60 Words

[kerryk]

I have a friend coming to Thailand. I have bought a number of language books and tapes and I am now taking a three month AUA course. I want to give my friend 60 words to learn before he comes here. I was wondering if anyone has any input.

He is heterosexual, drinks a bit and also likes to sight see and dine out.

I have considered a lot of words and think ease of memory and pronunciation are important factors. Phrases that rhyme seem to be easy like Young Li Goodii. I think small phrases are as easy to remember as words.

I think beginning language schools should be prevented from teaching more than one way to say a particular thing. I don’t want to learn three ways to say yes. I am primarily interested in being understood rather than understanding Thai speakers. They will eventually find a word that I understand where more than one way for me to say a thing taxes my small mind.

I guess what I am saying is what words are really necessary to get along and what is the easiest way of saying them even if it is not the way a linguist would say them.

I find it easier to use Bangkok Thai because I can’t roll my “R’s” and because the whole speech pattern seems easier.

Also it kind of freaks me out that each dictionary has a different phonetic spelling, AUA’s is really strange and cumbersome for a beginner to read. So any ideas on 60 words that would help a guy get more out of a Thai experience?

[wolf5370]

I take it you want a few from each poster (rather than loads of lists of 60 words/phrases), I'll start it off with the important ones then...(cut down for easy remembering - would still be understood)

Kor Tort Krup (Excuse me please)

Sa Wa Dee Krup (Hello/Bye)

Nee tau rai [pron: knee towel rye] (How much is this?)

Kor bia sing Krup [should really have a quantity and classifier, but doesn't really need](a Singha beer please)

Mee xxx Mai Krup (Do you have xxx?)

Numbers: 1 to 10 at least 1 to 100 better.

Bai Nai Krup [should be prefixed with a pronoun unless can be assumed by circumstance - Prefix Khun for you] (Where are we/you going)

Pom heow [Pron: heow pronounced like heel with a w instead of an L] (I'm hungry)

Hong Nahm yoo tee nai Krup (Where's the toilet?)

Mai ow (I don't want it - for when your offered something you, er, don't want)

Mai mee satang (I'm skint - useful for beggars of all kinds)

[wolf5370]

Khun mee fun dum. Buk men mark wa. Bang fun, reow.

[Lesley]

I take it you want a few from each poster (rather than loads of lists of 60 words/phrases), I'll start it off with the important ones then...(cut down for easy remembering - would still be understood)

Kor Tort Krup (Excuse me please)

Sa Wa Dee Krup (Hello/Bye)

Nee tau rai [pron: knee towel rye] (How much is this?)

Kor bia sing Krup [should really have a quantity and classifier, but doesn't really need](a Singha beer please)

Mee xxx Mai Krup (Do you have xxx?)

Numbers: 1 to 10 at least 1 to 100 better.

Bai Nai Krup [should be prefixed with a pronoun unless can be assumed by circumstance - Prefix Khun for you] (Where are we/you going)

Pom heow [Pron: heow pronounced like heel with a w instead of an L] (I'm hungry)

Hong Nahm yoo tee nai Krup (Where's the toilet?)

Mai ow (I don't want it - for when your offered something you, er, don't want)

Mai mee satang (I'm skint - useful for beggars of all kinds)

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Very useful indeed.

[gregorsamsa910]

Hi Wolf,

Thanks for your list. It's gonna help me a lot, I think. Although I took a glance at this one:

Mee xxx Mai Krup (Do you have xxx?)

And I took xxx the wrooooong way. But never mind, I get it now. Mind officially out of the gutter.

[Neeranam]

Mai mee satang (I'm skint - useful for beggars of all kinds)

"Tang taek" is the one I use meaning "broke"

[Kringle]

It's concidered bad luck to say Mai me Satang to Thai's. they think it will either make them broke or you. Even if it's you that turns broke, then you wouldn't have any to give them and then still bad. It's way better to just say Mai ow krup, being sure to use the krup or ka to be polite to say that you don't want something.

[meadish_sweetball]

In most cases 'mai mee satang' is a lie that anyone can see through anyway, so it's better to do as Kringle suggests.

On a side note, 'mai mee dtang' is more common than 'mai mee satang' (but harder to pronounce).

[phibunmike]

I take it you want a few from each poster (rather than loads of lists of 60 words/phrases), I'll start it off with the important ones then...(cut down for easy remembering - would still be understood)

Kor Tort Krup (Excuse me please)

Sa Wa Dee Krup (Hello/Bye)

Nee tau rai [pron: knee towel rye] (How much is this?)

Kor bia sing Krup [should really have a quantity and classifier, but doesn't really need](a Singha beer please)

Mee xxx Mai Krup (Do you have xxx?)

Numbers: 1 to 10 at least 1 to 100 better.

Bai Nai Krup [should be prefixed with a pronoun unless can be assumed by circumstance - Prefix Khun for you] (Where are we/you going)

Pom heow [Pron: heow pronounced like heel with a w instead of an L] (I'm hungry)

Hong Nahm yoo tee nai Krup (Where's the toilet?)

