How to Say Sorry in Thai: Casual and Formal
Saying sorry in Thai has one core phrase, but the polite particle you add after it depends on whether you are male or female. Get that right and you sound respectful instantly. Here is the phrase, the particles, and how to use them.
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What's in this guide
The quick answer
The core phrase is ขอโทษ kho thot (kaw-TOHT). It means sorry and excuse me, so it covers apologizing, interrupting, and getting attention. On its own it is a bit bare, so Thais add a polite particle.
A male speaker adds ครับ khrap (krap), and a female speaker adds ค่ะ kha (kah). So you say ขอโทษครับ kho thot khrap (male) or ขอโทษค่ะ kho thot kha (female).
The polite particles khrap and kha
Thai politeness relies heavily on these ending particles. They do not translate to a word; they simply make speech polite and warm. A male speaker uses ครับ khrap, and a female speaker uses ค่ะ kha, and this holds for almost everything you say, not just apologies.
The particle depends on the speaker's own gender, not the listener's. Leaving it off is not wrong grammatically, but it can sound blunt or overly casual. Adding it is one of the easiest ways to sound polite in Thai.
Casual ways to say sorry
Among close friends, you can drop the particle and just say ขอโทษ kho thot, or soften it with the friendly particle นะ na: ขอโทษนะ kho thot na (sorry, okay?). The na makes it gentle and coaxing.
Even casually, many Thais keep khrap or kha out of habit because it sounds nicer. For a small slip with friends, kho thot or kho thot na is natural and relaxed.
Formal and sincere apologies
For politeness, always include ครับ or ค่ะ: ขอโทษครับ / ขอโทษค่ะ. To strengthen an apology, you can add จริงๆ jing jing (really): ขอโทษจริงๆ kho thot jing jing (I'm truly sorry), followed by your particle.
Thai communication also values a calm, respectful tone and often a small wai (the palms-together gesture) for a sincere apology. The words plus a gentle manner carry more weight than fancier vocabulary.
Thai sorry phrases at a glance
- ขอโทษ kho thot (kaw-TOHT) — sorry / excuse me (base phrase)
- ขอโทษครับ kho thot khrap (kaw-TOHT krap) — sorry, polite (male speaker)
- ขอโทษค่ะ kho thot kha (kaw-TOHT kah) — sorry, polite (female speaker)
- ขอโทษนะ kho thot na (kaw-TOHT na) — sorry, soft and friendly
- ขอโทษจริงๆ kho thot jing jing (kaw-TOHT jing jing) — I'm truly sorry
Always match the particle to your own gender: khrap for males, kha for females.
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Common mistakes learners make
First, do not swap the particles. A man says ครับ khrap and a woman says ค่ะ kha. Using the wrong one is a clear sign you are new to Thai, since the particle marks the speaker's gender.
Second, Thai is tonal, and โทษ thot has a specific tone. Getting the tone roughly right matters, though context usually carries you. Practice makes this feel natural rather than mechanical.
Third, do not skip the particle in polite settings. ขอโทษ alone can sound curt to a stranger, elder, or in service situations. Add khrap or kha to be safe.
How to respond to an apology
When someone apologizes, a common, gracious reply is ไม่เป็นไร mai pen rai (my pen rye), meaning it's okay / no worries, one of the most useful phrases in Thai. Add your particle: ไม่เป็นไรครับ or ไม่เป็นไรค่ะ.
This phrase captures a relaxed, forgiving attitude and comes up constantly. Learning it alongside kho thot means you can both apologize and accept an apology smoothly.
Make it automatic
Thai tones and the habit of adding khrap or kha only settle when you speak, not just read transliteration. Practice kho thot with your own particle until it comes out as one smooth, polite unit.
Try a few small scenes aloud: getting past someone, apologizing to a shopkeeper, saying sorry to a friend with the soft na. Add the right particle each time. Rehearsing these short exchanges out loud, even with an AI speaking partner, builds the reflex so the polite ending is automatic when it matters.
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Frequently asked questions
How do you say sorry in Thai?
The core phrase is kho thot, meaning sorry or excuse me. Add khrap if you are male or kha if you are female to sound polite: kho thot khrap or kho thot kha.
Why do I need to add khrap or kha?
These polite particles make Thai speech courteous and warm. A male speaker uses khrap and a female speaker uses kha, based on the speaker's own gender, not the listener's.
Can I just say kho thot by itself?
Among close friends, yes, or soften it with na as kho thot na. But in polite or formal settings, add khrap or kha, since kho thot alone can sound blunt.
How do I respond when someone apologizes in Thai?
Say mai pen rai, meaning it's okay or no worries, and add your particle: mai pen rai khrap or mai pen rai kha. It is one of the most common phrases in Thai.