Learning Thai at home is possible, but it is less effective than learning with a tutor at a language school. Online courses and language apps have everything you need to learn Thai by yourself. However, it requires determination and dedication. Getting to an advanced level can take more time outside of the classroom.

Of course, there are thousands of online classes and apps to choose from. And you might be unsure which one is the best for you. Read on to find out how to tackle these courses effectively.

Can you learn Thai by yourself?

Short answer: yes, you can learn to speak, read, and write Thai yourself. It is now the 21st century. And there are hundreds of ways you can master the Thai language without taking a step out your door.

Of course, the recommended approach is to take an online course.

Even though taking a course is technically not self-learning (since you study with a form of “teacher”), you still can learn anywhere, any time. And some don’t even require you to pay anything.

You can access systematic Thai learning processes and assessment tools in one package through an online course. You don’t have to waste time finding where you should start or where to go next. Just go through the material. Eventually, you will get to your goal.

Some courses let you consult with native Thais or expert linguists who help you overcome obstacles. This feature is arguably the most valuable. Why? Because having a reliable source to answer your questions is crucial for acquiring a language. 

For example, you found a grammar point that made no sense and tried to look things up on the internet. However, what you read only made things more confusing. In this case, consulting experts would be more efficient.

Another advantage of an online course is the certificate. And you can use the document to apply for jobs — or to brag. Moreover, you can use language learning apps along with the course to enhance your progress.

Of course, the apps might not be as extensive as the courses. But they can still help you. Whether it’s vocabulary, grammar, or even speaking, — today’s language apps cover most things you need.

How to choose a ‘self-learning’ Thai course

During the process of choosing a Thai course, you should ask yourself the following 3 questions:

1. What’s my goal?

At the end of the day, your goal decides everything.

If your goal is only to converse with a Thai friend, you don’t need a super-deep course that requires hundreds of hours. A speaking-focus one would suffice.

However, If you want to work in Thailand, you might want to choose a long in-depth course. The working environment requires specific language use. So, choose one that can equip you with the industry’s phrases, idioms, and vocabularies.

2. What’s my current level?

Many have fallen into the trap of “learning what you already know.”

If you’re half Thai and can speak the language but don’t know how to write, don’t waste your time with speaking sessions. Choose a class that focuses on reading and writing.

But if you are a beginner who doesn’t know what “Sawasdee” is, start with the basics. Don’t skip beginner content. Even though they sound boring, they are crucial to your Thai language acquisition.

3. What’s my Budget and time limit?

No matter how ambitious you are, your resources will still limit you.

In terms of money, ensure that the course you pick won’t ruin your bank account.

However, this might beg the question: “Can you learn Thai completely for free?”

Of course, you can learn Thai for free — but only at a beginner level. With how most online courses work, mastering a new language without paying a dime is almost impossible.

Most free content you see on the internet won’t get you far. If you aspire to advance Thai, you should prepare a suitable budget.

Money aside, you must also know how much time you have.

In general, longer courses are better. You will get more in-depth content and more exercise to play around with. However, that’s not always the case. Why? Because your circumstance might not fit such courses.

For example, if the course takes a hundred hours and you need to go to Thailand next week, it might be better to pick a quick conversation course.

Best online courses and apps to learn Thai by yourself

Now, you might be itching to know which course you should take.

How to learn Thai for free

It will be hard to find a free practical course online. Duolingo, unfortunately, doesn’t cover Thai — as of 2023. But there are still decent ones to get started on.

1. Lingo Polo

This is arguably the most intensive you can get for a free course.

With Lingo Polo, you can access tons of audio files to learn vocabulary and phrases. And these files have more than just beginner words and idioms.

The great thing about Lingo Polo is that the exercise can be challenging. You can really test out your skills and improve your lexicon with this course.

However, it might be a bit confusing for some learners since the course is in blogging style. So, you need to be aware of that.

2. Live Lingua

This website offers you lots of material to go through. There are 12 courses with 137 e-books and 263 audio files — all free.

The unique thing about Live Lingua is the Thai dialects sections. Even some paid courses don’t cover as much.

However, the course is a bit old school. The font and format of the e-book are… hard to read. And the audio file quality is not ideal.

And if you don’t like reading a lengthy text, this might not be your best choice. As mentioned, there are tons of materials. It will take a long time to finish the whole thing.

3. Everyday-Thai

Looking for a free way to develop your ear for Thai tones? This is it. Everyday-Thai offers a great pronunciation check tool in the form of flashcards you can look at and listen to.

For a beginner, this could be valuable. You must ensure that you can distinguish Thai 5 tones 100%. Or else, you might experience massive misunderstandings in real conversation.

Unfortunately, this Everyday-Thai doesn’t cover anything else other than that. So, if you want to learn grammar, choose something else.

If you want to streamline your free Thai learning even more, check out this guide on the Fastest way to learn Thai.

