Basic Nouns

1. น้ำ

   Nám

   Water

   Usage

   The basic word for drinking water; works with a gesture

2. อาหาร

   A-hǎn

   Food

   Usage

   The general word to use when you are looking for something to eat

3. เงิน

   Ngoen

   Money

   Usage

   The basic word when talking about paying or changing money

4. ห้องน้ำ

   Hông nám

   Toilet

   Usage

   This single word is usually enough for someone to point the way

5. ทิชชู่

   Thít-chû

   Tissue

   Usage

   For asking for paper at an eatery or a public toilet

6. ยา

   Ya

   Medicine

   Usage

   The general word to lead with at a pharmacy

7. กระเป๋า

   Krà-pǎo

   Luggage

   Usage

   For storing, carrying, or collecting your bags

8. กุญแจ

   Kun-chae

   Key

   Usage

   At a hotel front desk when handing over or collecting a key

9. ตั๋ว

   Tǔa

   Ticket

   Usage

   Covers both travel tickets and entry tickets

10. พาสปอร์ต

    Phât-sa-pòt

    Passport

    Usage

    Comes up at check-in, money changers, and immigration

11. โทรศัพท์

    Tho-rá-sàp

    Phone

    Usage

    Used both for the device and for making a call

12. ที่ชาร์จ

    Thî chât

    Charger

    Usage

    When you want to borrow one at a hotel or café, or buy one

13. สถานี

    Sà-thǎ-ni

    Station

    Usage

    The most common landmark word when asking for directions

14. โรงพยาบาล

    Rong phá-ya-ban

    Hospital

    Usage

    The first word to say when you feel seriously unwell

15. ตำรวจ

    Tam-rùat

    Police

    Usage

    Who to ask for after a theft or an accident

16. ร้าน

    Rán

    Shop

    Usage

    The general word when asking where you can buy something

17. ห้อง

    Hông

    Room

    Usage

    For booking, changing, or checking availability at a hotel

18. ถนน

    Thà-nǒn

    Road

    Usage

    For asking the way, usually while showing a map

19. ครอบครัว

    Khrôp-khrua

    Family

    Usage

    Comes up constantly in introductions and small talk

20. ชื่อ

    Chûe

    Name

    Usage

    For confirming a booking or introducing yourself

21. หัว

    Hǔa

    Head

    Usage

    Point to this when reporting a headache or head injury

22. ตา

    Ta

    Eye

    Usage

    Use to report eye pain or problems

23. ฟัน

    Fan

    Tooth

    Usage

    Point to this when reporting a toothache

24. ลำคอ

    Lam-kho

    Throat

    Usage

    For throat pain specifically; use the separate word "คอ" for the neck generally

25. ท้อง

    Thóng

    Stomach/belly

    Usage

    Point to this when reporting stomach pain

26. หลัง

    Lǎng

    Back

    Usage

    Use to report back pain

27. เอว

    Eo

    Lower back/waist

    Usage

    For lower back/waist pain specifically; use "หลัง" for the back generally

28. ขา

    Khǎ

    Leg

    Usage

    Refers to the whole leg (thigh to ankle); for the foot specifically, Thai uses the separate word "เท้า"

29. มือ

    Mue

    Hand

    Usage

    Refers to the hand; for the arm, Thai uses the separate word "แขน"

30. หน้าอก

    Nâ-òk

    Chest

    Usage

    Neutral anatomical term for the chest, no sexual connotation

31. รถดับเพลิง

    Rót dàp phloeng

    Fire engine

    Usage

    "Rot" (wheeled vehicle) + "dap phloeng" (to put out a fire); use when calling the fire brigade

32. สถานกงสุล

    Sàthǎn kongsǔn

    Consulate

    Usage

    "Sathan" (place) + "kongsun" (consul); the embassy is the separate word "sathan thut"

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