How to say “help” in Thai

Chuay duay: the emergency shout

ช่วยchûay means to help and ด้วยdûay adds urgency, so ช่วยด้วยchûay dûay is a cry for help: someone has fallen, you're being robbed, something is on fire. Shout it loudly and point. It's too dramatic for everyday favours, where Thais say ช่วยหน่อยchûay nàwy, "give me a hand".

Both words fall in tone (start high, drop), and both have the "ua" of "tour" gliding into a y. Spellings like chuay duay and chuai duai are the same phrase.

Asking for help politely

For anything that isn't an emergency, use ช่วยchûay + verb + หน่อยnàwy: ช่วยยกของหน่อยchûay yók kǎwng nàwy (help me carry this), ช่วยเรียกแท็กซี่ให้หน่อยchûay rîak táek-sîi hâi nàwy (could you call me a taxi?). Add ได้ไหมdâi mǎi to make it a question, and your particle at the end. Thais are generally quick to help someone who is lost, hurt or confused, especially if you ask in Thai.

Emergency numbers in Thailand

• 1669: medical emergencies and ambulance, nationwide
• 191: police
• 199: fire
• 1155: Tourist Police, with English-speaking staff

Save them now. In many cities, volunteer rescue teams from charitable foundations also respond to accidents alongside official ambulances, so the first people to arrive may be in foundation uniforms.

Words for when things go wrong

หมอmǎw (doctor), โรงพยาบาลroong-pá-yaa-baan (hospital), ตำรวจdtam-rùat (police), รถพยาบาลrót-pá-yaa-baan (ambulance), เจ็บjèp (hurt), แพ้páe (allergic), หายhǎai (lost, missing). For a lost passport or a theft, the Tourist Police (1155) are the place to start.

Offering help

When you're the one helping, ask ให้ช่วยไหมhâi chûay mǎi, "shall I help?", or simply step in and say เดี๋ยวช่วยdǐaw chûay, "here, let me". A Thai who doesn't want to trouble you will probably say ไม่เป็นไรmâi bpen rai at first, out of เกรงใจgreeng-jai; offering once more, gently, is kind.

Stay calm

Even in a crisis, a calm voice gets more help than an angry one. Thais value ใจเย็นๆjai yen-yen, a cool heart, and raising your voice can make people back away rather than step in. Breathe, speak slowly, point, and use the simplest words you have.