How to learn Thai at a cost

Here are the recommended courses and apps.

1. Thaipod101

This is arguably the best choice if you like a casual learning style.

For a subscription service of $8 – $47 monthly, you get a variety of topics to practice your listening and speaking. You can also download extra material like flashcards and documents to read through too.

Unsure if the podcast-style teaching is worth your money? Don’t worry. Thaipod101 also has free content you can try out, then decide later. The overall quality of the freebies is no joke as well.

2. Drops

If you learn Thai for 5 minutes every day, you will eventually acquire it. That’s the premise of this app.

Drops focuses on developing your vocabulary and making the new words stick. 

It won’t info-dump on you. Instead, it offers small quizzes and exercises you can go through each day without much stress. The point is you progress slowly but surely.

This app also has a free deal of 5 minutes per day. So, you can try your hand at that before paying $2.91 a month.

3. Pimsleur

You might have heard this name if you have been in the language learning circle. It’s one of the most famous language-learning apps/courses out there in the market. And luckily, Pimsleur covers basic Thai as well.

Under Pimsleur’s name, you don’t have to worry about quality. It is more or less guaranteed. However, the volume of the material might be a bit lacking for the price of $119.95. And the repetitiveness doesn’t help much.

Nevertheless, Pimsleur is still Pimsleur. And you can definitely learn a lot from it.

Should you learn Thai by yourself?

If you’re not a fan of the classroom environment, self-learning Thai is a great option. You can learn anywhere. You can learn anytime. And most importantly, you make progress at your own pace.

Just remember, choose the course or app that fits your needs the most. No one wants to throw away a hundred bucks to find out it’s a waste down the line. So, know yourself first. Then choose.

Like always, if you want to discover more about Thailand, stay guided with ThaiGuider. You might learn something you never knew about this unique country.

The post How to Learn Thai at Home: 3 Best Online Courses & Apps appeared first on ThaiGuider.

The best way to learn Thai is to focus on the basics and build a strong foundation. Start with learning the Thai alphabet, grammar, and pronunciation before speaking. Working with a tutor, taking a course, using a language app, and conversing with a Thai friend are all excellent methods to master the Thai language.

Nevertheless, it also depends on how much effort you put into learning Thai. But if you don’t want all your effort to go to waste, read on and discover better ways to learn Thai.

The 3 best methods for learning Thai

1. Learn to read first

A common question among aspiring Thai speakers is, should I learn to read or speak Thai first?

If you are serious about learning Thai thoroughly, reading is where you should start. This is because reading is the most effective method to build up your vocabulary and understand word formation.

Firstly, you must understand that Thai script uses an alphabet system like English. That means you might breeze through learning Thai, unlike Mandarin or Japanese. (These languages use a Character system)

There are 90 Thai letters you have to remember. 44 are consonants, 32 are vowels, 4 are tonal indicators, and 10 are numbers. It might look like a lot compared to English’s 26 alphabet. But with focus, you won’t take long to remember them.

And once you remember all of the alphabet and can spell words, Thai sounds will start making sense to you. And this is where you can step up your game by moving on to listening and speaking.

Many might argue that you should start with listening since it helps with speaking directly. And that is true. But only on an intermediate level and above. Listening can be a big help with accents. But if you don’t even know what words are being spoken, then you will learn nothing.

Besides, listening forces you to go at the speaker’s pace. And it can be too fast or too slow. With reading, on the other hand, you can go at your own pace. Choose the speed that fits you, and gradually make progress.

Finally, reading also opens up your choice of learning material. If you can read Thai, you can even learn from Thai fiction. After all, learning from real examples is better than anything.

2. Never neglect grammar

As you know, grammar dictates the order of words in a sentence. So, you must understand it to speak fluently and write correctly. Why? Because the wrong order can cause your sentences to be ambiguous — worst case, turn them into gibberish.

However, many Thai learners tend to be lax with grammar. And that is understandable. After all, Thai grammar can be considered “less strict” than English.

The Thai language doesn’t have tense. That means you don’t need to conjugate the verb with time. One verb form works for the present, past, and future. And you can also ignore manners of action such as simple, continuous, and perfect. You can almost say that it is convenient.

However, the lack of tense can confuse you too. Sometimes, you might have to guess the time from the context or look for the temporal adverbs for help. And that might be harder for you in real-life conversations where nothing is written for you to reread.

Excellent grammar leads to effective communication. So, be attentive when learning it. Even though it’s more relaxed than English, it can still be tricky to apply.

3. Regularly develop your ear

This step is crucial for listening and speaking. Why? Because Thai is a tonal language, and you won’t go anywhere if you can’t distinguish the tones.

