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How to Say Good Morning in Thai

Many cultures use different greetings depending on the time of day.  While Thai language has a couple phrases that are similar to “good morning,” “good afternoon,” and “good night,” Thai people do not commonly use these very much in daily life.

However, you may hear them on Thai dramas or in Thai movies, so it’s ok to learn it.  If you want to know how Thai people say good morning to each other at different times of the day, below are both the formal and informal phrases you’ll come across either in book, classes or other websites.  Be sure to read to the end as that’s where the most common phrases are.

good morning in thai

How to Say Good Morning in Thai

Formal Thai for “Good Morning” Part 1: (What Thai language books and other websites tell you to say…)

—- Examples:

  1. อรุณสวัสดิ์ (ah-roon-sa-wat) Good morning
  2. สวัสดีตอนเช้า (sa-wat-dee ttawn-chao) Good morning

*Disclaimer: We mention these phrases, because it’s the only way to rank this page high enough on Google that you will ever see it, but I will stress that Thai people don’t say these 2 phrases and neither should you.  Except, perhaps to be silly.  If you use it (especially ah-roon-sa-wat), you will probably get a laugh or a smile so there may be some value in learning these 2 Thai phrases  just to get a reaction out of people.

Google is getting better at recognizing what’s actually used as opposed to what the top websites might tell you.

google translate search of "good morning" in thai

Don’t use SA-WAT-DEE-TAWN-CHAO

Formal Thai for “Good Morning” Part 2: (What Thai people REALLY say)

—- Examples:

  1. สวัสดี ครับ/ ค่ะ (sawat-dee + khrap/kha) – Hello + (male/female polite particle)
  2. ทานข้าวรึยัง (taan khaao rue yang) – Have you eaten yet?*

* ทาน (taan) is a slightly more polite/formal word for “to eat” in Thai.  If you frequent the same restaurant or cafe, as the staff  start getting to know you, they may use this word for a time instead of กิน (kin) which also means “to eat.”   Using ทาน (taan) instead of กิน (kin) is more formal/polite and maintains a level of distance from the person being spoken to.

Informal Thai for “Good Morning” (What you should use with your friends)

  1. หวัดดี ครับ/ ค่ะ (wat-dee + khrap/kha) – Hi
  2. กินข้าวรึยัง (kin khaao rue yanng?) – Have you eaten yet?*

You’ll use *” กิน (kin) – to eat” most of the time when speaking with friends or colleagues.

Want to Know More Thai Greetings and Basic Phrases?

To learn all about the best Thai greetings to use in every situation, check out our “How to Say Hello in Thai” post.  In that post, you’ll find the 2 most useful phrases in the Thai language so don’t miss out.

Want to learn to speak and read Thai language?  Check out my Thai foundation online course here or sign up below to try some free lessons from the program.

 

How to Practice Tones

How to Practice Thai Tones: A Beginner’s Guide

Thai tones can seem intimidating at first. But with the right practice methods, you can master them!

Here’s an easy way for beginners to practice tones in Thai.

🎥 Video Guide: Tone Practice Method

Watch this simple technique that makes tone practice much easier:

🎵 Why Tones Matter in Thai

Thai is a tonal language. This means the pitch of your voice changes the meaning of words.

For example:

  • มา (maa) with mid tone = come
  • หมา (mǎa) with rising tone = dog
  • ม้า (máa) with high tone = horse

Getting the wrong tone can completely change what you’re trying to say!

🎯 The 5 Thai Tones

Thai has five distinct tones:

  1. Mid tone – Flat, neutral pitch
  2. Low tone – Starts mid, drops down
  3. Falling tone – Starts high, falls sharply
  4. High tone – High, flat pitch
  5. Rising tone – Starts low, rises up

📝 Practice Methods for Beginners

1. Start with Tone Pairs

Practice words that only differ by tone:

  • ใก glâi (falling) = near
  • ไก gai (mid) = chicken

2. Use Hand Gestures

Move your hand to match the tone direction:

  • Mid: Keep hand flat and level
  • Low: Start middle, drop down
  • Falling: Start high, drop sharply
  • High: Keep hand up high
  • Rising: Start low, go up

3. Practice with Minimal Pairs

Focus on words that sound similar but have different tones:

  • ข่าว (khàao) = news (falling tone)
  • ข้าว (khâao) = rice (falling tone)
  • เข้า (khâo) = to enter (falling tone)

4. Record Yourself

Use your phone to record yourself saying tone practice words. Then compare with native speakers.

5. Listen and Repeat

Find audio of native Thai speakers. Listen carefully to their tones. Then repeat immediately.

🚫 Common Tone Mistakes to Avoid

  • Don’t rush: Take time to get each tone right
  • Don’t ignore context: Some words change meaning completely with wrong tones
  • Don’t give up: Tones take time to master, even for native speakers
  • Don’t practice silently: You need to hear yourself speak

💡 Pro Tips for Tone Practice

  1. Practice daily: Even 10 minutes a day helps
  2. Start simple: Master basic words before moving to complex ones
  3. Use music: Sing Thai songs to practice tone patterns
  4. Find a practice partner: Thai native speakers can give immediate feedback
  5. Be patient: Tone mastery takes months, not days

📱 Helpful Apps and Tools

  • Forvo: Hear native pronunciation of Thai words
  • Google Translate: Has audio playback for tone reference
  • Anki: Create flashcards with audio for tone practice
  • YouTube: Lots of free Thai pronunciation videos

🎯 Practice Exercises

Exercise 1: Tone Recognition

Listen to Thai words and identify which tone you hear. Start with obvious examples.

