Thai language and culture in Prague

50 YEARS of Thai-Czech official relations🎊

🤝 On March 15, 1974, Thailand and Czechoslovakia established diplomatic relations, although mutual cooperation had already taken place in the past

💼 On May 18, 1974, both countries signed a trade agreement, opening the door to mutual business relations

📈 Export from Thailand to Czechia has been on the rise: In 2022 it amounted to CZK 39 billion

✈️ Tens of thousands of tourists visit Thailand and Czechia each year

In Remembrance of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej
(Ráma IX. – 5. 12. 1927 – 13. 10. 2016)

– the Thai New Year is beginning. Let's have a glimpse of its main elements:
🌼 on the 1st day, people clean their homes and pour scented water onto Budda images
🌼 on the 2nd day (Wan Nao) one pays respecto to the parents who give blessing to their children
🌼 on the 3rd day (Wan Paywan) people visit local temples
But the famous element of Songkran is puring water 💦☂️ You can read about the origins here (also in other languages): https://www.officeholidays.com/holidays/thailand/songkran-festival

One of the most popular Thai festival is taking place today.
"Krathong" means a small vessel or basket and "loy" means to float. These are the best places to experience it:

Celebrating Loy Krathong in Thailand Loy Krathong is one of Thailand’s most beautiful and romantic festivals. Discover the origins of Loy Krathong and find out the best places to experience it.

💼 A job vacancy in Prague for Malay/Indonesian speakers with a Ph.D.!

Research Fellow in Malay World Studies, the Oriental Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic - Orientální ústav AV ČR GUI_DEFAULT_MODEL_DESCRIPTION_1

สวัสดีปีใหม่
/ Happy Thai New Year!
/ Šťastný thajský nový rok!💦

Songkran: Celebrating the Thai New Year Water Festival • Fan Club Thailand Visit Thailand during April and take part in Songkran, the amazing Thai New Year Water Festival. Read more about Songkran and find the best places to go.

𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙞 𝙜𝙧𝙚𝙚𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨: ไหว้
Wai (ไหว้ :wâay)
Wai is a unique and graceful manner used throughout Thailand.
The basic Wai is meant as a greeting: press your palms against each other gently with fingers stretched at the chest level. Slightly bow while saying ’sàwàtdii’.

Doing Wai also expresses ’thanking’, ’apologizing’, or saying ’goodbye’.

The gesture of Wai presents an extremely important part of social behavior among Thais who are very sensitive to their self-perceived standing in society.
Let’s do Wai!

𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙞 𝙜𝙧𝙚𝙚𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨 (𝙋𝙖𝙧𝙩 𝙄𝙄)
The greeting ‘sa-wàt-dii’ actually comes from the Sanskrit word ‘svasti’ which means something like “goodness, prosperity”.
When greeting people, ‘sa-wàt-dii’ literally means ‘I wish you have goodness and prosperity’. It was first used on January 22, 1943.
‘Sa-wàt-dii’ is not a naturally occurring phrase. Rather than saying ‘sa-wàt-dii’, Thai people generally greet each other by more personal greetings like:
– จะไปไหน (cà pay nǎy) – Where are you going?
– ไปไหนมา (pay nǎy maa) – Where are you coming from?
– กินข้าวหรือยัง ( kin khâaw rʉ́ yaŋ) – Have you eaten yet?
If two people haven’t met in quite a while, they may greet each other with
– สบายดีมั้ย (sabaay dii máy) – How are you?

Don’t be surprised, if you will be greeted in these personal ways 😊

𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙞 𝙜𝙧𝙚𝙚𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨 (𝙋𝙖𝙧𝙩 𝙄)
All-in-One phrase: สวัสดี (sa-wàt-dii)

Thai people generally greet each other with the word ‘สวัสดี’ (sa-wàt-dii) which means ‘Hello’.
This word is a multi-functional one, as it is used during the whole day from the morning until the evening. Unlike the Czech greeting ‘Dobrý den’, ‘sa-wàt-dii’ can also be used as a goodbye phrase when leaving.

Very often 'sa-wàt-dii' it is followed by the polite particles ‘khráp’ or ‘khâ’ according to the gender of the speaker:
– สวัสดี ครับ (sa-wàt-dii khráp) – Hello (male speaker)
– สวัสดี ค่ะ (sa-wàt-dii khâ) – Hello (female speaker).
Among friends, the short version ‘wàt-dii’ is sufficient for a greeting.

Further facts about Thai culture coming soon :)