Gratitude is a universal sentiment that resonates across borders, cultures, and languages. As our world becomes increasingly interconnected, the need to communicate and express thanks in various languages has surged. For those eager to immerse themselves, let’s journey into the Thai language, examining prevalent ways to articulate “thank you” and the suitable manners in which to reply.
Key Takeaways
- Standard Phrase: The universal way to say “thank you” is Khàawp khun.
- Gender Particles: Politeness depends on the speaker’s gender. Men must add khráp, and women must add khâ to the end of the phrase.
- Formality Matters: Use Khàawp khun mâak for “thank you very much.” Reserve the informal Khàawp jai strictly for close friends, children, or those younger than you.
- How to Respond: To say “you’re welcome” or “no problem,” use Mâi pen rai (adding the appropriate gender particle). For a more formal “my pleasure,” use Yin dii.
- Cultural Etiquette: To show maximum respect, especially to elders, accompany your thanks with a Wai (pressing your palms together and bowing your head slightly).
How Do You Say Thank You in Thai?
The most standard phrase to say thanks in the Thai language is “ขอบคุณ (khàawp khun)”.
Khàawp khun is the most common word for thank you. However, to make it polite, you must add a particle based on your gender: if you are male, add khráp (ขอบคุณครับ), and if you are female, add khâ (ขอบคุณค่ะ) at the end.
That means:
- The male form would be ขอบคุณครับ (khàawp khun khráp).
- The female form would be ขอบคุณค่ะ (khàawp khun khâ).
If you need translation help, visit the Translation Service in Australia.
How to Say Thank You Very Much in Thai?
ขอบคุณมาก! (khàawp khun mâak)
This means the same as ‘Thank you’ but with added emphasis. It implies ‘thank you very much’ in the Thai language.
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All Ways to Say Thank You in Thai – Quick Reference
| Situation / Context | Thai Script | Pronunciation | English | When to Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard (Male) | ขอบคุณครับ | khàawp khun khráp | Thank you | General polite form for male speakers. |
| Standard (Female) | ขอบคุณค่ะ | khàawp khun khâ | Thank you | General polite form for female speakers. |
| Emphatic (Male) | ขอบคุณมากครับ | khàawp khun mâak khráp | Thank you very much | When you are deeply grateful (Male). |
| Emphatic (Female) | ขอบคุณมากค่ะ | khàawp khun mâak khâ | Thank you very much | When you are deeply grateful (Female). |
| Casual (Short) | ขอบคุณ | khàawp khun | Thanks | Informal; drops the polite ending particle. |
| Informal Friends | ขอบใจ | khàawp ja | Thanks | Strictly for close friends, children, or inferiors. |
| Friendly / Soft | ขอบใจนะ | khàawp jai na | Thanks! | Casual but adds a warmer, softer tone. |
| Fun / Playful | แต้งกิ้ว | dtâeng-kîu | Thank you (Eng.) | Used playfully; English loanword with Thai accent. |
| Casual (Female) | ขอบใจจ้ะ | khàawp jai jâ | Thanks! | Friendly and informal; used often by women. |
| Very Close Friends | ขอบใจนะมึง | khàawp jai na mueng | Thanks, mate | Caution: Uses a crude pronoun (mueng). Use only with your best friends. |
How to Respond to Thank You in Thai?
When you thank others, it’s essential to make sure that you know how to reply as well. To say thanks, you use “khàawp khun khráp/khâ.” But if someone says thank you to you, a common response is “Yin dii” (My pleasure).
Therefore, in response to “Thank You,” you can say “You’re welcome” or “Mai pen rai.” Similarly, when you say “You’re welcome” or “Mai pen rai” (No problem/It’s okay), the phrase takes gender-specific roles.
- For Women: ไม่เป็นไรค่ะ – Mâi pen rai khâ.
- For Men: ไม่เป็นไรครับ – Mâi pen rai khráp.
Moreover, one of the different ways to reply to thank you in Thai is to use this formal phrase:
ยินดี – Yin Dii
This means something close to ‘my pleasure’, or Google Translate to Thai puts it as ‘pleased.’ The word shares the same resemblance when you say “How are You” in Spanish.
How to Write “Thank You” In Thai?
If you’re practising writing Thai script or Thai Names, here’s one for you to try:
ขอบคุณ
Thanking someone is very important in Thailand – and you’ll be thanking them a lot!
How to Say Thank You in Thai to Acquaintances and Older People?
If you are looking to compliment your elders, friends, or a woman out of sincere appreciation, make sure to use this phrase.
ฉันได้เรียนรู้หลายๆ อย่างจากคุณ (chăn dâi riian rúu lăai lăai yàang jàak khun)
This means “I have learned so much from you”
If you learn Thai to professionally provide Language Translation services, this phrase brings gratitude to anyone who merely hears it once.
