Lesson 1: Thai Words for Food and Drinks
Pad Kra Pao is a classic Thai stir-fried dish and a favorite comfort food. It’s made with basil, chili, and your choice of meat, served with rice and often topped with a fried egg.
Words to Know
| Thai Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
| ข้าว | Khao | Rice |
| น้ำ | Nam | Water |
| ผัดไทย | Pad Thai | Stir-fried noodles |
| ไก่ | Gai | Chicken |
| เผ็ด | Phet | Spicy |
| ไม่ใส่ | Mai sai | Without |
Example Sentences
| Situation | Thai Phrase | Pronunciation |
| Ordering a dish | ขอผัดไทยครับ/ค่ะ | Khor pad Thai krab/ka |
| Asking for no spice | ไม่เผ็ดครับ/ค่ะ | Mai phet krab/ka |
| Requesting water | ขอน้ำหนึ่งแก้วครับ/ค่ะ | Khor nam nueng gaew krab/ka |
| Asking for the bill | เช็คบิลครับ/ค่ะ | Check bin krab/ka |
Important Vocabulary
| Category | Thai Word/ Pronunciation | Meaning |
| Meat/Protein | ไก่ (Gai), หมู (Moo), กุ้ง (Goong) | Chicken, pork, shrimp |
| Drinks | น้ำ (Nam), ชาเย็น (Cha yen) | Water, iced tea |
| Popular Dishes | ผัดไทย (Pad Thai), ต้มยำ (Tom Yum) | Pad Thai, spicy soup |
Example Conversation
At a Street Food Stall
You: ขอผัดไทยหนึ่งจานครับ/ค่ะ (Khor pad Thai nueng jaan krab/ka)
(Can I have one plate of Pad Thai, please?)
Vendor: เผ็ดไหม? (Phet mai?)
(Spicy?)
You: ไม่เผ็ดครับ/ค่ะ (Mai phet krab/ka)
(Not spicy, please.)
Quick Cultural Tips
- Always use “krab” (for men) or “ka” (for women) to make your requests polite.
- Thai street vendors appreciate simple phrases like “khor” (ขอ), meaning “I would like.”
- Be clear about spice levels if you can’t handle heat—Thai food is famously spicy!