Does anybody know what the actual distinction is between the "K" and "H" sounding polite words (krap/hap kaa/haa)? Whenever a TG teaches me some Thai, she will invariably instruct me to use the "K" variant, but I have noticed that in casual polite conversation, TGs will typically use the "H" variant (Haa).

What is the actual difference? Is it because we are falangs that they tell us to use the more formal version? Would it be considered rude or low for me to use "hap" as a falang? Or is there some rule for who should get what?

krap and kaa is the right and only way to say it... not haa / hap.. haa in thai means = 5.....

This post has been edited by PE.GOB: Feb 13 2008, 12:38 AM

I've known plenty Thai girls (including my ex wife) who would say wadee haaaa when they would say hello a family member or a close friend.

I wouldnt use it myself, I would just stick to the norm for us westerners. I do abbreviate the sawadee part to just wadee though.

when you say the word kaa really fast then it starts to sound like haa.. but that it really means is kaa...

like when saying chai krap.. but when saying it really fast it sounds like chai hab..

i guess both ways would go then.. what ever works i guess...

My ex wife would say it slow and it seriously was "Wadee Haaa"

No K involved at all, heard that many times mate.

Yeah I agree - I can't be 100%, but I'm pretty sure there is a distinct word Haa vs Kaa. I hear this a lot of times, not just when someone is speaking quickly. Maybe its the same word but can be pronounced differently???

Panudate is correct. Although it is not heard very often Thais will use the polite particle "Ha" but it is only used amongst friends, never with strangers.

Another one often heard in the North of Thailand is "Jow" spoken by women i.e. Sawatdii Jow or Khoopkhun Jow. When I was learning Thai I used to love listening to the Northern girls say this.

learned something new in thai today thanks...

is just that i have always heard it use as kaa and krap...

and yes i have heard sawadee with out the sa too.. i just think its more polite to use the whole word as sawadee krap when speaking with an elder..

pattaya addicts - "you dont just learn about pussy, you learn about thai too"....

This post has been edited by PE.GOB: Feb 13 2008, 04:22 AM

I think what the OP (and others) is hearing is the careful/affected pronunciation of "kh" (aspirated initial "k") sounds by Thais, especially women. This sound is not otherwise found in Thai, and is a "guttural" sound way back in the throat, similar to German "ch" in "ach". It would make sense that you would hear this a) when they're greeting others in formal situations and b) when they're teaching you Thai words, since in both cases affectation and exaggeration is very likely.

As a non-native speaker you don't need to worry about producing this sound; just stick to the regular aspirated k or "kh" (as the "k" in English "kite" or the "c" in "cat" etc.).

There is a final particle "ha," but it wouldn't be used in a greeting, it's used to verify an assumption on the part of the speaker, and in such cases does replace "kha" or "khrap," most often used with "na" as in "na kha?" or "na khrap?" ("Oh, really?" "Is that so?" "You don't say?!") And then there's also "la" which functions in the same way.

Anyway, not expecting that guttural "kh" it's understandable one might hear it as a pure "h".

BTW, an alternate tag word in greetings used in replacement of "kha" or "khrap/khap" which you'll hear a lot is "jaa," as in "sawatdee jaa" or "watdee jaa". This is more familiar than "khap" or "khaa" and mainly used between friends and intimates, or to address social inferiors. It's also one of the most common ways that friends say "goodbye" to each other when talking on the telephone. "Jaa" is definitely more informal than "kha" or "khrap," but it's not so intimate/informal as to get you in trouble, though. Both men and women use it but it can sometimes sound slightly effeminate when spoken by men. At any rate, it's best to stick to "khrap" and "khap," you can't go wrong there.

ratchada

would this be one of the ways they use it.. " a rai haa ".. or "tom mai haa"?? in which case i dont think it would mean kaa or krap...... cause that would be the only way i could think they would use it..

example would be nice. please..

thank you OP for bringing this subject up.. very interesting...

when they say sawatdee haa arent they saying the work "meet" = หา

http://www.thai-language.com/id/134125

no, it does not mean meet when they say it like that...
there is a slightly different tone when they say "haa" as in meet...