สวัสดีตอนเที่ยง Sawatdee Dtaawn Thiiang

[thailanguagestudent]

Is สวัสดีตอนเที่ยง (sawatdee dtaawn thiiang) the best way to say "Good afternoon"?

Can you give me some alternative ways of saying "Good afternoon".

Also, I noticed other variations of afternoon, such as ตอนบ่าย (dtaawn baay) and หลังเที่ยง (lang thiiang).

[withnail]

Depends if you're translating or simply saying hello. Although what you suggested makes sense you'll find that in reality most Thais will simply say สวัสดีครับ sawatdee krap (or ka, obviously).

The other thing that you'll notice being that afternoon is after lunch is that mentioning food in Thailand is much more important than the time of the day so you may well hear: "สวัสดีครับ กิน/ทานข้าวหรือยังครับ" sawatdee krap, gin/taan kaow rue yang krap

gin/taan both mean eat but taan is more formal/polite.

[thailanguagestudent]

Depends if you're translating or simply saying hello. Although what you suggested makes sense you'll find that in reality most Thais will simply say สวัสดีครับ sawatdee krap (or ka, obviously).

The other thing that you'll notice being that afternoon is after lunch is that mentioning food in Thailand is much more important than the time of the day so you may well hear: "สวัสดีครับ กิน/ทานข้าวหรือยังครับ" sawatdee krap, gin/taan kaow rue yang krap

gin/taan both mean eat but taan is more formal/polite.

Thanks withnail, I appreciate it.

If I did want to say สวัสดีตอนเที่ยง to mean good afternoon, can I say it like สวัสดีตอนเที่ยงครับคุณมะลิ (sawatdee dtorn teang krap kun mali) to mean "Good afternoon Miss Mali"

I understand that I can just say sawatdee krap mali, but I want to have some alternative ways of saying things. It helps me to learn. However, if it is totally foreign to say sawatdee dtorn teang krap kun mali, then I don't want to look foolish and speak that way.

[CSS]

Depends if you're translating or simply saying hello. Although what you suggested makes sense you'll find that in reality most Thais will simply say สวัสดีครับ sawatdee krap (or ka, obviously).

The other thing that you'll notice being that afternoon is after lunch is that mentioning food in Thailand is much more important than the time of the day so you may well hear: "สวัสดีครับ กิน/ทานข้าวหรือยังครับ" sawatdee krap, gin/taan kaow rue yang krap

gin/taan both mean eat but taan is more formal/polite.

Thanks withnail, I appreciate it.

If I did want to say สวัสดีตอนเที่ยง to mean good afternoon, can I say it like สวัสดีตอนเที่ยงครับคุณมะลิ (sawatdee dtorn teang krap kun mali) to mean "Good afternoon Miss Mali"

I understand that I can just say sawatdee krap mali, but I want to have some alternative ways of saying things. It helps me to learn. However, if it is totally foreign to say sawatdee dtorn teang krap kun mali, then I don't want to look foolish and speak that way.

Your sentence is perfectly correct. Saying it fully is just long and we've I've done so I feel as though the listener is impatient for me to finish so that they can respond and will even cut me off half sentence sometimes. It's not a casual greeting like it is in English.

[thailanguagestudent]

Thanks CSS. I appreciate it.

[yoot]

Is สวัสดีตอนเที่ยง (sawatdee dtaawn thiiang) the best way to say "Good afternoon"?

Can you give me some alternative ways of saying "Good afternoon".

Also, I noticed other variations of afternoon, such as ตอนบ่าย (dtaawn baay) and หลังเที่ยง (lang thiiang).

I don't think it's a good idea to say สวัสดีตอนเที่ยง to Thai people. Just say สวัสดีครับ/ค่ะ is enough. Unless you are an announcer on TV or radio, some might start their program by saying 'สวัสดียามบ่าย'.

