Language Guide

There has been so much discussion over this issue that someone could have written a book about it by now. Even Thai people seem to have different understandings of the word ‘jey’ which supposedly means vegan. Although ‘jey’ is widely understood you might want to back it up with saying what you don’t eat.

In Thai language there is a separate word for vegan and vegetarian just like in English 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 foreigner, and in a city like Chiang Mai, it should be quite clear.

The word for vegetarian is mangsawerat (มังสวิรัติ). The word for vegan is jey (เจ). You can download a printable copy of my business card with these translations to take around with you here.

Make sure you always say jey 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):

One 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 Chinese-Taoist belief that those things are pungent in flavour and/or might tempt you into doing something that you are not supposed to do.

Another problem is that the understanding of this word has now become tainted as I have heard many reports of people asking for jey food and being served eggs or dairy. The server genuinely misunderstood. For this reason, it’s probably easier to say just ask for the dish that you want with vegetables and no meat, dairy, etc as well as saying jay, mangsawerat, or both.

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)