Knowing how to say thank you or Hello in different languages, is one of those skills that shows promise when it comes to showing appreciation to people politely.
How to Be Polite in Thai?
There are many ways you can express your politeness in Thai. For example:
1. That is Very Kind Of You
คุณใจดีมาก (khun jai dii mâak)
This is one of the critical phrases that can be used when someone goes the extra mile to provide good service or offer you kindness.
2. Thank You For The Kind Words
ขอบคุณสำหรับคำพูดดีๆ ของคุณ! (khàawp khun săm-ràp kham phûut dii dii khǎawng khun)
If you are a Thai Translator and someone has paid you a compliment, you can return the compliment using this sentence.
Saying “Thank You” Among Friends
There are many ways to show gratitude in Thai, and you need to be careful which one you use. You could remove the polite word from the end of the phrase to make it more informal:
1. Khàawp Khun – ขอบคุณ
You could remove the polite word from the end of the phrase to make it more informal. Although you can go with this short version, sticking to the polite particles is always safer.
For those occasions, other phrases might be appropriate for the right time and place if desired.
2. Khàawp Jai – ขอบใจ
This way of saying thank you in Thailand is very informal. Therefore, this sentence should only be used when you are with close friends, among Thai kids, and in everyday casual situations. It is a friendly way to say thank you, but it should not be used when elders are in the room.
3. Friends like you are difficult to find
เพื่อนแบบคุณหายาก (phûean bàaep khun hăa yâak)
It is one of the most common examples of compliments in Thai.
How to Say Thank You in Thailand in Different Contexts?
Here are some Thai phrases that you can use to express thankfulness in different contexts:
1. Thank you for coming today
ขอบคุณที่มาในวันนี้ (khàawp khun thîi maa nai wan níi)
“Thank you for coming today” or “thank you very much for coming today” are sentences that should be a part of your speech if you’re conducting more formal business meetings with native speakers. We can also suggest this phrase when hosting a party, as it is the appropriate greeting for Thai guests!
2. Thank you for your consideration
ขอบคุณสำหรับการพิจารณาของคุณ (khàawp khun săm-ràp gaan phí-jaa-rá-naa khǎawng khun)
This is likely to be the more formal way of thanking someone for their thoughtfulness and respect towards you.
3. Thank you for spending time with us
ขอบคุณที่ใช้เวลาอยู่กับเรา (khàawp khun thîi chái wee-laa yùu gàp rao)
Foreigners who are hosting a meeting or party with Thai speakers should know how to say thank you! Practice this phrase to say goodbye or before closing the meeting.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Thai word for “thank you”?
The simplest method to express gratitude in Thai is to say Khàawp khun. It is polite to say “thank you.” But if you’re a male, you add khráp at the end, and if you’re a female, you add khâ.
Meaning: Men express their gratitude by saying Khàawp khun khráp.
What is a typical Thai greeting?
Thai people greet one another using the word “Sawàtdee”, followed by “khâ” for females and “khráp” for males in both formal and informal settings. It is customary to address someone with a higher perceived status with the title “Khun” (Mr./Mrs).
What is the Wai?
The Wai, or bringing two palms together with the fingertips touching the nose, is a greeting in Thailand. A wai acknowledges seniority and conveys a person’s degree of regard for them. To show respect, one should squeeze their palms together and bow their head.
What Does Khàawp Khun Khráp Mean?
In Thai, ’thank you’ is Khàawp khun khráp (for male speakers). In Thailand, saying ‘Khàawp khun khráp/khâ’ while leaving a restaurant or expressing gratitude anywhere else is the best way to say thank you.
What Does Chok Dee Khráp Mean?
Chok Dee Khráp (if you are a male) is a fantastic method to send a ‘best of luck’ wish. Also, it is employed in social settings when people share drinks. Like Westerners say ‘cheers’, Thais say ‘chok dee’. ‘Chon gâew’ is another typical way to express ‘cheers’.
What Does Su Su Na Khâ Mean in Thai?
Su Su Na Khâ generally means ‘Don’t give up’ or ‘Fight on!’. Su su na khráp (male speaker) is a phrase you can use to lift someone’s spirits, as is Su su na khâ (female speaker).
How Do You Say Hello and Thanks in Thailand?
The Thai greeting ‘Sawàtdee khâ/khráp‘ is used to greet someone. The most popular and practical greeting to learn in Thai is Sawàtdee.
How do you say thank you to a woman in Thai?
The way you speak depends on your gender, not the woman’s. If you (the speaker) are a man, you say “Khàawp khun khráp” to her. If you are a woman, you say “Khàawp khun khâ”. The politeness particles (khráp/khâ) always match the gender of the speaker.
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