Thai greetings

hello

hi

The casual hello for friends and people your age.

hiya!

Bubbly and very casual; popular in chats.

hello? (on the phone)

How Thais answer the phone.

where have you been? (a greeting)

A friendly hello between neighbours and colleagues, not a real question.

have you eaten yet? (a greeting)

A caring hello, especially from older people around mealtimes.

hey, what's up?

Very casual, between close friends.

hello (Northern Thai, said by women)

In Chiang Mai, women often use the Northern particle เจ้าjâo instead of ค่ะkâ.

good morning

good morning (literally 'hello, morning time')

Heard from radio hosts and teachers; fine, but a little textbook.

good afternoon

Rare in speech: plain สวัสดีsà-wàt-dii is normal.

good evening

Understood everywhere, but most people simply say สวัสดีsà-wàt-dii.

are you up yet?

The real good-morning text between friends and couples.

oh, you're up!

Said with a smile when someone appears in the morning.

morning! (from English)

A playful loanword in offices and chats.

have a nice day

A warm wish, common at the end of messages.

goodbye, I'm off (literally 'going first')

goodbye, farewell

Correct but final, like 'farewell': breakups, long partings, song lyrics.

goodbye (polite)

The respectful goodbye, with a wai, to elders, teachers and your partner's parents.

see you (later)

The everyday 'see you'.

see you tomorrow

Swap in any time: เจอกันวันจันทร์joe gan wan-jan, see you on Monday.

bye-bye

Casual and very common; also just บายbaai.

excuse me, I must be going

The polite way to leave a dinner, meeting or party early.

bye for now (ending a phone call)

Literally 'that's all': how Thais wrap up a call.

take care

Warm, for someone who is unwell or going far.

happy birthday

happy birthday! (warm)

The most common spoken form.

happy birthday (from English)

Very common in speech, and in chats as HBD.

wishing you lots of happiness

The classic follow-up wish.

wishing you good health

Especially for parents and older people.

may all your wishes come true

สมหวังsǒm-wǎng means getting what you hoped for.

get rich and lucky! (playful)

A cheeky wish among friends; เฮงheng (lucky) comes from Teochew Chinese.

happy belated birthday

When you're late: ย้อนหลังyáwn-lǎng means 'looking back'.

how are you?

how's it going? how are things?

The natural casual 'how are you' between friends.

how have you been lately?

For someone you haven't seen for a while.

are you well? are you all right?

A little more concerned than สบายดีไหมsà-baai dii mǎi.

have you eaten yet?

The everyday caring 'how are you', especially around mealtimes.

where have you been?

A greeting more than a question; a vague answer is fine.

are you okay?

When someone looks tired or upset, or has just tripped.

what's up?

Very casual, between close friends.

how are you? (Isan and Lao)

The northeastern version, with บ่bàw as the question word.

good night, sweet dreams

sweet dreams (warm)

The standard bedtime goodbye for family, friends and partners.

good night (formal)

TV presenters, speeches and greeting cards; stiff in daily life.

sleep well and sweet dreams

A little longer and sweeter, often said to children.

I'm off to bed

What you say when you leave the room or end a late chat.

dream of me

Sweet couple talk, mostly in late-night messages.

get plenty of rest

Caring, for someone tired or unwell.

time for bed!

To kids, or to a partner still scrolling at 1 a.m.

Happy New Year

Happy New Year (cards and messages)

A little more formal; common in writing.

Happy New Year (from English)

Very common in speech and on social media.

wishing you happiness all year

The classic follow-up wish.

may this be a great year for you

Warm, for friends and colleagues.

Happy Songkran (Thai New Year, April)

For 13-15 April, the traditional Thai New Year.

Happy Thai New Year

Another greeting for Songkran.

welcome

welcome to Thailand

Formal: airport signs, speeches and tour guides.

welcome home

Warm but a little formal; banners and messages.

please come in, go ahead

What hosts and shop staff say as they wave you in.

please come inside

come on in!

Friendly and casual.

oh, you're here!

The everyday Thai welcome for someone arriving.

welcome to the family

For a new in-law or partner.

sit down, make yourself comfortable

A host's warm nudge: 'sit first'.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas (from English)

Very common in malls, shops and on social media.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

The classic card greeting.

wishing you a happy Christmas

A warmer wish with ขอให้kǎw-hâi, 'may you…'.

happy holidays

A neutral holiday greeting.

Christmas Eve

Borrowed from English, like most Christmas words.

good luck

good luck! take care!

The everyday send-off, and a warm goodbye.

I wish you good luck

A little more formal: cards, speeches, farewells.

you can do it! go for it!

Literally 'fight, fight': the Thai cheer before exams, interviews and races.

good luck in your exam (may you pass)

สอบsàwp is an exam, ผ่านpàan is to pass.

may everything go smoothly

For a trip, a project or a new job.

I'm rooting for you

Literally 'I'll be your encouragement': warm support in hard times.

lucky, lucky! (Chinese-Thai)

From Teochew; for business, gambling and the lottery.

bad luck, unlucky

The opposite; the slangy version is ซวยsuay.

nice to meet you

it's nice to meet you (warm)

นะná makes it softer and friendlier.

nice to see you

Slightly more casual; also for seeing someone again.

I'm so glad to see you

Warm and personal: ดีใจdii-jai means glad, happy.

please look after me (said by a newcomer)

A humble line for your first day at a new job, or meeting your partner's family.

congratulations

congratulations! (warm)

congratulations (formal)

For cards, speeches, banners and formal messages.

congratulations on the new job

ยินดีด้วยกับyin-dii dûay gàp + the good news.

congratulations on graduating

เรียนจบrian jòp means to finish your studies.

wishing you lots of happiness

The natural add-on for weddings and new babies.

well done! you're so good

Praise for an achievement: an exam, a race, a perfect dish.

awesome! amazing!

Enthusiastic; literally 'the very top'.

that's a smash hit! (slang)

For a huge success, from a launch to a haircut.

have you eaten yet?

eaten yet? (casual)

The everyday short form, especially in messages.

have you eaten yet? (polite)

ทานtaan is the polite 'eat': use it with elders, bosses and customers.

have you eaten anything yet?

are you hungry?

want to eat together?

Often comes straight after your 'not yet'.

what did you have?

The natural follow-up; Thai dishes are eaten 'with' rice.

are you full yet?

What hosts ask while refilling your plate.