How to Give a Compliment in Thai

Kind words that open doors

Thai people love a genuine compliment, and a few simple ones will make you friends fast. The classics are suay (สวย) for beautiful, law (หล่อ) for handsome, and naa-rak (น่ารัก) for cute or lovely.

You can aim them at a person, an outfit, a view or a meal, and they always land warmly. Add the polite ending kha or khrap and a smile, and you sound both friendly and courteous.

Compliments are one of the quickest and friendliest ways to build rapport in Thailand. This short Thai reel runs through the everyday ones so you can spread a little kindness wherever you go in Phuket.