goodbye
ลาก่อนGoodbye in Thai — ลาก่อน (laa-gàwn), and What Thais Say Instead
The dictionary goodbye is ลาก่อน (laa-gàwn) — but Thais usually don't say it. Hear the real options: another สวัสดี, a warm เจอกัน, or honestly, "bye bye."
The dictionary goodbye in Thai is ลาก่อน (laa-gàwn) — and here's the secret: Thais mostly don't say it.
The rule everyone gets wrong: ลาก่อน is fairly formal — it carries a hint of finality, the goodbye for long partings, not for leaving the noodle shop. Day to day, Thais close with สวัสดี again (yes, hello and goodbye can be the same word — same smile, too), or with friends, เจอกัน (joe gan) — "see you!" ✎note
The beat: you'll also hear บ๊ายบาย — "bye bye," borrowed from English decades ago and now thoroughly Thai, complete with its own tones. Languages take souvenirs from each other; Thai took this one and made it cuter.
Greetings and goodbyes are lesson one — with real audio, in your browser, free: app.paithai.app.
Common questions
- How do you say goodbye in Thai?
- Formally, ลาก่อน (laa-gàwn) — but everyday partings use สวัสดี (the same word as hello) or เจอกัน (joe gan, "see you!") between friends.
- Do Thais say bye bye?
- Yes — บ๊ายบาย, borrowed from English, is common and completely natural in casual settings.
Learn ลาก่อน the way you’ll remember it — free, in your browser.
Real audio, gentle grading, no account. Your first lesson is about ninety seconds away.
Start a free lesson