Learn Thai Language in Thailand
The Wai, though used for several reasons, is more popularly used to express a hearty ‘welcome’ or ‘hello’. When Wai is used for the latter purpose, the greeter almost always smiles and says ‘Sawaddee’ while lowering the head slightly. The females execute a slight courtesy as well.
The Wai is also a sign of respect for an elder or a person of higher status irrespective of gender. Thus children with a good upbringing will wai his or her parents upon returning from school; an office boy would immediately wai his superior upon going into the boss’s room. He might not do it on a daily basis but he certainly would if the boss has important guests. It is a mark of protocol to show the boy respects his boss; a guest would wai his eldest host upon entering the house but a younger host would wai a visiting elder first.
