor; a bottle comes with soda, cola and ice, and everyone helps themselves.
• Rules. You have to be 20 to buy alcohol, and on major Buddhist holidays and election days, shops and many bars don't sell it.

Pronunciation

ชนchon is mid tone with a short "o", like the vowel in British "lot". แก้วgâew falls: start high and drop, with the "a" of "cat" gliding into a w. The Thai g is softer than English k, with no puff of air, which is why you see both kaew and gaew. ไชโยchai-yoo is two level syllables, "chai" and a long "yo", easy to shout together.

A safe night out

Thailand's best-known road-safety slogan is เมาไม่ขับmao mâi kàp, "drunk, don't drive". Grab and Bolt run late into the night in the cities, and เรียกรถให้หน่อยrîak rót hâi nàwy, "could you call me a ride?", is worth knowing.