ขอให้อร่อยนะ
khɔ̌ɔ-hây-a-rɔ̀y-ná
The Thai phrase for "happy eating" is ขอให้อร่อยนะ (khɔ̌ɔ-hây-a-rɔ̀y-ná).
This phrase is used as a friendly wish to someone who is about to start eating, similar to "Bon appétit".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
To make the phrase more polite or formal, use ทานให้อร่อยนะครับ/คะ (thaan-hây-a-rɔ̀y-ná-kráp/khá) instead of the casual version.
How do you pronounce it?
khɔ̌ɔ-hây-a-rɔ̀y-ná
Did you know?
- While English speakers use 'Bon appétit' to signal the start of a meal, in Thai culture, the person who starts eating first is often the elder or the person of highest status.
- While ขอให้อร่อยนะ is a kind wish, it is far more common in Thailand for the person who prepared the meal to simply invite others to eat using ทานด้วยกันนะครับ or 'please eat together'.
- Thai has several words for 'eat', and while ทาน is polite, using the common word กิน in this phrase can sometimes sound too blunt or overly intimate depending on the listener.
Examples in context
- ขอให้อร่อยนะkho hai a-roi naHappy eating.
- ทานมื้อเที่ยง ขอให้อร่อยนะthan mue thiang, kho hai a-roi naEnjoy your lunch, happy eating.
Example conversation
A colleague is leaving the office to go grab lunch.
- วิทวัส Witthawatไปกินข้าวแล้วนะpai kin khao laeo naI'm going to go eat now.
- ณิชา Nichaโอเค ขอให้อร่อยนะok, kho hai a-roi naOkay, happy eating.
- วิทวัส Witthawatขอบคุณครับkhop khun khrapThank you.
- ณิชา Nichaแล้วเจอกันตอนบ่ายlaeo choe kan ton baiSee you this afternoon.
