Page 128 - (DK Eyewitness) Top 10 Travel Guide - Phuket

126 ❯❯ Phrase Book

Phrase Book Please can you...? chôo-ay
Thank you kòrp-kOOn
Thai is a tonal language and regarded by most No, thank you mâi ao
linguists as head of a distinct language group, kòrp-kOOn
though it incorporates many Sanskrit words from Excuse me/sorry kŏr-tôht (krúp/kâ)
ancient India, and some modern English ones, too. Hello sa-wùt dee
There are five tones: mid, high, low, rising, and (krúp/kâ)
falling. The particular tone, or pitch, at which each Goodbye lah gòrn ná
syllable is pronounced determines its meaning. For
instance “mâi” (falling tone) means “not,” but “măi” Useful Phrases
(rising tone) is “silk.” See the Guidelines for How are you? kOOn sa-bai dee
Pronunciation, below, for a phonetic transliteration reu (krúp/kâ)?
of the Thai script for English speakers, including Very well, thank you sa-bai dee
guidance for tones in the form of accents. (krúp/kâ)
How do I get to...? ...bpai yung-ngai?
Guidelines for Pronunciation Do you speak kOOn pôot
When reading the phonetics, pronounce syllables English? pah-săh ung-grìt
as if they form English words. For instance: bpen mái?
a = as in “ago” ay = as in “day” I can’t speak Thai. pôot pah-săh tai
e = as in “hen” er = as in “enter” mâi bpen
i = as in “thin” ew = as in “few” Where is the nearest tăir-o née mee
o = as in “on” oh = as in “go” public telephone? toh-ra-sùp yòo
u = as in “gun” oo = as in “boot” têe-năi?
ah = as in “rather” OO = as in “book”
ai = as in “Thai” oy = as in “toy” Useful Words
air = as in “pair” g = as in “give” hot rórn
ao = as in “Mao Zedong” ng = as in “sing” cold yen or năo
good dee
These sounds have no close equivalents in English: bad mâi dee
eu can be likened to a sound of disgust open bpèrt
- the sound could be written as “errgh” closed bpìt
bp a single sound between a “b” and a “p’ left sái
dt a single sound between a “d” and a “t” right kwăh
near glâi
Note that when “p,” “t,” and “k” occur at the end of toilet hôrng náhm
Thai words, the sound is “swallowed.” Also note that
many Thais use an “I” instead of an “r” sound. Shopping
The Five Tones How much nêe rah-kah
Accents indicate the tone of each syllable. does this cost? tâo-rài?
no mark The mid tone is voiced at the speaker’s Do you have? mee...mái?
normal, even pitch. Do you take credit rub but cray-dit/
á é í ó ú The high tone is pitched slightly cards/traveler’s chék dern
higher than the mid tone. checks? tang mái?
à è ì ò ù The low tone is pitched slightly lower What time do you bpèrt/bpìt gèe
than the mid tone. open/close? mohng?
ă ĕ ĭ ŏ ŭ The rising tone sounds like a Can you ship sóng khŏng nee
questioning pitch, starting low this overseas? bpai dtàhng
and rising. bpra-tâyt
â ê î ô û The falling tone sounds similar to a dâi mái?
syllable word for emphasis. Could you lower lót rah-kah
the price a bit? nòy dâi mái?
How about...baht? ...bàht dâi mái?
In an Emergency I’ll settle for...baht. ...bàht gôr
Help! chôo-ay dôo-ay! láir-o-gun
Fire! fai mâi! Thai silk pâh-măi tai
Where is the tăir-o-née mee pharmacy ráhn kăi yah
nearest hospital? rohng pa-yah- market dta-làht
bahn yòo têe-năi? supermarket sÓOp-bpêr-
Call an rêe-uk rót pa-yah- mah-gêt
ambulance! bahn hâi nòy!
Call a doctor! rêe-uk mŏr hâi nòy! Staying in a Hotel
Call the police! rêe-uk dtum Do you have a mee hôrng
ròo-ut hâi nòy! vacant room? wâhng mái?
air-conditioned room hôrng air
Communication Essentials I’d like a room (pŏm/dee-chún)
Yes châi or krúp/kâ for one night/ ja púk yòo
No mâi châi or mâi three nights. keun nèung/
krúp/mâi kâ săhm keun
Eyewitness Travel – Top 10 series LAYERS PRINTED:
Phrase book “UK” LAYER
(SourceReport v1)
126-127_Top_10_Phuket.indd 126 16/06/2017 13:02
Date 3rd June 2015
Size 100mm x 191mm