One of the more challenging aspects to the language is that often the English spelling of Thai words differs depending on what map or book you are looking at. For example, I've seen Ko ("island") spelled Koh, Kho, Khoh, and Ko.
I did find a sampling of some common words and phrases and thought I'd share them with you all. I love the distinctly Buddhist sentiment behind these words. The way the general approach to life seems to be to smile, have fun, don't worry/take it easy, enjoy feeling and finding peace, and let's wish everyone good luck!
It seems that my spirit "gets" these sentiments quite naturally. I hope my tongue can figure how to express them too! ; )
mai ben rai, mai mee bunhaa - "it doesn't matter, no problem"
The first phrase roughly translates to "it doesn't matter", the second to "no problem." Together, they typify the Thai approach to life: don't get bogged down by small obstacles, don't worry, take it easy.
sabai - "comfortable, relaxed, well"
This word is usually translated as "happy", but its use is often closer to "comfortable", "relaxed", or "well." To Thais, happiness is not a state opposite that of sorrow. Rather, it is more akin to tranquillity. Sitting by the seaside with the wind blowing your hair is sabai. Winning the lottery is not. Suffix the word dee, or "good", to sabai, and you get the standard Thai greeting: sabai dee mai?, or "Are you well?"
jai - "heart"
The close etymological connection between Thai words meaning "heart" and "mind". Jai, "mind", spawns the word hua jai, "heart". The word jai forms a number of compounds that describe human emotions.
jai rorn -- hot-tempered (hot mind) jai yen -- calm (cold mind) jai lai -- cruel (bad mind) jai dee -- kind (good mind) kao jai -- to understand (enter mind) korp jai -- thank you (edge mind)
gin - "eating"
Thais take eating very seriously, no doubt in part because of the strong Chinese influence on their culture. I know a Thai woman of Chinese ancestry who, rather than asking me "How are you", asks me "Have you eaten yet".
aroy - "tasty"
Deriving from this preoccupation with food is aroy, which means "tasty". Thus does aroy appear in the names of many a Thai restaurant. A common experience among newcomers to the kingdom is to be offered a food they have never seen before, together with the pronouncement aroy. Thais are very proud of their cuisine, so the follow-up question aroy mai? ("tasty?") is usually not far behind. (Suggested answer: aroy dee -- "yummy"? -- accompanied by a thumbs-up gesture.)
ba - "crazy, mad"
Westerners often receive - and deserve - the charge of ba!, meaning "crazy" or "mad". You are ba if you do anything stupid or unexpected, like driving poorly or dancing spontaneously.
pai - "go"
We have already seen two forms of Thai greeting, "Are you well" and "Have you eaten". A third employs the word pai, or "go": pai nai mah, or "Where have you been". It is really little different in intent from "What's going on?".
Pai is also the source of pa, which ostensibly means "let's go", or "get a move on", although a Thai will often say pa a hundred times over the course of an hour preceding actual departure.
sawatdee, chohk dee - "Hello, good luck"
No collection of essential Thai phrases would be complete without sawatdee, the all-purpose Thai salutation. Chohk dee, meaning "good luck". Chohk dee also serves as a fair substitute for "cheers", not in the evolved British sense of "thanks", but in the old-fashioned sense of "may the road rise to meet you, may the wind always be at your back."
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