Ways to say it
| Thai | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| ลาก่อน | laa-gɔ̀ɔn | /laː˧.kɔːn˨˩/ |
| สวัสดี | sà-wàt-dii | /sa˨˩.wat̚˨˩.diː˧/ |
While several ways exist to say goodbye, the choice depends on the intended permanence and the social context. In everyday Thai, the most common way to say both hello and goodbye is สวัสดี. However, if you want to specifically say goodbye in a way that implies a long or final separation, you use ลาก่อน.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase ลาก่อน is composed of ลา, which means to part or to leave and ก่อน, which means before or previously, functioning together as a way to say 'parting ways'.
Which one should you use?
สวัสดี is the standard, common word used for both greetings and farewells in casual or standard social situations. In contrast, ลาก่อน is a more formal and heavy term that often implies a permanent or long-term separation.
How do you pronounce it?
laa-gɔ̀ɔn
When do people say it?
When performing a greeting or farewell, it is traditional in Thailand to place your hands together in a prayer-like gesture known as a wai.
Did you know?
- The word สวัสดี was not always used for greetings. It was officially introduced in the 1930s as part of a national movement to modernize the Thai language.
- The traditional wai gesture that accompanies these phrases varies in height. The higher your hands are placed relative to your face, the more respect you are showing to the other person.
- The word สวัสดี is not just a greeting but a wish for 'well-being' or 'prosperity' derived from the Sanskrit word 'svasti'.
Examples in context
- ลาก่อน!Goodbye!This example shows how to use ลาก่อน to say goodbye.Tatoeba #7878404 by pastelite, translation #516745 by minshirui
- ลาก่อนนะเพื่อนla kon na phueanGoodbye, friend.
- เขาพูดว่าลาก่อนkhao phut wa la konHe said goodbye.
Example conversation
Kanokwan is leaving the airport to go home.
- กนกวรรณ Kanokwanฉันต้องไปแล้ว ลาก่อนนะธนกฤตchan tong pai laeo la kon na thanakritI have to go now, goodbye Thanakrit.
- ธนกฤต Thanakritลาก่อนครับ เดินทางปลอดภัยนะla kon khrap doen thang plod phai naGoodbye, have a safe trip.
- กนกวรรณ Kanokwanขอบคุณมากนะkhop khun mak naThank you very much.
- ธนกฤต Thanakritยินดีครับ ไว้เจอกันใหม่yin dee khrap wai joe kan maiYou're welcome, see you again.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “goodbye” translations and entries ลาก่อน, สวัสดี, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ลาก่อน, สวัสดี, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
