How to Say “Hi” in Thai (Male)

หวัดดีครับ
wàt-dee khrápmale speaker, casual
A man says หวัดดีครับ (wàt-dee khráp) for a casual "hi" in Thai. It is a clipped version of สวัสดี (sà-wàt-dee), and with close friends he can drop ครับ and say หวัดดี (wàt-dee). It is also called ว่าไง (wâa ngai).
Meaning: casual greeting (phrase)

Ways to say it

“hi” in Thai
Thai Romanization Note
หวัดดีครับ wàt-dee khráp male speaker, casual
หวัดดี wàt-dee friends
ว่าไง wâa ngai slang, what's up

ว่าไง (wâa ngai) means "what's up" and is only for people you know well.

Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?

With a boss, an older person or a stranger use the full สวัสดีครับ (sà-wàt-dee khráp). The short form can sound too casual.

How does it change in a sentence?

The particle ครับ (khráp) keeps a casual hi polite, and it is the male version.

Did you know?

  • The shortened หวัดดี (wàt-dee) loses its first syllable, a typical way casual Thai gets shorter.

Examples in context

  • หวัดดีครับ
    wàt-dee khráp
    Hi.
  • หวัดดี ว่าไง
    wàt-dee, wâa ngai
    Hi, what's up?

Example conversation

Boss meets his friend Ek in a coffee shop in Bangkok.

  1. Boss

    หวัดดี เอก
    wàt-dee èek
    Hi, Ek.
  2. Ek

    หวัดดีครับ พี่
    wàt-dee khráp phîi
    Hi, brother.
  3. Boss

    ว่าไง ช่วงนี้เป็นไงบ้าง
    wâa ngai, chûang níi bpen ngai bâang
    What's up, how have you been?
⭐Share⭐ to appreciate human effort 🙏
Walter Graeme
Walter GraemeHelp make this guide better. Spot a mistake, know another way to say it, or have an example from real life? Share it below.
guest
0 Comments
Newest
Oldest Most Voted
Scroll to Top