Civilities (Greetings)

Traditionally, the Thai (of Thailand), the Lao (of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic), and the Tai Long (Thai Yai – Shan of the Union of Myanmar) do not greet each other with a handshake. The all-purpose Thai greeting (and farewell) is /Sawat-dee/, the Lao is /Sabai-dee/, and Tai Long (Thai Yai – Shan) is /Maue-sung/.

As a normal courtesy, Thai speakers end their sentence with a politening syllable /khrap/ (if the speaker is male) or /kha/ (if the speaker is female). It’s often accompanied by a /wai/, the prayer-like, palms-together gesture of respect. If someone wais you, you should wai back (unless wai-ed by a child). Tai Long speakers (both male and female) end their sentence with a politening word /khah/.

If someone says Sawat-dee (khrap / kha), Sabai-dee, or Maue-sung (khah) to you, you should reply with the same phrase. In the large cities a light version of the western-style handshake is commonly offered to foreigners.

[In everyday speech, the /r/ in /khrap/ is dropped to produce the simplified /khap/. Women should pronounce their /kha/ with a high tone /kha/ instead of the usual falling tone /kha/ when forming questions.]

These words khrap / kha also use to answer “Yes”; (Tai Long use /aw/) to a question, to show agreement, or simply to acknowledge that you’re listening. [Thai has an equivalent of “uh-huh, /ue/, (Tai Long /oe/), but it’s not nearly as polite.]

Body Language

Nonverbal behaviour or "body language" is very important in Thailand, in Laos and in Tai-long-land (Shanland), perhaps more important than in most Western countries.

If you're inside, it is considered polite to bow from the waist slightly or to stoop a little as a sign of respect, when walking in front of someone who is seated or when interrupting. Standing with your hands on hips is considered rude. When sitting, tuck your feet away so they are not pointing towards anyone.

The feet are the lowest part of the body (spiritually as well as physically) so don't point your feet at people or things with your feet. In the same context, the head is regarded as the highest part of the body, so don't touch people on the head.

Abbreviations: T. – Standard Thai; L. – Lao; Y. - Tai Long (Thai Yai - Shan)

Civilities (Greeting) 1) Good morning. Good day. Good afternoon. Good evening. T. Sawat-dee (khrap / kha). L. Sabai-dee. Y. Maue-sung (khah). 2) How are you? T. Pen yang-ngai? or Sabaai-dee rue? L. Sabaai-dee baw? Y. (Pen) tsoe-hue? or Yoo-lee yoo hah? 3) I’m fine. And you? T. Sabaai-dee. Khun la? L. Sabaai-dee. Jao de? Y. Yoo-lee aw. Soo lar? 4) Fine. Thank you. T. Sabaai-dee. Khop-khun. L. Sabaai-dee. Khop-jai. Y. Yoo-lee aw. Tsohm-khah.		5) Thank you very much. T. Khop-khun mark.  L. Khop-jai laai-laai. Y. Tsohm tae-tae khah. 6) What is your name?  T. Khun chue arai?  L. Jau sue nyang?  Y. Soo tsue sang?  7) My name is … … … T. Phohm chue … … … [m] Di-chan chue … … … [f] L. Khoy sue … … …  Y. Hau tsue … … …   8) Please to meet you.  T. Yin-dee thee dai roo-jak. L. Dee-jai thee hoo kap jau.  Y. Lai hoo-tsak-kan tsohm-khah.  9) Here is my name card. T. Nee narm-bat khong phohm. [m]  Nee narm-bat khong di-chan. [f]  L. Nee maen narm-bat khong khoy  Y. Nai khaep-tsue khah.
Meeting People (Small talk) 10) Hello! (Greetings) T. Sawat-dee. L. Sabai-dee. Y. Oei! / Maue-sung! (Not Hoei! Hoei! It’s not nearly as polite.) 11) Are you well? T. Sabaai-dee rue? or Pen yang-ngai? L. Sabaai-dee baw? Y. Yoo-lee yoo hah? or (Pen) tsoe hue? 12) Where are you going? T. Pai nai? L. Pai sai? Y. Kwah laue? 13) I’m just out for fun. T. Pai thiao. L. Pai leen. Y. Kwah lae.	14) Have you eaten yet? T. Tharn khao laeo rue yang? L. Kin khau laeo baw? Y. Kin khau yau hah? 15) Not yet.  T. Yang. L. Yang baw. Y. Pai. / Pai kin. (Yang pai.) 16) I’m eaten already. T. Tharn laeo. L. Kin laeo.  Y. Kin yau. 17) It’s nothing. (Never mind.) T. Mai pen rai. L. Baw pen nyang. Y. Am pen sang. 18) Excuse me. T. Khaw-thoht. L. Khaw-thoht. Y. Kan-taw khah> 19) May I have your address? T. Khaw thee-yoo khong khun dai mai? L. Khaw bon-yoo khong jau dai baw? Y. Pan heng-lik soo wai tsong lai?

By Chuen Yodtai and Saeng Harn.