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Understanding Thai Language-Communication in Thailand

Matthew John

If you plan to stay in Thailand for any length, you will find it helpful to learn to read and write Thai; however, it isn't necessary; only learning to speak basic Thai for everyday purposes will suffice.

Understanding Thai Language-Communication in Thailand

Nowadays, most street signs are in English & Thai, and with Google translate + Google maps just a click away, you should never find yourself in a sticky situation like us old-timers used to!

The Thai alphabet can feel overwhelming; however, if you want to put in the effort and try to learn to read and write Thai, here's a quick rundown. The Thai alphabet is syllabic; words are represented by sounds, not ideograms, as in Chinese, and there are 44 consonants and 21 vowels in The Thai alphabet. However, the alphabet, initially created by King Ramkhamhaeng the Great, can be learned quickly with practice.

vowel symbols

Thai Language Structure

If that isn’t complex enough, vowels are not always placed after consonants, as in English. Vowels can be placed before, above, below, or on either side of a consonant.

Sentences are written in the same arrangement as English, from left to right; however, there are no gaps between words.

The Thai Language even has its own numerals. Sometimes, the Arabic (western) numerical system can be used to express dates; however, the government primarily uses its own system of numbers in all official documents.

A further complex aspect is that the Thai language is tonal. 

The Thai language has five tones:

  • Low - Spoken in a continuous or slightly falling lower pitch, beginning at a pitch lower than your typical vocal range.

  • Mid - Vocalized in a consistent pitch in your normal vocal range. Do not alter the pitch as the syllable is enunciated.

  • High - Vocalized at the top of your normal vocal range, delivering a somewhat stressed sound.

  • Rising - Increasing sound, as in a question delivered in English.

  • Falling - Beginning somewhat above comfortable speaking range, increase slightly before dropping under the offset point.

Another essential aspect of understanding the Thai language is using polite particles. Distinctive polite particles are used for male speakers and female speakers. For a male, the particle is “khrab”; for a female, “Kha.” These can be used at the end of a statement or question. For example, “Hello” is “Sa watdii khrab” for men and “Sa watdii Kha” for women.

When I first started out trying to speak Thai, more often than not, I had to resort to using hand gestures, and at times I had to stop trying to say the word in Thai and resort to English. However, I often found that spoken English wasn’t understood, and I had to write things down in English. Many Thai people can read English well because schools focus on grammar rather than listening and speaking. Sometimes writing what you are trying to convey verbally can result in success.

I didn’t focus on the language's tones, alphabet, or structure. I focused on building a vocabulary bank. I tried to memorize words and concentrated on the context of sentences. I exercised the theory of overall meaning (context) rather than accuracy (tones), which hasn’t failed me so far.

Learning Thai and putting in the effort will be helpful to you because English is a very complex and challenging language to learn, and it can be challenging for Thai people to speak English. Even though Thai students learn English for many years at school, the overall standard of English compared to other nations is statistically low.

Learning their language, customs, and traditions also respects the people and the nation. The well-known saying “When in Rome, do as Romans do” has always been at the forefront of my mind. It has driven me to continually try to learn and develop my Thai language ability.

The reasons for difficulty communicating are the vast differences between the pronunciation and structure of Thai and many Western languages. Not only because of the tonal aspect of the words but the actual construction of the language is very different.

For example, Thai nouns do not have plurals, pronouns may be eliminated, tense is not typically indicated, and the adjective-noun order is the opposite of English. 

If you see a perplexed expression on the face of the person you are addressing, try using more straightforward English. Try speaking slowly, not too slowly, and without intonation. Above all, remain cool, calm, and collected! Remember, things can be lost in translation!

Just as foreigners grapple with the pronunciation of Thai words, equally some Thai people often have trouble pronouncing English words. Thai people often separate consonants by inserting a vowel between them: smart becomes “semart.” Other times Thai people can drop a consonant: “excuse me” becomes “sku me.”

Some word endings are difficult for Thais. In words ending in “l,” the final consonant is often pronounced “n,” so you will hear “bin” for “bill.” Thai people often use the phrase “check bin” at a restaurant when asking for a bill.

There are a few other combinations that Thai people struggle with “sandwich” becomes “senwit,” and “Matthew” becomes “Matchew.”

So as you can see, there are many benefits to learning to communicate in Thai, even at a basic level. Thai people will welcome your effort and often show gratitude for trying to communicate in Thai. However, sometimes, they may chuckle at your pronunciation; nevertheless, don’t be dismayed; they have an impulsive response.

Also, learning the language will help with bargaining in shops and markets. Thailand is renowned for its bartering, and using the Thai language to barter will give you an advantage. Using only English in tourist areas is conceivable; nevertheless, if you go out of the tourist areas, you may find yourself amidst people who do not understand English.

