» Ban : means house, place where people live. Associated to the word '"Moo", which means "group", you obtain "Moo Ban" which means village ( a group of houses) The "a" of ban sounds slightly like the "a" in the word "man".

» Bot : Center part of thaï temples. It is the sanctuary used for example for monks'ordination.

» Chedi : Type of religious construction (often circular) with a sharp-pointed roof. It may contain relics.

» Farang : Name given by Thaïs to westerners. In fact, this word should come from the french word "francais" which means french. Frenchs being the first westerner visitors of the thai kingdom, the word "francais" became with the thai accent, " Faran cé  then "farang" (thaïs are not able to pronounce the diphtong of two consonants (except Kl, Kr, Kw, Pl, Pr et Tr) : For example the word Stop would become  "setop" or Sprite "seprite").

» Isan : thaï word used to design the North-East of Thailand. Comes from a sanskrit word used in the past to design the Isana Kingdom, located between Cambodia and north-east of Thaïland. Isan is a relatively poor  region. Isan cooking is close to the Lao one.

» Khlong : thaï word meaning "canal".

» Koh : thaï word meaning island.

» Krung Thep : Bangkok in thaï language.

» Lap : Mince meat salad accomodated with mint, chilly and lemon grass. Isan specialty.

» Spirits'house : Small reproduction of a thaï temple, located in front of a building or house and where the "spirit" of the land, disturbed when contruction is going on, can relocate itself and live. Offertories allow building inhabitants to "cool down" spirits which will then allow them to live in peace.

» Menam : Thaï word meaning "river". Straight translation is "water mother".

» Muay Thai : Thaï boxing.

» Nam pla : Fish sauce. (thaï version of vietnamese nuoc mam). Pls note normally nam means "water"in thai.

» Nam prik : Chilly sauce.

» Nam tok : thaï word meaning "cascade". It is also an I-San dish meat based with mint and lemon grass, without of course forgetting chilly!!!It is in factthe non minced version non hachée of Lap. Straight translation of Nam tok is "falling water".

» Phra : Thaï word designing a monk or a buddha statue.

» Prang : Khmer style tower in temples.

» Rai : Surface thaï unit equivalent to1600 m2.

» Sala : Small covered terrace, typical from thaï architecture.

» Salapao : Meat balls, wrapped in white bread and steam cooked. Chinese specialty.

» Samlor : Straight translation "three wheels" in thaï. It is a tricycle taxi. They don't exist any more in Bangkok, and it is more and more difficult to find any even in the other parts of Thailand as they all have been replaced by tuk-tuk and motocabs.

» Sawatdee : Thaï word meaning Good morning and Good evening. Should always be followed by thai courtesy formula : krap if pronouced by a man, ka if prononced by a lady .Sawatdee krap.

» Soi : Thaï word meaning " narrow street" ending on a main street. Soïs are in général numbered. For example Sukhumvit Soï 4, is the 4th path on  Sukhumvit street. Even sois are located on a side of the main road and the odd ones on the opposite side of the road.

» Som tam : Spicy green papaya salad. Isan specialty.

» Songkhran : Thai new year. Takes place in april every year.

» Songthaew : Means " two rows" and designs pick-up cabs where 2 wooden benches are located behind perpendicularly to the driver cabin, on each side of the pick up.

» Suan : Thaï word meaning "park".

» TAT : (Tourism Authority of Thailand) - It is the thail tourist office. You find an office in most of touristic sites ;  There you can get hotels and guesthouses lists, site plan, infos about entertainment and tours of places to visit, as well as bus and trains timetables.

» Thanon : Thai word meaning alltogether street, road or avenue.

» Thep : Thai word for angels or gods.

» Tuk-tuk : Motor tricycle cab. Its name is due to the engine noise (2 stroke engine : tuk-tuk tuk-tuk). Very usual in Bangkok.

» Wai : Elegant courtesy type of salutation consisting in gathering your 2 joined hands towards your face. It is the way to welcome and honour you in Thailand.

» Wang : thai word meaning "palace".

» Wat : Buddhist temple. Comes from pali "avasa" which means "monk residence".

» Yam : Thai saled meat or fish based.