How to say hello in Thai

The tone on every syllable

Thai has five tones, and each syllable carries one. Here's the shape your voice makes on each part of สวัสดี. The dotted line is your normal speaking pitch.

Other ways to say it

สวัสดีครับ	sà-wàt-dii khráp said by a man	▶ Hear
สวัสดีค่ะ	sà-wàt-dii khâ said by a woman	▶ Hear

Getting it right

• sà and wàt are both low and short. Keep them down and don't stretch them.
• dii is mid and level. English speakers tend to lift the end like a friendly “hello?”, which turns it into the wrong tone.
• The ending particle has its own tone: khráp goes up (high), khâ comes down (falling).

When to use it

• สวัสดี works at any time of day, and for goodbye as well as hello.
• Add ครับ (khráp) if you're a man and ค่ะ (khâ) if you're a woman. It's what makes it polite, and it depends on who is speaking, not who you're talking to.
• It usually comes with a wai, palms together, when greeting someone older or in a more formal setting.

Check your tones

Reading the tone is one thing; saying it is another. In Ravela's Pronunciation Lab you say สวัสดี and see your pitch drawn over a native line, with notes on what to change. It's free to start, no card needed.

Practise สวัสดี free Try the no-signup tone test

Questions people ask

Is สวัสดี hello and goodbye?

Yes. สวัสดี (sà-wàt-dii) is used for both, at any time of day.

Do I say ครับ or ค่ะ?

It depends on who is speaking. Men end with ครับ (khráp), women with ค่ะ (khâ).

More Thai phrases

thank you · sorry / excuse me · how are you? · delicious · how much? · beautiful · no problem / never mind · yes / no · where's the toilet? · excuse me · I love you · good night · what's your name · I don't understand · where are you from · Khráp and khâ: the polite endings · for the bill

The audio is Ravela's reference voice. Romanisation follows Ravela's house style, with the tone marked on every syllable.