สวัสดีครับ/ค่ะ

Meaning and Use

A polite and common greeting used at any time of day. It functions like 'Hello' or 'Good day' in English.

Speaker Style

The ending particle ครับ (krap) is used by male speakers, and ค่ะ (ka) is used by female speakers. It is important to use the correct particle to match your gender.

Pronunciation

sa-wat-dee krap / sa-wat-dee ka

• sa-wat-dee: The syllables are pronounced clearly.
• krap: The 'p' sound at the end is often very light or almost silent.
• ka: This is a short, falling tone.

Politeness Particles

ครับ (krap) and ค่ะ (ka) are polite particles that are essential for showing respect in Thai. They are added to the end of sentences, especially greetings and statements, to make them polite. Using them correctly indicates good manners and social awareness.

Notes

สวัสดีครับ/ค่ะ is a polite greeting. Use ครับ (krap) if you are male, ค่ะ (ka) if you are female.