Telephone Survival

[Baht Simpson]

Hi! I'm starting to use my Thai more and more but we get a lot of telephone calls at home and I admit I get a bit flustered when people call and talk quickly. So I've decided to keep a handy survival guide near the telephone for when I'm struggling. I've got most of the phrases I need but I wondered if some kind soul could fill in the blanks for me. Are there any others you can think of that might be useful?

Hello! - Sawasdee khrub.

Somchai speaking - Somchai phood

Who is speaking please? - Khrai phood?

How are you? - Sabai dee roe?

One moment please - Prod khoi sak khroo

Hold on please - Yok hoo wai korn

I'll go and get him/her -

He's not here at the moment -

He's/ She's gone to .....'s house -

He's / She's back later-

I'll get him/her to call -

Bye-bye. Speak to you later -

I think you got the wrong number - Chan khid wa khun dai mhai lek phid

[In the Rai!]

Hi! I'm starting to use my Thai more and more but we get a lot of telephone calls at home and I admit I get a bit flustered when people call and talk quickly. So I've decided to keep a handy survival guide near the telephone for when I'm struggling. I've got most of the phrases I need but I wondered if some kind soul could fill in the blanks for me. Are there any others you can think of that might be useful?

Hello! - Sawasdee khrub.

Somchai speaking - Somchai phood

Who is speaking please? - Khrai phood?

How are you? - Sabai dee roe?

One moment please - Prod khoi sak khroo

Hold on please - Yok hoo wai korn

I'll go and get him/her -

He's not here at the moment -

He's/ She's gone to .....'s house -

He's / She's back later-

I'll get him/her to call -

Bye-bye. Speak to you later -

I think you got the wrong number - Chan khid wa khun dai mhai lek phid

Hi Baht,

The ones you got are good.

Don't forget you Krup though.

Hello! - Sawasdee khrub.

Somchai speaking - Somchai phood

Who is speaking please? - Khrai phood?

How are you? - Sabai dee roe?

One moment please - Prod khoi sak khroo or Kor lor sak kroo

Hold on please - Yok hoo wai korn

I'll go and get him/her - ja bai darm mar hai

He's not here at the moment - Kow/Ter don ni mai yuu

He's/ She's gone to .....'s house - Kow/Ter bai barn (Mike)

He's / She's back later- Kow/Ter ja glab mar

I'll get him/her to call - ja bok hai toe glab

Bye-bye. Speak to you later - bye bye kooii gaan ti lang.

I am sorry about the letters, I have never learnt writing Thai into English characters. Let me know if you cant understand them.

Just one thing that I wouldn't use hold on - Yok hoo wai korn

I always just say "just a moment I'll go and get her/him for you"

"kor lor sak kroo na krab ja bai darm mar hai"

One that might help you if someone calls your mobile and you dont know who it is.

เคยโทรมาเบอร์นี้หรือเปล่า เพราะเบอร์ของคุณโชว์ที่มือถือของผม

koi tow mar beor ni ruu blouw praew beor kong kun show ti meu teu kong pom

Did you call this number because your number is showing on my phone

I hope this helps

ITR

Edited January 23, 2007 by In the Rai!

[loong]

I'd like to speak to......... ขอ พูด กับ คุณ ............ หน่อย ได้ ไหม

kŏr pôot gàp koon ............ nòi dâai măi

The line is not good.......... สาย ไม่ ดี

săai mâi dee

Can you speak a little louder?........... พูด ดัง ฯ หน่อย ได้ ไหม

pôot dung dung nòi dâai măi

Noi is used to make the request sound nicer and more polite.

[Edward B]

I'd like to speak to......... ขอ พูด กับ คุณ ............ หน่อย ได้ ไหม

ขอสายกับคุณ ............ หน่อยได้ไหม is much more common I think.

[meadish_sweetball]

One moment please - Prod khoi sak khroo or Kor lor sak kroo

Just one small correction here:

The second option needs a ให้ hâi like this: ขอให้รอสักครู่ khaw hai raw sak khruu... otherwise you are asking for permission to wait yourself, instead of politely asking the other person to wait. When using the more formal 'bprood' or 'karunaa' this 'hai' is not necessary since they are always directed against the other party.

[Edward B]

One moment please - Prod khoi sak khroo or Kor lor sak kroo

Well, if we're correcting stuff, the lor should technically be ror or raw. I know that many people (incorrectly) say lor, but at least it should be written correctly.

And your" ขอให้รอสักครู", Meadish, is missing the mai toh on the ครู.

You can also just say: รอสักครู่นะคะ and if you know the person: เดียวนะ

[meadish_sweetball]

Thanks for the correction Edward.

[Baht Simpson]

Many thanks everyone. I'll start using these immediately.

[Tywais]

Curious as to why no one has mentioned ขอเรียนสาย คุณ John khrup - "May I speak to khun John". This is what I always use and often hear, but then I suspect I'm an overly polite speaker.