“Hello” or “Hi” in the Thai language is Sawasdee kaa. I think this word is written in all Thai books even it is travel guide books.
สวัสดี（sa wàt dii ）＋ ครับ（kʰráp） or ค่ะ（kʰâʔ）
- ครับ（kʰráp）for male
- ค่ะ（kʰâʔ） for female
It is too famous word so probably someone who never travel to Thailand also know. And this is so useful expression.
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Contents
How to use Sawadee kap
In the Thai language, Hello/Hi ⇒ Sawadee kap / Sawadee kaa
This is true. Then what are the other meanings?
Sawadee as goodbye
When you check how to say “goodbye” in the Thai language, you will find this word.
laa koon ลาก่อน（laa kɔ̀ɔn）
Yes, this means also “goodbye”, but I rarely see Thai native speakers use it.
The detailed usage of ลาก่อน（laa kɔ̀ɔn）, please refer to the link below.
Don’t use “ลาก่อน laa koon” when you want to say “goodbye” in Thai language
Anyways, “Sawadee kap/ Sawadee kaa” can be used in the “goodbye” scene.
When you go back home from school or office, you can say “Sawadee kaa”. Also when you hang up the phone, you can use “Sawadee kap”
Sawasdee as Good Morning
Good morning ⇒ arun sawat อรุณสวัสดิ์（a run sa wàt）
Originally, “good morning” in Thailand is “arun sawat”. The native Thai speakers learn in the school and Thai kids sometimes use this word.
But “good morning” that normally used in Thai society is “Sawadee kap/Sawadee kaa”. Feeling like “Sawadee kap” is a normal greeting and “arun sawat” is like an elegant impression
arun อรุณ（a run） ⇒ dawn
Wat Arun Temple(วัดอรุณ), one of the most famous temples in Bangkok, means the Temple of Dawn.
Of course, you can use “Arun Sawat” as Good morning
Sawadee as Good Afternoon
Good afternoon ⇒ thiwaa sawat ทิวา สวัสดิ์ (tʰí waa sa wàt)
Maybe even you live in Thailand for a long time, you never heard this expression. I also never heard it. I feel this word is almost unused.
Good afternoon = Sawasdee สวัสดี (sa wàt dii)
It is the standard greeting in Thai language.
Sawadee kap สวัสดีครับ （sa wàt dii kʰráp） for men
Sawadee kaa สวัสดีค่ะ （sa wàt dii kʰâʔ） for women
It’s all right.
Sawadee as Good Evening
Good Evening ⇒ saayan sawat สายัณห์สวัสดิ์（sǎa yan sa wàt）
Maybe Thai people today hardly use this word, and I never heard it.
This “saayan sawat” is the basically “good evening” but you don’t need to remember this word I think.
Because “Sawadee” covers “Good Evening”, too.
The summary of Sawadee
This is originally Thai language expression.
Good morning ⇒ arun sawat อรุณสวัสดิ์（a run sa wàt）
Good afternoon ⇒ thiwaa sawat ทิวาสวัสดิ์（tʰí waa sa wàt）
Good evening ⇒ saayan sawat สายัณห์สวัสดิ์（sǎa yan sa wàt）
And this is the expression today.
Good morning ⇒ sawadee สวัสดี（sa wàt dii）
Good afternoon ⇒ sawadee สวัสดี（sa wàt dii）
Good evening ⇒ sawadee สวัสดี（sa wàt dii）
So simple and good for foreigners.
Don’t forget to use “kʰráp” for men or “kʰâʔ” for women to make sentences more polite.
Let’s use Sawadee kap/Sawadee kaa
Thai people respect the elders, so normally younger people say hello first, even it is not “sawadee” And if you say sawadee with Wai, maybe Thai people feel good.
Wai is a traditional greeting in Thailand.
Putting your hands together in front of your chest is Wai. But the height of the hands indicates the degree of respect.
When you say hello to your friends or coworkers, make your finger touch your chin. And make your finger touch the nose when you say hello to the elders.
It makes your “hello” more polite.
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Sawadee kap today
Thai people like to abbreviate words and Thai youngers make Sawadee short
Someone remove “Sa” and say wat dee วัสดี(wàt dii)
Furthermore, someone remove “wat”, then say just dii ดี（dii）
ดี（dii）means “good” in Thai.
It is not polite to use these short word to new friends or elders. just use to your friends.