VEGAN AND VEGETARIAN IN CHIANG MAI - GUIDE

How do I say vegetarian in Thai?

 

In Thai language there is a seperate word for vegan and vegetarian just like in the west except there are a few differences in the exact meaning of each one. Being vegetarian is quite hard for Thais to understand and if you just say vegetarian, they might think that some chicken or fish sauce is still OK. However, seeing that you are a foriegner, and in a city like Chiang Mai, it should be quite clear.

 

The word for vegetarian is mangsawerat (มังสวิรัติ).

 

You might find it safer to simply say the word jey ( เจ ) as it is a short word, easy to remember and to copy down the only two Thai script letters that you will need. It is also easily recognisable and the sign for jey is all over Thailand and the term is widely used. Mangsawerat is not. Here is the sign for jey to look out for (almost always in red with a yellow background as shown here):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The only problem with jey is that their restrictions actually go further than vegan. They also do not eat things like onions, garlic or drink alcohol. The idea originates from a Buddhist belief that those things might tempt you into doing something that you are not supposed to do.

 

You might find it easier to just ask for the dish that you want with vegetables and no meat, dairy, etc. As I have before encountered the problem where they thought that I cannot eat the dish because there is garlic in the paste. However, this was not in Chiang Mai.

 

I think that almost every restaurant in Thailand will be able to serve you vegan food, even if it is only the one dish. 

 

Translations:

(Please note that kaa for a woman, and krab for a man, are polite particles that you should use to finish every sentence.)

 

I am vegan - chan gin jey kaa/krab - ฉันกินเจ ค่ะ/ครับ

I am vegetarian - chan gin mangsawerat kaa/krab - ฉันกินมังสวิรัติ ค่ะ/ครับ

I don't eat animal meat - mai gin nua sat kaa/krab - ฉันไม่กินเนื้อสัตว์ ค่ะ/ครับ

with just vegetables - sai pak yaang deaw kaa/krab - ใส่ผักอย่างเดียว ค่ะ/ครับ

fried mixed vegetables - pad pak ruam kaa/krab - ผัดผักรวม ค่ะ/ครับ  (the one dish you can find everywhere)

no fish sauce - mai sai naam bplaa kaa/krab -ไม่ใส่น้ำปลา ค่ะ/ครับ (important one, because they love fish sauce in Thailand)

 

Translated by Muak (โอรสา ปานประภากร)

 

I think you will just find the first one, gin jey, easiest to use.