If you're in Thailand and need medical help, knowing a few key phrases can make the difference between swift treatment and bureaucratic hell. Here's the bare minimum you need to know.
Basic Emergency Phrases
- ช่วยด้วย! /chûay dûay/ – Help!
- ฉันต้องการหมอ /chǎn dtông gaan mŏr/ – I need a doctor.
- รถพยาบาล /rót pá-yaa-baan/ – Ambulance.
- เจ็บมาก /jèp mâak/ – It hurts a lot.
Body Parts (Where It Hurts)
| Thai | IPA | English |
|---|---|---|
| หัว /hǔa/ | /hǔa/ | Head |
| ท้อง /tóng/ | /tóng/ | Stomach |
| แขน /kǎen/ | /kǎen/ | Arm |
| ขา /kǎa/ | /kǎa/ | Leg |
Critical Symptoms
เป็นลม /pen lom/
/pen lom/“Fainting”
Collapsing or losing consciousness. Say this if you feel dizzy or about to pass out.
หายใจไม่ออก /hǎai jai mâi òk/
/hǎai jai mâi òk/“Can't breathe”
Difficulty breathing. Use this if you're choking or having an asthma attack.
เลือดออก /lûeat òk/
/lûeat òk/“Bleeding”
Bleeding heavily. Point to the wound while saying this.
If you're allergic to anything, write it down in Thai beforehand. Don't rely on memory in an emergency.
Hospital Navigation
- ห้องฉุกเฉิน /hông chúk chəən/ – Emergency room.
- จ่ายยา /jàai yaa/ – Pharmacy.
- ฉันมีประกันสุขภาพ /chǎn mii bprà-gan sùk-khà-phâap/ – I have health insurance.
For more Thai phrases, check out 10 Thai Words That Don’t Exist in English.
Memorise these. Better yet, save them in your phone. You won't have time to Google when shit hits the fan.
