How to Say 'How Much?' in Thai (and Understand the Answer)

เท่าไหร่ thâo-rài — that is "how much?" and you can say it completely alone, pointing at the thing. The answer comes back as a number plus บาท bàat, baht.

At a restaurant, the phrase for the bill is เช็คบิล chék-bin. It is borrowed straight from English "check bill," which means your mouth already knows it.

The word that unlocks real prices: ráwy

Thai prices live in the hundreds, and the numbers one to ten alone can't say "five hundred." ร้อย ráwy is hundred, and you build the number by putting the digit in front of it — five, then ráwy. Once you have that, the vast majority of prices you hear in a market, a taxi or a guesthouse become readable.

thawn is said to you

ทอน thawn is your change, and it is on this list purely because you will hear it far more often than you say it. A cashier holding notes out to you saying thawn is telling you this is your change, not asking you a question. It is also what you'll hear when someone doesn't have any — which brings us to the real trap.

Why nobody wants your 1000-baht note

ATMs in Thailand hand out 1000-baht notes. Street vendors, motorbike taxis and small shops routinely cannot break one, especially in the morning before they've taken much money. This is not a scam and it is not rudeness — the float genuinely isn't there.

Break big notes early at a 7-Eleven or a supermarket and keep a pocket of twenties and hundreds. It removes more friction from a day in Thailand than any phrase on this page.

Can I pay by card?

Sometimes. บัตร bàt is card, เงินสด ngern-sòt is cash, and holding up your card with a questioning look is a complete sentence. Malls, chains and hotels take cards without a thought. Markets, small kitchens and anything with a plastic stool are cash. Assume cash, be pleased when it isn't.

Takeaways

• thâo-rài = how much. Say it alone while pointing.
• Prices come back as a number plus bàat.
• ráwy = hundred. Digit first, then ráwy — that's most real prices.
• chék-bin gets you the restaurant bill.
• thawn is change, and it's said to you. Carry small notes so it's never a problem.