How to say “thank you” in Thai

Krap or ka? It depends on who is speaking

The polite ending shows the speaker's gender. A man says ขอบคุณครับkàwp-kun kráp to everyone: a woman, a child, a monk or his boss. A woman says ขอบคุณค่ะkàwp-kun kâ to everyone. So "thank you in Thai, male to female" is still ขอบคุณครับkàwp-kun kráp.

Learners often copy the wrong particle from a Thai partner or a teacher of the other gender. Thais find it endearing rather than rude, but fix it early. In relaxed speech many men soften ครับkráp to something closer to "káp", so don't be surprised when you hear it that way.

How to pronounce ขอบคุณkàwp-kun

Two short, clipped syllables:

• kàwp: low tone. The vowel is the "aw" in "law", and the final p is unreleased: close your lips and stop, with no puff of air.
• kun: mid tone, with a short "u" as in "put", not a long "oo". The k is breathy, like the k in "kite".

The "kh" in spellings like khob khun only marks that breathy k; there's no throaty sound. The "b" comes from the Thai spelling, but at the end of a syllable that letter is always an unreleased p. Many visitors run the whole thing together as "kapunka". Thais will understand you, but two clear syllables plus the particle sound much better: kàwp (low, stop), kun (level), then ครับkráp or ค่ะkâ.

When Thais say it

Say it freely to anyone who does something for you: the 7-Eleven cashier, your Grab driver, the vendor handing you a bag of mango sticky rice. It's always welcome, and a smile does half the work.

With elders, teachers, hosts or someone who has done you a real favour, make it warmer with a wai: palms together at chest height and a small bow of the head as you say it. Don't wai shop staff, waiters or children; a nod and a smile is the right size there. Monks don't thank you for alms; they give a blessing, because the giving is your merit.

Between family members and close friends, small things often pass without a thank-you; a smile, or a kindness in return, says it instead. Older people thanking someone younger may use ขอบใจkàwp-jai, but never use it upwards. When you receive a gift, a heartfelt ขอบคุณมากkàwp-kun mâak is enough. Traditionally Thais don't open presents in front of the giver, though younger people often do.

Thank you in messages and emails

On LINE, thanks get longer and cuter: ขอบคุณมากๆkàwp-kun mâak-mâak, ขอบคุณค่าkàwp-kun kâa (a stretched, friendly ค่ะkâ), ขอบคุณคร้าบkàwp-kun kráap (a stretched ครับkráp) and the playful แต๊งกิ้วdtáeng-gîu, borrowed from English. Many people add a folded-hands emoji, the digital wai. In emails and formal writing, use ขอบพระคุณkàwp-prá-kun or ขอบคุณล่วงหน้าkàwp-kun lûang-nâa (thanks in advance).

Common mistakes

• Saying ค่ะkâ as a man, or ครับkráp as a woman.
• Using ขอบใจkàwp-jai with someone older: it sounds like a parent talking to a child.
• Pronouncing a final b in khob: Thai never releases a final consonant.
• A deep wai for everyday service. A smile and a clear ขอบคุณkàwp-kun are the right size; save the wai for elders and real favours.