Jingjok
Speaking to a monk
ní-mon
Monks have their own vocabulary. A monk calls himself อาตมา, calls you โยม, and answers เจริญพร where you would say ครับ or ค่ะ. You aren't expected to mirror this: polite Thai with ครับ/ค่ะ is right, plus หลวงพี่ for a younger monk or หลวงพ่อ for an older one. Three verbs are worth switching: นิมนต์ instead of เชิญ (invite, please go ahead), ถวาย instead of ให้ (give), and ฉัน instead of กิน (eat). Greet with นมัสการ and a high wai, and don't expect a wai back. Monks eat their last meal, เพล, before noon, so offer drinks rather than food in the afternoon. Women hand things over via the monk's cloth.
Try this today
Next time you pass a monk at a temple, try นมัสการครับ/ค่ะ with a wai.
The words that carry it
- อาตมาI (said by a monk)
- โยมyou (monk to layperson); lay supporter
- เจริญพรyes; polite particle (monks)
- นิมนต์to invite (a monk)
Learn this in “Royal and monastic vocabulary” →
Your first 90 days of Thai
Culture cards in Jingjok are tied to the words that carry them, each ending in one thing to try today.
- WEEKS 1–2 · SURVIVEGreet anyone, pay, and order food and 7-Eleven exactly how you like it.
- WEEKS 3–6 · SETTLE INGet around by taxi, Grab and skytrain, find anything, and handle your landlord.
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