Sabai Thai

Chapter 34: Regional Dialects & Slang

Recognize common Isaan, Northern, and Southern dialect words, plus modern Thai slang you'll hear everywhere.

Upper intermediate 5 lessons · 26 words and phrases · 26 with audio

Every word in this chapter

บ่
b
no (Isaan)
อีหลี
i li
เว้า
wao
กะ
ka
Isaan for 'also / then' (standard ก็)
เฮ็ด
het
Isaan for 'to do' (standard ทำ)
ไปไสมา
pai sai ma
คักขนาด
khák khà-nàat
Isaan for 'a lot / very much' (standard: มากเลย)
เจ้า
chao
อู้
u
Northern for 'to speak' (standard พูด)
แอ่ว
aeo
กิ๋น
kin
Northern for 'to eat' (standard กิน)
ลำ
lam
Northern for 'delicious' (standard อร่อย)
ไปแอ่วกันบ่
pai aeo kan b
Northern for 'shall we go visit/hang out?'
ยะหยัง
yá-yǎng
Northern for 'doing what?' (standard: ทำอะไร)
แหลง
hae long
Southern for 'to speak' (standard พูด)
หรอย
ro y
Southern for 'delicious' (standard อร่อย)
ไหร
rǎi
Southern for 'what' (standard: อะไร)
แหลงไหรว่ะ
hae long hai r wa
Southern for 'what are you talking about?'
เท่
thêh
Cool (slang)
ปัง
pang
Amazing / on point (slang)
ชิล
chin
Chill / relaxed (slang, from English)
อิน
in
Into it / emotionally invested (slang, from English "in")
เมพ
me ph
Awesome (slang, from เทพ "deity")
วันนี้แต่งตัวปังมาก
wan ni taeng tua pang mak
Slang for "your outfit looks amazing today"
แซบ
saep
Delicious / attractive (originally Isaan, now mainstream slang)
บ่เป็นหยัง
bo bpen yǎng
bɔ̀ bpen yǎng
There is a culture note for this chapter too - the thing a phrasebook will not tell you.
Ja Jaa, a Sabai Thai companion

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