Everything, briefly
Frequently asked questions
A short, direct answer to each question below, with a link to the full guide where there's more to say.
Deciding to learn Thai
Should I learn Thai before visiting Thailand?
You don't need to — English covers tourist zones — but even 20–30 phrases visibly change how a trip feels: better food, fairer prices, warmer welcomes. Learn more →
Is Thai hard to learn for English speakers?
The grammar is genuinely easy — no conjugation, no plurals, no gender. The five tones and the script are the hard parts. Learn more →
How long does it take to learn Thai?
One to two weeks for a real traveler phrase set; months for conversation; longer for reading fluency. Depends which you mean. Learn more →
Can you learn Thai with Duolingo?
No — Duolingo has no Thai course for English speakers, and never has. Learn more →
Greetings and politeness
How do you say hello in Thai?
Sawasdee khrap (men) or sawasdee kha (women) — works any time of day, pairs naturally with a small wai. Learn more →
How do you say thank you in Thai?
Khob khun khrap (men) or khob khun kha (women); add maak for "thank you very much." Learn more →
What does krap and ka mean?
Polite particles added to the end of a sentence — khrap for male speakers, kha for female speakers. They mark politeness, not meaning. Learn more →
Food, markets and money
How do I order food in Thai?
Point and say "ao an-nee khrap/kha" — I'll have this one. No dish vocabulary required. Learn more →
How do I say "not spicy" in Thai?
"Mai phet na khrap/kha" — not spicy, please. Thai "not spicy" can still carry real heat, so be explicit for allergies. Learn more →
How do I bargain at Thai markets?
Ask the price ("thao-rai khrap/kha"), then counter with "phaeng pai" (too expensive) if needed — stay friendly throughout. Learn more →
What are the numbers 1-10 in Thai?
Neung, song, sam, see, ha, hok, jet, paet, gao, sip — no irregulars, learnable in an afternoon. Learn more →
Getting around and staying safe
What Thai phrases do I need for taxis?
"Poet mi-toe duai khrap/kha" — please use the meter — said the moment you get in, before any price talk. Learn more →
What are the emergency phrases in Thailand?
"Chuay duay" (help!), plus the real numbers: 191 police, 1669 ambulance, 1155 Tourist Police. Learn more →
Reading and tones
How many letters does the Thai alphabet have?
44 consonants and 15 vowel symbols, combining into around 32 vowel sounds. Learn more →
How many tones does Thai have?
Five: mid, low, falling, high, and rising. The same syllable means a different word depending on the tone. Learn more →
Using Thailo
Does Thailo work offline?
Yes — every lesson, review, and the full phrasebook work offline. Only AI-graded speaking practice needs a connection. Learn more →
How much does Thailo cost?
$9.99/month, $49.99/year, or $99.99 lifetime — every plan starts with a 7-day free trial. Learn more →
Do I have to learn to read Thai script?
No. Choose speak-first (romanization only) or read-too (adds the script) during onboarding — either way works. Learn more →
Still have a question?
Email us directly, or join the waitlist for launch access to Thailo on iOS.
Launching on iOS. One email when it's out — maybe two, if something's genuinely worth telling you.