How to say “how are you?” in Thai

What sabai dee mai means

สบายsà-baai means comfortable, well, at ease (the same word as in the famous sabai sabai, "relaxed"). ดีdii means good. ไหมmǎi turns any statement into a yes/no question. So สบายดีไหมsà-baai dii mǎi is "comfortable and good?", and the answer is the same words without the question: สบายดีsà-baai dii.

For politeness, men end the question with ครับkráp and women with the high คะká: สบายดีไหมคะsà-baai dii mǎi ká. In the answer, women switch to the falling ค่ะkâ: สบายดีค่ะsà-baai dii kâ.

Do Thais really say it?

Yes, but mostly to people they haven't seen for a while: an old friend, a relative on the phone, a teacher from years ago. With people they see every day, Thais skip it and ask กินข้าวหรือยังgin kâao rǔue yang ("have you eaten yet?"), ไปไหนมาbpai nǎi maa ("where have you been?"), or simply comment on how you look. Don't be shocked if an auntie greets you with อ้วนขึ้นนะûan kûen ná ("you've put on weight!") or ผอมลงนะpǎwm long ná ("you've lost weight!"). It's a sign of attention, not an insult.

How to answer

สบายดีsà-baai dii plus your particle is always fine, and then ask back: แล้วคุณล่ะláew kun lâ ("and you?"). With friends, ก็ดีgâw dii (pretty good) and เรื่อยๆrûeay-rûeay (so-so, ticking along) sound relaxed and natural. Honest answers are welcome too: เหนื่อยnùeay (tired), ยุ่งมากyûng mâak (very busy), ไม่ค่อยสบายmâi kâwy sà-baai (not so well, a bit ill).

Pronunciation

• สบายsà-baai: a short low sà, then a long, level baai, like "bye" held a little longer.
• ดีdii: long and level, like "dee".
• ไหมmǎi: rising, like a surprised English "my?" Let it rise; with a falling tone it turns into ไม่mâi, "not". In relaxed speech many Thais say it with a high tone, and chats often spell it มั้ยmái.

Regional versions

In Isan and Laos you'll hear สบายดีบ่sà-baai dii bàw, with บ่bàw doing the job of ไหมmǎi. Visitors to Laos and northeastern Thailand learn it fast because it's also the standard greeting there.