Thai nightlife phrases

A night out in Thailand comes with its own Thai. Raise your glass with ชนแก้วchon-gâew ("clink glasses", cheers) and order with ขอkǎw + drink: ขอเบียร์สองขวดkǎw bia sǎwng kùat (two bottles of beer, please). Thais often drink beer over ice, so don't be surprised when a bucket of น้ำแข็งnám-kǎeng arrives and someone keeps topping up your glass.

Drinking is social and shared. In a group, the youngest person often pours, adds ice and keeps everyone's glass full, and bills are usually split or paid by the oldest or most senior person rather than drink by drink. You must be 20 to buy alcohol in Thailand.

Friends will ask ไปเที่ยวกันไหมbpai tîaw gan mǎi ("want to go out?"), and by the end of the night you might be เมาแล้วmao láew, drunk already. When it's time to go, เช็คบิลchék bin gets the bill and ไปก่อนนะbpai gàwn ná gets you out of the next round.