When you travel around Phuket, you’ll quickly notice that a smile and a few Thai words go a long way.
Locals love when visitors try to speak even a little Thai — it shows respect and often leads to better prices, friendlier service, and a warmer experience.
Here’s your complete Phuket phrase glossary, broken into easy categories: greetings, food, directions, transport, and everyday expressions.
Each phrase includes its karaoke-style pronunciation, Thai script, meaning, and a real-life example.
Meaning: Hello / Hi
Example: “Sawasdee ka!” — a polite way to greet anyone, anytime.
Meaning: Thank you
Example: “Khop khun krub!” (“Thank you very much!”)
Meaning: How are you?
Example: “Sabai dee mai?” — “I’m good, sabai dee!”
Meaning: No worries / It’s okay
Example: “Mai pen rai, I can wait.”
Meaning: Good luck!
Example: “You go diving tomorrow? Chok dee!”
Meaning: Very delicious
Example: “This Pad Thai is aroi mak!”
Meaning: Eat / Have a meal
Example: “Kin khao reu yang?” — “Have you eaten yet?”
Meaning: Cold water
Example: “Nam yen krub!” — “Cold water, please.”
Meaning: No chili / Not spicy
Example: “Pad Kra Pao mai sai prik!” — “Basil stir-fry, no chili.”
Meaning: Full (food-wise)
Example: “Iim laew!” — “I'm full!”
Meaning: Very Hungry!
Example: “Hiw Mak loey krub!” — “I'm so hungry!”
Meaning: Where are you going?
Example: “Pai nai, krub?” — “Where are you off to?”
Meaning: Left/Right
Example: “Pai tang Sai/Kwa!” — “Go Left/Right!”
Meaning: Where is it?
Example: “Toilet yuu tee nai?” — “Where is the toilet?”
Meaning: Is it far?
Example: “Big Buddha klai mai?” — “Is Big Buddha far?”
Meaning: Go straight
Example: “Trong pai, na!” — “Go straight ahead.”
Meaning: Three-wheel taxi
Example: “Let’s take a tuk tuk from Patong to Karon.”
Meaning: Shared pickup truck taxi
Example: “Songthaew to Phuket Town, 40 baht.”
Meaning: Ride-hailing app (Thailand’s Uber)
Example: “Call a Grab — it’s raining.”
Meaning: Car / Vehicle
Example: “Rod taxi” — “Taxi car.”
Meaning: Traffic jam
Example: “Phuket rod tid mak!” — “Phuket traffic is really bad!”
Meaning: Stop / Drop-off point
Example: “Jord rod tee nee!” — “Stop the car here!”
Meaning: Sea / Ocean
Example: “Phuket talay suay mak!” — “Phuket’s sea is so beautiful!”
Meaning: Beach
Example: “Let's go to chai Had Patong.” — “Let's go to Patong Beach.”
Meaning: View Point
Example: “Let's go to jut chom view Karon”
Meaning: Temple
Example: “Wat Chalong” — “Chalong Temple”
Meaning: Relaxed / Easygoing
Example: “Phuket is all about sabai sabai life.”
Meaning: Fun / Enjoyment
Example: “Beach party was sanuk mak!”
Meaning: Similar but not exactly the same
Example: “These T-shirts — same same but different!”
Meaning: Go out / Have fun / Explore
Example: “Tonight we bai thiao Bangla Road!”
Meaning: What did you say?
Example: “Arai na?” — when you didn’t catch something.
Meaning: Eat for fun / Snack
Example: “Gin len roti mai?” — “Want to snack on some roti?”
Bookmark this guide or share it with friends before your trip.
Use it offline when bargaining, ordering food, or chatting with locals.
Bloggers and travel writers: feel free to link this glossary in your “Thailand Travel Tips” articles — it’s designed to be a reference resource.
To make exploring even easier, pair this guide with [Phuket Travel Pass’s curated Google My Maps], which shows all major attractions, viewpoints, and activities — helping you plan routes and avoid traffic like a local.
Getting to Phuket is easy and exciting! ✈️ You can fly directly into Phuket International Airport (HKT) from many major cities around the world, or catch a short domestic flight from Bangkok, Chiang Mai, or other parts of Thailand. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can also arrive by bus or ferry from nearby provinces. Once you land, it's just a short ride to the island’s beautiful beaches, vibrant towns, and hidden gems.
