How to say "excuse me" in Thai (with phonetics)
ขอโทษ
khɔ̌ɔ-thôot
Excuse me (also 'sorry')
When you are getting past someone or calling a waiter, this is the everyday way to say "excuse me" in Thai.
Tips
- Man: ขอโทษครับ khɔ̌ɔ-thôot khráp. Woman: ขอโทษค่ะ khɔ̌ɔ-thôot khâ. For getting past you can add ขอทางหน่อย khɔ̌ɔ thaang nɔ̀ɔi (let me through, please).
- Tones: khɔ̌ɔ rises (like a questioning 'huh?') and thôot falls (sharp, like a firm 'no!'). Don't flatten them, or it sounds like a different word.
- ขอโทษ also means 'sorry'. To call a waiter, say it a little louder with a smile, or use ขอโทษนะ khɔ̌ɔ-thôot ná to sound softer and friendlier.
Word by word
- ขอโทษ khɔ̌ɔ-thôot: excuse me / sorry (literally 'ask for pardon') (Works for both situations: say it as you squeeze past, or to get a waiter's attention. Add khráp (man) or khâ (woman) to be polite.)
Say it your own way
Type it half in English, half in Thai, spelled any way you like: Thinglish works out what you meant and gives you the Thai with tones and a native voice.
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Romanisation and tones are written by the Thinglish tutor. Generated 2026-10-24.