How To Say Hello In Thai Language – Home » Thai 101 » How to say hello in Thai? Time to say Savasdi Khrap!
Sawasdee, sawatdee, sawatdii or whatever you want to spell it, they all mean the same thing “hello and goodbye” which I’m sure 99% of people reading this already know what they mean. But I believe that not everyone is right in that 99%. And since you are here, I think most of you want to know how to speak properly in Thailand. So let’s get straight to the point!
How To Say Hello In Thai Language
“ขิที่วี่วัว” or sawasdee is a Thai word that everyone in Thailand uses almost every day (they can shorten this word to something simpler, which will be explained later in this article). Is it necessary to use this word as a foreigner? Absolutely yes! It’s the easiest first impression to make, and it sets the tone for the entire conversation. When you hear foreigners speak your language with that cute accent, you can’t help but love them, think about it.
Thai Child Greeting Stock Vector Images
This word consists of three syllables: sa-wat-dee, everyone knows. But did you know that Thai is a tonal language? This basically means that different sounds also have different meanings. Did you also know that vowel length determines sounds? I will talk about the rules of sounds later. Now let’s take a look at the tones of each syllable of the word hello in Thai:
A very easy word to start with when you want to speak Thai. But if you’re a seasoned expat in Thailand, you’ll know that many Thais save energy by shortening the first syllable “Sa” and simply using “Wat-di” as a greeting when meeting people they’re talking to. So it’s up to you to take the long way or the short way. Either way, remember to use the polite words “snort, kha” at the end of every sentence, I guarantee it will sound 10 times better than not using it. See how to use polite words correctly in Thai. There are more ways to say hello in Thailand than you might think. Of course, saying “Vai” and “Savasdi” may be the first thing that comes to mind. But do it
Traditionally, Thai people say “Savasdi” when greeting each other. Women say Savasdi ka, men say Savasdi crab. They say this while performing the greeting gesture “Vai”. However, in reality, many people do not say “Savasdi”. Locals prefer a shortened and more pleasant version of the term called “Wasdi”.
However, Thai greeting culture is not simple. You’ll want to know a trick or two to get better at local greetings. So read on to find out what a practical greeting sounds like in Thailand?
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This term consists of two words: “Savas” and “Di”. And both words have the same meaning – “good or great”.
So when Thais say “Savasdi”, it’s not just a greeting. This is their way of wishing a person a good day.
However, most Thais do not say “Savasdi”. Why? Because over time they started to consider this term too formal and not close. Locals use the original “Savasdi” only for religious ceremonies, large events and other formal occasions.
Despite the shorter pronunciation, “Wasdee” still conveys the full message of the original term. Since the two words that make up the word ‘Savasdi’ have the same meaning, shortening one does not make much difference. In addition, the abbreviated version conveys a friendly and intimate atmosphere.
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Most locals see “Wasdee” as a slang derivative of “Sawasdee”. However, unlike other slangs, you can also use “Wasdi” with elders.
Respect is a big thing in Thailand. And it is most important that you respect one of your parents. The use of slang is generally considered disrespectful and should be avoided when speaking to elders.
However, for some reason, “Vasdi” is an exception to this rule. Elder does not care if you use this short term instead of the whole term. In a way, you can see it as the evolution of language. But in other ways, you can see this as an example of Thai attention.
Regardless, “Wasdee” is still a slang term. And whenever you use it, you must follow the Thai “polite rule” (a certain part of showing respect through verbal communication in Thailand).
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Of course, that doesn’t mean you can’t say “Savasdi” at all. All Thais appreciate “Savasdi” at times – especially from foreigners. So don’t worry if the local greeting is too confusing. Thai people understand you. Do you have “Good morning”, “Good afternoon” and “Good evening” in Thai?
In Thailand, people usually greet each other with “Sawasdee” or “Wasdee” (similar to a greeting) regardless of the time. You rarely see someone using time-dependent terms to greet friends or family. But if you want to, you can.
You can use these terms to say hello at any time. However, remember that these words are archaic. No one uses them now. So if you’re going to use these words, be prepared for some weird looks.
However, you can intentionally use these archaic terms to get an instant laugh when greeting your friends. People laugh when they hear these words because no one uses them anymore. They might add, “When is that? 17th century? Hahaha.” From there you can chat live.
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For English speakers, “how are you?” A natural extension of “Hello” or “Hello”. You use it because you really want to know or just to appear friendly. However, Thais don’t usually ask for this.
Thais prefer “Where are you going” or “Where have you been” instead of “How are you”.
For non-native English speakers, these questions can be overwhelming. But for Thais, they are completely normal.
You can use “where are you going” when you bump into someone you know on the street or in a department store. Use “where have you been” when meeting someone at home.
Sawasdee Is Thai Word Its Mean Hello Or Hi.handwritten Modern Calligraphy Stock Vector
For example, if they say work, shopping, or a restaurant, you can assume that they are doing well. But if they say hospital or bank, you can guess that something is going on. So you’re like “what happened?” You can add a follow-up question like
Of course, this does not mean that Thais do not say “how are you” at all. This is still appropriate if you haven’t known the person for a long time. “How are you” is pronounced as “Pen Ngai Mang” (บัวมมสัม).
As you can see, “Sawasdee” is the correct greeting, but locals prefer the shorter and friendlier “Wasdee”. And who knows? This may change in the future. “Sawasdee” used to be the norm, but now belongs to some extent in a museum.
So do what the Thais do. Update on how to properly greet. One day, Thais may choose the even shorter ‘Di’ instead of ‘Wasdi’. Just adapt and enjoy your time in this foreign country.
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As always, if you want to learn more about Thailand, stay. You will discover something you never knew about this unique country.
I am a Thailand fanatic who has been traveling to the Kingdom since 2017. The country has given me so much, this is a small way of giving back. I hope the articles on this site will help you learn more about Thailand and inspire you on your next adventure in the Land of Smiles. Thanks for checking out!
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