Exercise 2: Tone Production

Say the same word with different tones. Record yourself and compare.

Exercise 3: Context Practice

Use tone words in simple sentences. This helps with natural flow.

📚 Next Steps

Once you’re comfortable with basic tones:

  • Learn tone rules for reading Thai
  • Practice with longer phrases and sentences
  • Study how tones change in connected speech
  • Work with a Thai teacher for personalized feedback

🔗 More Resources

I’ve been making lots of new videos lately. If you haven’t subscribed to my YouTube channel, consider doing so.

You can also like my Facebook page for updates.

I’ll be posting more content from recent filming sessions. When I put something up, it will be useful to you. Or at least funny in a Thai way!

Remember: Mastering Thai tones takes time and practice. But with consistent effort, you’ll get there. Good luck!

Master Thai Tones: Complete Guide + Chart

Your Complete Thai Tone Rules Chart (Free Download)

Get instant access to the chart thousands of students use to master Thai tones

📊 Your Thai Tone Rules Chart


Complete Thai Tone Rules Chart

👆 Right-click to save this chart to your device

🚀 Quick Start Guide

New to Thai tones? Here’s how to use this chart effectively:

Step 1: Learn the Consonant Classes

High Class (11 letters): ข ฃ ฉ ฐ ถ ผ ฝ ศ ษ ส ห

Mid Class (9 letters): ก จ ฎ ฏ ด ต บ ป อ

Low Class (24 letters): ค ฅ ฆ ง ช ซ ฌ ญ ฑ ฒ ณ ท ธ น พ ฟ ภ ม ย ร ล ว ฬ ฮ

Step 2: Identify Live vs Dead Syllables

Live syllables: End with long vowels or nasal sounds (ม, น, ง, ย, ว)

Dead syllables: End with short vowels or stop consonants (ก, ด, บ, ป, ต, ค)

Step 3: Apply the Rules

Use the chart to determine the tone based on:

  • Starting consonant class
  • Syllable type (live/dead)
  • Tone marks (if present)

💡 Pro Tips for Mastering Thai Tones

  • Start with mid-class consonants – they’re the most predictable
  • Practice with real words – not just individual syllables
  • Use the chart regularly – until the patterns become automatic
  • Focus on common words first – like numbers, colors, and everyday vocabulary

📚 Complete Thai Tone System Details

Ready to dive deeper? Here are the additional elements that make Thai tones work:

Essential Tone Components

  • Vowel Length Recognition: Distinguish between short and long vowels (อ vs อา, เอ vs เออ)
  • Consonant Clusters: Handle combinations like กร, ปร, ตร
  • Silent Letters: Recognize when consonants are silent (marked with การันต์ ์)
  • Tone Mark Exceptions: Know when tone markers override normal rules
  • Word Boundaries: Identify where one syllable ends and another begins

Common Challenges (And How to Overcome Them)

  • Memorizing consonant classes: Use mnemonics and practice daily
  • Vowel pattern recognition: Start with the most common patterns
  • Applying rules consistently: Practice with familiar words first

Ready to Take Your Thai to the Next Level?

This chart is just the beginning. While it shows you the rules, learning to apply them fluently takes practice and the right teaching method.

That’s why I created my step-by-step system that takes you from zero Thai reading ability to confident tone recognition in just 2 weeks.

What makes my course different:

  • Logical progression – Learn consonant classes in order of difficulty
  • Memory techniques – Proven methods to memorize consonants quickly
  • Daily practice system – Make tone recognition automatic
  • Real examples – Practice with actual Thai words you’ll use
  • Exception handling – Learn the most important exceptions first
  • Personal support – Get answers to your specific questions

Stop struggling with confusing explanations and random tutorials.

Get the complete system that actually works.

Get the Complete Course →
Learn More About the System →

Join thousands of students who’ve already mastered Thai reading with this proven system.

Remembering the Middle Class Consonants

I came up with this story the other day while making flashcards for one of my students.  Mnemonics are great.

In order for this mnemonic to work properly, you should try to imagine the story in your mind.  Pictures you make in your head are easier to remember than actual images.

To reinforce it you might make SRS cards to quiz you on the story.   Ex – Q – What pets does the middle class kid keep?  A ปลา ไก่ เต่า

There is a middle class kid (เด็ก) who likes to keep pets.

He has a fish (ปลา), a turtle (เต่า) and a chicken (ไก่).

Where does he keep these pets?  In his basin (อ่าง) of course.  (Actually try to imagine a big bucket with a chicken, a turtle and a fish swimming around inside it always bumping into each other)

He needs to feed the pets.  They eat leaves (ใบ ไม้).

Also, he needs to make sure they don’t get out so he keeps a big plate (จาน) on top of the อ่าง.

Yes, I left out the other 2 as they aren’t vital when you first start reading.  If you are solid on this story its easy to add in the other ones.