I am really trying to grasp some of the Thai language, but it's hard. I think the challenge is fantastic in the sense that I have a little glimpse at what my students will be going through with English. Here's what I can remember so far:
Sawadeka - hello, goodbye. If you are a male you have to end your words with "cap", therefore, sawadekap.
Kapkunka - thank you. Again, males would say kapkunkap
Wai - a greeting, folding the hands together, lowering your face to your fingers and a slight bow. Where your fingers meet you face depends on the status of the person you are wai-ing.
Sy - left, good for directing taxi drivers
Quoi - right, again for the taxis
Soi - street and we use this regularly. I would never say I'm going to the street for lunch, but the soi.
Song - 2, as in the number. This is also important for the taxi rides. We live on Road 2, sum is 3 and I have confused a few taxi drivers by saying sum over song
Farang (pronounced phalang) - foreigners or westerners (whities). I don't use this one, but here it directed towards me often.
Koh (Ko) - island... nice to know when thinking about long weekends
That's about as far as I've gotten so far. I have been to a few Thai classes for the foreign teachers at the school, but still can't remember how to say chicken, slow down or bathroom. It'll come I'm sure.
2 comments:
Chicken = Gai
Where's the bathroom = Hong Nam Uni
How are you? = Khun Sabeyedee Mai?
What is this? = Nicu Alai
There's a few helpful ones for you :)
(I always found that when pronouncing Thai if I blurred the sound of my "L's" slightly with "R's" it was just about right!)
So happy for you on your adventure! It makes me miss Thailand!
Cowpat = fried rice
Chicken Cashew = Chicken Cashew!
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