Thailand has a special place in our hearts. We lived there for more than ten years and loved every moment — the beaches, the culture, the people, the ease of getting around, and of course, the food!
Why a Thai Language Guide Helps Vegan Travelers
For vegan travelers, Thailand can feel like paradise. There are plenty of vegan restaurants (with new ones opening all the time), and many Thais understand veganism thanks to a sect of Thai Buddhism that follows a vegan diet. Because most Thai men — and many women — spend some time as monks, almost everyone knows what vegan means. This makes traveling as a vegan in Thailand much easier than in many other countries.
English is widely spoken in Thailand, especially by younger people and in cities. But in restaurants and hotels, unusual requests can sometimes cause confusion. That’s when a Thai language guide comes in handy. Being able to point to a phrase or say it clearly can make a huge difference when you want to “veganize” a dish.
About This Vegan Thai Language Guide
We love this Thai language guide because:
- It was created and checked by native Thai speakers (not just Google Translate).
- It includes polite greetings and general phrases, which are essential in Thai culture.
- It explains what vegan really means, and even lets you thank the chef — showing respect is highly valued in Thailand.
- It has phrases to help reduce waste, like saying no to straws or plastic bags.
- It includes Thai script and phonetics. Thai is a tonal language, so if pronunciation fails, you can simply show the written text.
- It even covers emergencies, though we hope you’ll never need those phrases!
Useful Thai Phrases for Vegan Travelers (Updated 2025)
Here are some easy Thai phrases you can use on your vegan travels. Use them in restaurants, shops, and markets — or show the written text if you’re not understood.
General
- Hello! – Sawadee (สวัสดี)
- How are you? – Sabaaidii mai? (สบายดีไหม)
- Goodbye! – La gawn (ลาก่อน)
Vegan & Dining
- I am vegan. I don’t eat meat, fish, eggs, milk, or products made from milk. – Chan pen mungsawirat… (ฉันเป็นมังสะวิรัติ …)
- Does this food contain meat, fish, eggs, or dairy? – Aahaan nee sai nuea sat… (อาหารนี้ใส่เนื้อ … ไหม)
- I can’t eat meat. – Chan mai kin nuea sat (ฉันไม่กินเนื้อสัตว์)
- Please no broth made from meat or fish. – Mai ao soup tee tam ma jak nuea sat rue plaa (ไมเอาน้ำซุป …)
- Meat – Nuea sat (เนื้อสัตว์)
- Fish – Plaa (ปลา)
- Pork – Muu (หมู)
- Chicken – Kai (ไก่)
- Beef – Nuea wua (เนื้อวัว)
- Egg – Khai (ไข่)
- Seafood – Aahaan thalay (อาหารทะเล)
- Cow’s milk – Nom wua (นมวัว)
- Cheese – Chiit (ชีส)
- Yogurt – Yohkert (โยเกิร์ต)
- Shrimp paste – Kapi (กะปิ)
- Oyster sauce – Naam man hooy (น้ำมันหอย)
- Is there shrimp paste in the curry? – Kreng kang sai kapi mai (เครื่องแกงใส่กะปิไหม)
- Tofu – Tao huu (เต้าหู้)
- Soy milk – Naam tao huu (นมถั่วเหลือง)
- Vegetables – Phak (ผัก)
- Without ____ / With ____ – Mai aw ____ / Aw ____ (ไม่เอา / เอา)
- Can I have this instead of that? – Tantee ja aw kho… (แทนที่จะเอา…)
- Please tell me if I order something that isn’t vegan. – Prod bork chan duay… (โปรดบอกฉันด้วย…)
- Can you suggest a vegan option? – Nanum rai karn aharn… (แนะนำรายการอาหาร…)
- No fish sauce. – Mai ao nam pla (ไม่เอาน้ำปลา)
- I eat vegan. – Chan gin jay (ฉันกินเจ)
- Can you check with the chef if this is vegan? – Chuay tham chef dai mai… (ช่วยถามเชฟได้มั้ย…)
- Can you make this dish vegan? – Tham pen jay dai mai (ทำเป็นเจได้ไหม)
- Please fry in oil, not butter. – Chuai phat nai nam man mai chai neuy (ช่วยผัดในน้ำมันไม่ใช่เนย)
- Thank you for accommodating me. – Khob khun mak kha… (ขอบคุณมากค่ะ …)
- Does this have leather, silk, or wool? – Mee suan pasom chak… (มีส่วนผสมจาก…)
Zero Waste
- No plastic bag, please! – Mai aw tung plastic (ไม่เอาถุงพลาสติก)
- No straw, please! – Mai aw lord ka/krub (ไม่เอาหลอดค่ะ/ครับ)
- I really don’t want a straw. – Mai aw lord naka/nakrub (ไม่เอาหลอดนะคะ/ครับ)
Emergency
- Please call an ambulance! – Chuai reak rod payaban… (ช่วยโทรเรียกรถพยาบาล…)
- I need someone who speaks English. – Chan tong kan kon tee pood pasa angkrit dai… (ฉันต้องการคนที่พูดภาษาอังกฤษ…)
- Please send an ambulance with a doctor if possible. – Ta pen pai dai… (ถ้าเป็นไป…)
Join Us on a Future Trip to Thailand
Thailand is one of our most loved destinations at World Vegan Travel. We regularly run small-group vegan trips there, with fully vegan meals, unique cultural experiences, and the chance to connect with other like-minded travelers.
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