Useful Thai Language

  1. Hello - Sa Watdii

  2. Good day - Sa Watdii

  3. Good morning - Sa Watdii dtaawn chaao

  4. Good evening - Sa Watdii dtaawn yen

  5. Good afternoon - Sa Watdii dtaawn baai

  6. Good night - Ra-trii sawat

  7. Thank you - Kob Khun

  8. No, thank you - Mai bpen rai

  9. Excuse me - Kaw tawt

  10. Yes - Chai

  11. No - Mai

  12. How are you? - Sabai dii mai?

  13. I am fine - Sabai dii

  14. Airport - Sanaam bin

  15. Not spicy - Mai pet

  16. How much? - Thao rai?

  17. Beer - Bia

  18. Water - Naam

  19. Coffee - Gaffee

  20. Tea - Cha

  21. Iced Coffee - Gaffee Yen

  22. Where is the bathroom? - Hong naam yuu tii nai?

Pronouns

  1. I, me (female) - Chan

  2. I, me (male) - Pom

  3. You - Khun

  4. He/she - Kao

Thai numbers

  1. One - Nung

  2. Two - Soong

  3. Three - Saam

  4. Four - Sii

  5. Five - Haa

  6. Six - Hok

  7. Seven - Jet

  8. Eight - Bpeet

  9. Nine - Gaoo

  10. Ten - Sip

  11. Twenty - Yee-Sip

  12. Fifty - Haa-Sip

  13. One hundred - Nung rooi

  14. One thousand - Nung pan

Telling the time in the Thai Language

The way Thai people refer to time can be confusing to a foreigner. A day is divided into seven parts:

Telling the time in the Thai language-The 1st part of the day is 01:00 am - 05:00 am

  1. 01:00 am - Tee Nung

  2. 02:00 am - Tee Soong

  3. 03:00 am - Tee Saam

  4. 04:00 am - Tee Sii

  5. 05:00 am - Tee Haa

Telling the time in the Thai language-The 2nd part of the day is 06:00 am - 11:00 am

  1. 06:00 am - Hok Mong Chau

  2. 07:00 am - Mong Chau

  3. 08:00 am - Soong Mong Chau

  4. 09:00 am - Saam Mong Chau

  5. 10:00 am - Sii Mong Chau

  6. 11:00 am - Haa Mong Chau

Telling the time in the Thai language-The 3rd part of the day is noon

  1. 12:00- Noon - Tian Wan

Telling the time in the Thai language-The 4th part of the day is 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm

  1. 1:00 pm - Bai Mong

  2. 2:00 pm - Bai Soong

  3. 3:00 pm - Bai Saam

Telling the time in the Thai language-The 5th, part of the day is 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm

  1. 4:00 pm - Sii Mong Yen

  2. 5:00 pm - Haa Mong Yen

  3. 6:00 pm - Hok Mong Yen

Telling the time in the Thai language-The 6th part of the day is 7:00 pm - 11:00 pm

  1. 7:00 pm - Nung Tum

  2. 8:00 pm - Soong Tum

  3. 9:00 pm - Saam Tum

  4. 10:00 pm - Sii Tum

  5. 11:00 pm - Haa Tum

Telling the time in the Thai language-The 7th part of the day is midnight

  1. 00:00-Midnight - Tian Kern

Telling the time in the Thai language-Minutes

Minutes (natee) are put after the hour, so ten past midnight is Tian Kern sip natee.

Time in the Thai language is a complicated aspect to grasp; if you are setting the time for a taxi or a meeting, ensure you know precisely what time is being referred to.

Addressing People in Thailand

When greeting people, the safest way is to precede their name with Khun, which means Mr, Mrs, Ms, or Miss. So you would address Kanjani Chotusk as Khun Kanjani. Also, Thai people may call you by your first name in English- Mr Matthew- rather than using your surname. This is especially true in schools; students will always call you Mr, Mrs, or Miss + (first name) or Teacher + (first name).

Communicating in Thailand-Conclusion

This blog post aims to help you comprehend the complexities of communicating in Thailand. However, I also want to equip you with a list of proper behaviour. This list highlights the more pre-eminent features of Thai etiquette. Following these Dos & Don’ts will ensure your associations with Thai people remain trouble-free and friendly and complement your attempts at communication.

Communicating in Thailand-When in Thailand Do

  1. Avoid close contact.

  2. Be polite and respectful.

  3. Dress smartly & conservatively.

  4. Flatter and compliment people.

  5. Keep your cool at all times.

  6. Show respect for monks and the Royal Family.

  7. Smile and be patient.

  8. Speak gently and clearly.

  9. Take off your shoes when entering a house, temple, or some shops.

  10. Use first names preceded by Khun.

  11. Respect the national anthem and always stand to attention when observing it.

  12. Always greet Thai people for the first time in the day with a traditional Thai Wai.

Communicating in Thailand-When in Thailand Don’t

  1. Don’t be sarcastic

  2. Don’t whine or scrutinize

  3. Don’t cross your legs with the bottom of your foot showing

  4. Don’t gesture avidly

  5. Don’t get annoyed

  6. Don’t point at people

  7. Don’t point with your feet

  8. Don’t shout

  9. Don’t touch people’s heads

  10. Respect the chain of command in your workplace

  11. Don’t involve yourself in conversations about the Royal Family or politics

Relevant

  1. Go to https://kidsenglishthailand.org/blog/the-complete-guide-to-the-thai-alphabet to read a detailed guide to the Thai language, the Thai alphabet, and some useful Thai words and numbers.

  2. Go to kidsenglishthailand.org/blog/the-thai-school-calendar to read about the school year in Thailand and the Thai school calendar.

  3. Go to kidsenglishthailand.org/blog/emergency-numbers-in-thailand to read about what to do and who to contact in an emergency situation in Thailand.

  4. Go to https://kidsenglishthailand.org/blog/the-complete-guide-to-the-thai-alphabet to read a detailed guide to the Thai language and the Thai Alphabet.

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