[meadish_sweetball]

I agree with Yoot, it is like greeting somebody in English with 'Have you eaten yet or not?' or 'Where have you been?'.

Use สวัสดีครับ or ทาน/กินข้าวหรือยัง ไปใหนมา, or if you want to say 'Good afternoon', then say it in English - most Thais will understand this too.

[TheChiefJustice]

I understand that I can just say sawatdee krap mali, but I want to have some alternative ways of saying things. It helps me to learn. However, if it is totally foreign to say sawatdee dtorn teang krap kun mali, then I don't want to look foolish and speak that way.

I agree with P'Yoot and P'Meadish. Generally speaking, a Thai person would never use สวัสดีตอนเที่ยง as a greeting to another Thai person. As P'Yoot says,สวัสดีครับ/ค่ะ is sufficient.

[luckyfarang]

Is สวัสดีตอนเที่ยง (sawatdee dtaawn thiiang) the best way to say "Good afternoon"?

Can you give me some alternative ways of saying "Good afternoon".

Also, I noticed other variations of afternoon, such as ตอนบ่าย (dtaawn baay) and หลังเที่ยง (lang thiiang).

My friend says that this greeting implies that you have slept through the entire morning.

[Johpa]

I agree with Yoot, it is like greeting somebody in English with 'Have you eaten yet or not?' or 'Where have you been?'.

Use สวัสดีครับ or ทาน/กินข้าวหรือยัง ไปใหนมา, or if you want to say 'Good afternoon', then say it in English - most Thais will understand this too.

I have never heard anyone greet another with "สวัสดีตอนเที่ยง", although in the rural areas it is the most common thing to greet people with กินข้าวหรือยัง or ไปใหนมา.

I have occasionally heard the Thai version of good morning, and if you do want to impress people a tad, you can greet someone with "aruun sawat" although I am not sure whether the favorable impression is from the nice Thai or from waking up early enough to use the phrase.

[Sateev]

Is สวัสดีตอนเที่ยง (sawatdee dtaawn thiiang) the best way to say "Good afternoon"?

Can you give me some alternative ways of saying "Good afternoon".

Also, I noticed other variations of afternoon, such as ตอนบ่าย (dtaawn baay) and หลังเที่ยง (lang thiiang).

My advice would be to stop translating, and to listen to what Thais say to each other. In 25 years, I have never heard anyone say 'sawatdee dtaawn thiiang'.

Sateev

[thailanguagestudent]

ขอบคุณมากครับทุกคน

I actually said สวัสดีตอนเที่ยง at the thai restaurant the other day during lunch time and they understood me. (I know because they said and good afternoon to you also). I do understand it is not popular based on the replies to this thread, but I enjoy learning different words and phrases. I do appreciate everyone's help and time spent answering my questions.

[puuchai299]

My thai friend called me yesterday in the afternoon and said sawadee don bhai,when i asked he said it is very acceptable to use that.

[thailanguagestudent]

ขอบคุณครับ

[meadish_sweetball]

My thai friend called me yesterday in the afternoon and said sawadee don bhai,when i asked he said it is very acceptable to use that.

There's little point in arguing, but it is not the normal way Thai people express themselves when addressing each other - see Yoot's comment further up.

[sparkinsonic]

Is สวัสดีตอนเที่ยง (sawatdee dtaawn thiiang) the best way to say "Good afternoon"?

Can you give me some alternative ways of saying "Good afternoon".

Also, I noticed other variations of afternoon, such as ตอนบ่าย (dtaawn baay) and หลังเที่ยง (lang thiiang).

I use dtaawn bai,If you study the time clock in thailand your see....dtaawn choa(morning) bai (afternoon) yen(early evening ...the cooling hour)toom (evening)ect

hope this helps my thai family always say ,sa wut dee dtaawn choa....good morning.

[meadish_sweetball]

I really don't see the need to persist in translating everything from your own language exactly.

"How many hour please?"

"Two hour evening."