mikem55 Posted September 8, 2001 Report Share Posted September 8, 2001 I thought it would be helpful for us non-Thai speakers to learn a new Thai phrase each day. Eventually, we would have some sort of limited working vocabulary. It would be helpful along with the phrase to also spell it as it sounds, so a Thai person could actually understand us hopefully. Perhaps the first phrase somebody could teach me (and I know I saw it written somewhere before but can't remember where) is how to say 'not spicy' which would be very helpful when ordering Thai food, which to me is some of the spiciest food on earth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 8, 2001 Report Share Posted September 8, 2001 I think you say it Mai phet = not spicy phet pronounced more like pet but no puff of air when finishing the word. Mr Ennui Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 9, 2001 Report Share Posted September 9, 2001 Corrct! Mai phet... Not spicy... Phet mak mak... very spicy.. --UPSer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CondomKing Posted September 9, 2001 Report Share Posted September 9, 2001 Yes, a phrase a day is a good idea and I'll post today's. This is the first phrase I learned in Thailand: "Where is the toilet, please?" "Hong nam, tee nai, krap." I can't actually speak Thai (except under extreme duress), but I do know lots of phrases that get me by and I'm looking forward to maybe learning a few new ones here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 10, 2001 Report Share Posted September 10, 2001 hawng (high) room narm (climb high -long sound) water you(low-long sound) is - location tee (high- long sound)at nai (low to higher climb in sound - long sound but, finishes abbruptly) where? where is the toilet? you could also say.... hawng (high) room narm (climb high) water drong (highish, sometimes said in a middle voice - shortish in length) location-very close to you nai (low to higher climb)where? the sounds are (use a long sounding soft voice for this) gor (middle voice) gor (low voice) gor (gor-or, high to middle shift) gor (high climb) gor (gor-or, low to middle shift) practice this daily and even talk to some of the girls around the place as they tend to speak better and clearer than some of the guys. Choosing to talk to a girl with limited english will benifit you greatly. A girl with very good english skills will speak to you only in english or tell you one or two words which is useless, as people speak in sentences. She will say its easier to speak english (and that only benifits her language education). Also, she might only teach you what she wants you to know to prevent you from talking to other girls !! Oh yeah! Remember in correct Thai speech, Roll your "r" like you have just come out of Berlin Germany. Many Thais find it easier to swap "r" with "l" when speaking as the King has noticed and frowned apon (I hear). So "a!-rai - what?" most often said on tv as "a-rai"' becomes "a-lai" and "aroi - delicious" becomes "aloi" and "ree-un - learn" becomes "le-un" and "rot - vehicle" becomes "lot" "rot-motor-sai" - motorbike "rot-yon" - car "rot-mai" - bus "rot-tour" - tour bus and a sign you might see on a song taew taxi... "ga-roona dree-um ngern gorn lorng"... blah blah blah please prepare money before decending (leaving, departing) cya! [ September 10, 2001: Message edited by: mushroom ] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikem55 Posted September 11, 2001 Author Report Share Posted September 11, 2001 I got a good laugh out of the fact that asking 'where is the toilet please?' ends in 'krap' How would you say? 'Turn the meter on' obviously for addressing a taxi driver Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 11, 2001 Report Share Posted September 11, 2001 I thought 'Not Spicy' was; ME OW PET MAG NA? Please correct me if I'm wrong Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luckyfarang Posted September 11, 2001 Report Share Posted September 11, 2001 How would you say? 'Turn the meter on' obviously for addressing a taxi driver PERT MEE-TER or GOHT MEE-TER I thought 'Not Spicy' was ME OW PET MAG NA Please correct me if I'm wrong MAI(f) AO PHET(l) MAK(h) NA(h)! "Not too spicy, now!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sky brow Posted September 11, 2001 Report Share Posted September 11, 2001 Instead of saying-Where is the toilet. You can always say, I need to go to the toilet. I feel like a khrap.Remember to roll the the r,s. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lamock Chokaprret Posted September 11, 2001 Report Share Posted September 11, 2001 Mikem said: quote: I got a good laugh out of the fact that asking 'where is the toilet please?' ends in 'krap' Everything ends in 'krap'. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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