Adjectives

1. ใหญ่

   Yài

   Big

   Usage

   For talking about size — asking to change clothes or a room

2. เล็ก

   Lék

   Small

   Usage

   The opposite of big; learn the pair together

3. หนัก

   Nàk

   Heavy

   Usage

   For talking about the weight of your bags at check-in

4. เบา

   Bao

   Light (weight)

   Usage

   Light in weight — a different word from "bright" in most languages

   Grammar Note

   Light in weight. For bright use สว่าง (sa-wang)

5. แพง

   Phaeng

   Expensive

   Usage

   Say a price is high; it is the usual opening for haggling

6. ถูก

   Thùk

   Cheap

   Usage

   Cheap in price; also used to confirm the result of haggling

   Grammar Note

   Cheap in price; the same word also means "correct", so keep the context clear

7. ร้อน

   Rón

   Hot (to the touch)

   Usage

   For hot food, drinks, or water — not for hot weather

   Grammar Note

   For hot food or water. For hot weather say อากาศร้อน (a-kat ron)

8. เย็น

   Yen

   Cold (to the touch)

   Usage

   For cold drinks or water — not for cold weather

   Grammar Note

   For cold drinks and objects. Cold weather is หนาว (nao)

9. ใหม่

   Mài

   New

   Usage

   For checking whether an item is new

10. เก่า

    Kào

    Old (thing)

    Usage

    Old as in an object; do not use it about a person

    Grammar Note

    For old objects only; for an elderly person use สูงอายุ

11. หนุ่มสาว

    Nùm sǎo

    Young

    Usage

    For talking about a person's age

    Grammar Note

    Young people; หนุ่ม for a young man, สาว for a young woman

12. สูงอายุ

    Sǔng a-yú

    Old (person)

    Usage

    Elderly, said of a person — a different word from old (thing)

    Grammar Note

    The polite word for elderly; แก่ (kae) can sound blunt

13. สะอาด

    Sà-àt

    Clean

    Usage

    Used to describe or praise cleanliness, e.g. of a room or toilet

14. สกปรก

    Sòk-kà-pròk

    Dirty

    Usage

    To point out that a room or dish is dirty; say it gently

15. ดี

    Di

    Good

    Usage

    The basic word to praise quality or condition

16. ไม่ดี

    Mâi di

    Bad

    Usage

    To say quality or condition is not good

17. ใกล้

    Klâi (falling tone)

    Near

    Usage

    Near in distance — you will hear it in answers to directions

    Grammar Note

    ใกล้ (near) and ไกล (far) look and sound alike — ใกล้ is falling tone, ไกล is mid tone

18. ไกล

    Klai (mid tone)

    Far

    Usage

    Far in distance; helps you decide whether to walk or ride

    Grammar Note

    ไกล (far) is easily confused with ใกล้ (near); a gesture helps

19. เร็ว

    Reo

    Early

    Usage

    Early in time — in many languages a different word from fast in speed

    Grammar Note

    Early in time; it also covers fast in speed. Early in the morning is เช้า (chao)

20. สาย

    Sǎi

    Late

    Usage

    Late in time — in many languages a different word from slow in speed

    Grammar Note

    Late for a time. Slow in speed is ช้า (cha)

21. เยอะ

    Yóe

    Many

    Usage

    Many or much; useful for adjusting portions

22. น้อย

    Nói

    Few

    Usage

    Few or little; use it to ask for a smaller amount

23. อากาศร้อน

    A-kàt rón

    Hot (weather)

    Usage

    For hot weather or a hot room — not for hot objects

    Grammar Note

    The weather is hot. For a hot object just say ร้อน

24. หนาว

    Nǎo

    Cold (weather)

    Usage

    For cold weather or a cold room — not for cold objects

    Grammar Note

    Cold weather. Cold objects take เย็น (yen)

25. น่ารัก

    Nâ-rák

    Cute

    Usage

    A versatile compliment for people, animals, or things

26. เท่

    Tê

    Cool

    Usage

    Mainly used to compliment someone's or something's appearance

27. อร่อย

    À-ròi

    Delicious

    Usage

    The most common compliment to give during a meal

28. สุดยอด

    Sùt-yôt

    Amazing

    Usage

    Expresses surprise or admiration

29. สนุก

    Sà-nùk

    Fun

    Usage

    Used to share how enjoyable an experience was

30. เพิ่ม

    Phôem

    More

    Usage

    Use to ask for more food or drink

31. นิดเดียว

    Nít diao

    Just a little

    Usage

    Use to ask for the smallest possible amount

32. ครึ่งหนึ่ง

    Khrêung nùeng

    Half

    Usage

    Use to ask for half the amount or size

33. ทั้งหมด

    Tháng mòt

    All / Everything

    Usage

    Use to indicate "all of it" or "everything"

34. พอแล้ว

    Pho láeo

    That's enough

    Usage

    Use to decline more food, service, or a persistent offer

35. เดี๋ยวนี้

    Dǐao ní

    Right now

    Usage

    Use to convey urgency

36. คนเดียว

    Khon diao

    One person (alone)

    Usage

    Use to indicate party size when asked "how many people?"

37. สองคน

    Sǒng khon

    Two people

    Usage

    Use to indicate party size when asked "how many people?"

38. สามคน

    Sǎm khon

    Three people

    Usage

    Use to indicate party size when asked "how many people?"

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