ราตรีสวัสดิ์
raa-dtrii-sà-wàt/raː˧.triː˧.sa˨˩.wat̚˨˩/
The English phrase "goodnight" is translated into Thai as ราตรีสวัสดิ์ (raa-dtrii-sà-wàt).
ราตรีสวัสดิ์ is used to say goodbye to someone who is going to bed or leaving late at night. In casual daily life, however, Thai speakers are much more likely to use the phrase ฝันดี (dream well) to wish someone sweet dreams.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase ราตรีสวัสดิ์ is composed of ราตรี, meaning night or nighttime and สวัสดิ์, meaning well-being or prosperity.
Which one should you use?
While ราตรีสวัสดิ์ is the standard translation for a formal goodbye at night, the informal phrase ฝันดีนะ is often used to sound softer and more affectionate when speaking to friends or partners.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
ราตรีสวัสดิ์ is highly formal and is more commonly found in literature, formal broadcasts or scripted media rather than in daily casual conversation. For everyday situations, use the informal ฝันดี.
How do you pronounce it?
raa-dtrii-sà-wàt
When do people say it?
When wishing someone a good night in a casual setting, speakers often use ฝันดี or the more affectionate ฝันดีนะ instead of the formal ราตรีสวัสดิ์.
Did you know?
- ราตรีสวัสดิ์ is a calque, meaning it was intentionally created to mirror the structure of the English phrase 'good night' or similar European greetings during a period of modernization.
- In Thailand, saying ฝันดี to someone you are not dating can sometimes be interpreted as a flirtatious signal depending on the tone and closeness of the relationship.
- The word สวัสดิ์ in ราตรีสวัสดิ์ is the same root used in the common Thai greeting สวัสดี (sawatdee), meaning 'hello'.
Examples in context
- ราตรีสวัสดิ์Goodnight.This example shows the use of ราตรีสวัสดิ์.Tatoeba #8676109 by pastelite, translation #7822164 by sharris123
- ราตรีสวัสดิ์ครับคุณแม่ra-tri-sa-wat khrap khun maeGoodnight, mother.
- หลับฝันดี ราตรีสวัสดิ์นะlap fan di ra-tri-sa-wat naSleep well, goodnight.
Example conversation
A couple is saying goodnight before sleeping.
- ชลสิทธิ์ Cholasitผมง่วงแล้ว ราตรีสวัสดิ์ครับกนกวรรณphom nguang laeo rātrī sawat khrap kanokwanI'm sleepy now. Goodnight, Kanokwan.
- กนกวรรณ Kanokwanราตรีสวัสดิ์ค่ะชลสิทธิ์rātrī sawat kha chonsitGoodnight, Chonsit.
- ชลสิทธิ์ Cholasitฝันดีนะครับfan di na khrapSweet dreams.
- กนกวรรณ Kanokwanฝันดีเช่นกันค่ะfan di chen kan khaSweet dreams to you too.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry ราตรีสวัสดิ์, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