Mai ow (I don't want it - for when your offered something you, er, don't want)

Mai mee satang (I'm skint - useful for beggars of all kinds)

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I would add:

check bin krup (bill please)

aroi (tasty - useful to say to waitress, host, etc.)

and somehow you forgot:

kap khun krup (thanks)

[merlin1]

"kop koon kup" is more phonetically accurate.

[Kringle]

Merlin1, I disagree with that and think it is really closer to krup with it being a RL sound. I think the kup is just a shorter version.

[RDN]

...Mai ow (I don't want it - for when your offered something you, er, don't want)...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Better to add "khrap" at the end or, better still, to say "Mee leaw khrap" - "I have (it) already, thanks".

Merlin1, I disagree with that and think it is really closer to krup with it being a RL sound. I think the kup is just a shorter version.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I think "Khap" is the more common, but lazy, way of saying "Khrap".

[meadish_sweetball]

The correct spelling of 'thank you' in Thai is ขอบคุณครับ, and which way you choose to transcribe it of course depends on how you perceive sound to letter correspondence in English (or your native language, if another one than English). This in turn is usually based on your own accent.

The sound of ร in polite Central Thai which is the language of instruction in Thai schools, the language used by news readers and for communication between Thais from different dialect areas, is pronounced like a rolling R in Scottish English, Italian or Spanish, but a US English 'r' sound will be understood, as it is the way many Chinese and English-speaking immigrants to Thailand pronounce the sound (if you can do the rolling 'r' it sounds better though), as well as pop singers who try to emulate English sounds in an effort to sound cool.

In casual spoken Thai, the 'r' sound often disappears completely - hence 'khab' / 'cup' or whichever way you choose to transcribe it.

Listen to a sound file and try to reproduce what is said there, and dont worry too much about the romanization - concentrate on listening to how a native Thai pronounces it by clicking on this link from www.thai-language.com: Thank you in Thai - ขอบคุณครับ (khawb khoon khrab)

[merlin1]

Yeah, I know all about the "r" in khrap. But as Meadish says, it's just never really spoken by most people you're going to run into.

I was trying to simplify for a person who spoke no Thai at all. I was also assuming the person was American (don't know why). The transliteration system is based more on British pronunciation which can actually lead to some errors by North American English speakers. As a Canadian, I always found the transliteration to be more trouble than it's worth. Better to phoneticize it plainly (eg. "kup") than stick in all this fancy pants b.s. (eg "khrap").

All those unspoken r's for example are very unnecessary for the r-pronouncing North American. A woman is not called "Porn" after all, her name is "Pon" or perhaps "Pawn". Trouble is, there are too many regional variants of vowel sounds in the English speaking world to make it simple for anyone to figure out.

Perhaps this initial confusion led some slow-witted servicemen in the 60s to assume that Thais were genetically pre-disposed to enjoy dirty movies. Just think how different the history of western men and Thai women would have been if the transliteration system had a North American component.

[Kringle]

I thought it was all Portugese (spelling) based on the language and that is why the Ks are g and the Gs are k but I don't study enough so I don't know. I agree that the it should be more phonetic English wise and would be a lot easier like: my pen rye.

Edited October 20, 2005 by Kringle

[jayenram]

Being from Yorkshire, my initial pronunciation of Khrup (as learnt from a guide book) upon my first arrival in Thailand was 'kroop'. It was a while before I realised that I should actually be saying "Khrap". Bloody southerners!

[phibunmike]

Yeah, I know all about the "r" in khrap.  But as Meadish says, it's just never really spoken by most people you're going to run into. 

I was trying to simplify for a person who spoke no Thai at all.  I was also assuming the person was American (don't know why). The transliteration system is based more on British pronunciation which can actually lead to some errors by North American English speakers.  As a Canadian, I always found the transliteration to be more trouble than it's worth.  Better to phoneticize it plainly (eg. "kup") than stick in all this fancy pants b.s. (eg "khrap"). 

All those unspoken r's for example are very unnecessary for the r-pronouncing North American.  A woman is not called  "Porn" after all, her name is "Pon" or perhaps "Pawn".  Trouble is, there are too many regional variants of vowel sounds in the English speaking world to make it simple for anyone to figure out.

Perhaps this initial confusion led some slow-witted servicemen in the 60s to assume that Thais were genetically pre-disposed to enjoy dirty movies.  Just think how different the history of western men and Thai women would have been if the transliteration system had a North American component.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I agree the transliteration varies, I was only trying to be consistent with the previous poster to avoid confusion. I would actually say something more like kup koon kup.

But as an example of the difficulties, to use your example, "pawn" and "porn" are identical in British English.

[merlin1]

I agree the transliteration varies, I was only trying to be consistent with the previous poster to avoid confusion. I would actually say something more like kup koon kup.

But as an example of the difficulties, to use your example, "pawn" and "porn" are identical in British English.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Right.

And most Americans pronounce "sorry" like sari, while we Canadians say it like "sore-ry". We both consider the other uneducated and ridiculous for doing so.

[britmaveric]

Darkling - Monkey Arse

Edited October 23, 2005 by britmaveric

[Judge]

In most cases 'mai mee satang' is a lie that anyone can see through anyway, so it's better to do as Kringle suggests.

Really?

Sounds like you've never had the misfortune of working as an English teacher.

[meadish_sweetball]

I actually did, for a total of two hours.