Krap / Ka (Polite Particles)
Reviewed by the Samui Local Hub team ·
Pronunciation
krup / kah
Thai script
ครับ / ค่ะ
Meaning
Polite ending words: men say 'krap', women say 'ka'. Added to almost every sentence to sound respectful.
When to use it
End of nearly every sentence - sawasdee krap/ka, khop khun krap/ka, tao rai krap/ka.
Summary
Krap (male speaker) and ka (female speaker) are politeness particles, not words with meaning - they make everything you say courteous.
Details
Krap (male speaker) and ka (female speaker) are politeness particles, not words with meaning - they make everything you say courteous.
Local tips
- Your gender picks the particle: men=krap, women=ka
Frequently asked questions
When do I use krap vs ka?
It depends on the speaker's gender, not the listener's: male speakers end polite sentences with 'krap' (ครับ), female speakers with 'ka' (ค่ะ).
Sources
Plus local research.
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