ราคาเท่าไหร่คะ

Meaning

This phrase directly asks for the price of an item.

Usage and formality

This is a common and polite way to inquire about the cost of goods or services in Thailand. The particle 'คะ' (ka) at the end indicates that the speaker is female and is using a polite, slightly questioning tone suitable for most everyday interactions, such as shopping or dining.

Pronunciation

The pronunciation is approximately 'ra ka tao rai ka'. Pay attention to the tones: 'ra' is mid-tone, 'ka' is mid-tone, 'tao' is falling tone, 'rai' is mid-tone, and 'ka' is high tone.

Grammar

The structure is straightforward: 'ราคา' (ra ka) means 'price', 'เท่าไหร่' (tao rai) means 'how much', and 'คะ' (ka) is the polite particle for female speakers. Thai often omits subjects when they are understood from context, so this phrase implies 'What is the price?' or 'How much is it?'

Polite particles

The final particle 'คะ' (ka) is crucial. It marks the sentence as a question and signals politeness. It is exclusively used by female speakers. Male speakers would use 'ครับ' (krap). Using the correct particle is important for politeness and indicating speaker gender.