Thais are very proud of their language. It is the carrier of the cultural and artistic heritage, and also a mark of Thailand's long-standing independence and sovereignty. There are 44 consonants, 32 vowels and five tones in Thai pronunciation, and a script which has its origins in India. However, English is now quite widely understood, particularly in Bangkok where it is almost the major commercial language. It is even difficult to give a precise rendering of Thai words in the western alphabet. Although, the tones, some vowels and consonant sounds have no English equivalent, but don't be completely discouraged. Here are some basic greetings and phrases for you to try. Hello (female speaker) sawasdee kaa How are you? sabai dee reu Fine thanks sabai dee Thank you kop koon Never mind mai pen rai I don't understand mai kao chai Do you understand? kao chai mai Where is the rest room? hong nam yoo tee nai How much does this cost? nee tao-rai What is this? nee arai