Thai has 5 tones. The meaning of a word is determined by these tones. And these meanings can be totally different from one another. For example…

• “Cow” in the 0th tone (locals call it “สามัญ” or “Saman” tone) means “smell of meat, blood, or fish.” It could also describe the main course of a meal in different contexts.
• “Cow” in the 1st tone (locals call it “เอก” or “Ake” tone) means “news.”
• “Cow” in the 2nd tone (locals call it “โท” or “Toe” tone) means “rice.”
• “Cow” in the 3rd tone (locals call it “ตรี” or “Tree” tone) doesn’t mean anything.
• “Cow” in the 4th tone (locals call it “จัตวา” or “Chattawa” tone) means “white.”

You would be totally lost if you mistook the first tone for the second in a real conversation. As you can see… “News” and “Rice” have nothing to do with each other (unless it’s news about rice — which is rarely discussed in daily life).

Besides, if you’re tone deft (in a language sense), you cannot simulate the right sound. So train your ears before it’s too late.

What is the most effective way to learn Thai?

Of course, there is no definite answer to the question, “What is the most effective way to learn Thai?” In the end, it depends on personal needs and study style.

However, here are the recommended ways to make your Thai learning more systematic.

The best way to learn Thai for free

If you’re a free learner, finding a Thai friend would be your best option. Having a native supervisor can help you acquire the language much faster, especially in terms of practical use.

Of course, your Thai friends don’t have to be teachers. Even with zero teaching experience, it will not be too difficult for them to share some vocabulary and check your pronunciation. They are native speakers. They understand the language by default.

You will get all of these benefits for free by making a Thai friend. After all, friendship is “priceless.”

However, there’s also a limit to what your Thai friend can do. So you have to put in the effort as well. Here are some other ways to learn Thai faster.

The best way to learn Thai at a cost

If you’re willing to pay, taking a course will be the best option. Depending on your preference, it could be both in-class or online.

The best approach to choosing the right course is to know what you want first.

If your goal is to communicate in a business setting or work environment, go for a long course that covers listening, reading, speaking, and writing.

But if your goal is to converse with friends, a speaking course focusing on listening and pronunciation would do.

Choosing the right course can save you both time and money. So, make sure you have a clear goal before you start. And if you need a guideline of which class you should take, here is a list of the best ways to learn Thai online (recommended courses and apps).

Master Thai from the basics

When you learn a language, you better start slowly to build up a strong foundation. The Thai language is not easy. Nail all the basics to progress to the advanced level — you can do it.

Just practice your reading, master your grammar, and develop your ear. When all three are set, the rest is a matter of time.

Like always, if you want to discover more about Thailand, stay guided with ThaiGuider. You might learn something you never knew about this unique country.

The post What Is The Best Way to Learn Thai? (3 Effective Methods) appeared first on ThaiGuider.

Thai is hard to learn compared to other languages, especially for native English speakers. According to the Foreign Service Institute’s Language Difficulty Rankings, Thai is in Category IV, alongside other “hard languages” like Finnish, Greek, and Russian. It can take 1,100 study hours to become fluent in Thai.

But why is the Thai language so mind-bending? What makes it take so long to master the language? Read on to discover the obstacles most native English speakers face when learning Thai.

Why is the Thai language so difficult to learn?

Before answering why the Thai language is difficult, you should understand the basics of language difficulty. Why? Because basically, the language difficulty changes depending on your mother tongue.

How easily you can learn a new language depends on how different your first language is from the target language.

Thai language might be easy if you speak Cantonese daily. Why? Because Cantonese and Thai share many characteristics, from pronunciation to grammar and even vocabulary.

And besides, it also depends on your experience with language learning. If Thai were your third language after Mandarin or Cantonese, you could breeze through the linguistic differences. You have done it before, so you should breeze through it next time around.

So, is Thai a difficult language? It depends.

Is Thai harder than Chinese, Japanese, and Korean? It also depends.

But for English speakers, the Thai language is mind-boggling. And here are the 3 simple reasons.

1. The infamous 5 tones

First and foremost, Thai is a “tonal language.” And this concept is alien to native English speakers.

So, what is the “tonal system?”

Basically, it’s how one word can change its meaning based on the tone you choose to articulate. And Thai has 5 — 0th to 4th. For example,

• “Cow” in the 0th tone (locals call it “สามัญ” or “Saman” tone) means “smell of meat, blood, or fish.” It could also describe the main course of a meal in different contexts.
• “Cow” in the 1st tone (locals call it “เอก” or “Ake” tone) means “news.”
• “Cow” in the 2nd tone (locals call it “โท” or “Toe” tone) means “rice”
• “Cow” in the 3rd tone (locals call it “ตรี” or “Tree” tone) doesn’t mean anything.
• “Cow” in the 4th tone (locals call it “จัตวา” or “Chattawa” tone) means “white.”

If your original language is non-tonal — like English — you will have difficulty distinguishing each tone. Not to mention simulating one.

2. The almost impossible sounds

Several consonant and vowel sounds exist in Thai but not in English.

For consonants, it’s the “ng” sound. You might be familiar with this sound at the end of these words: thing, song, and long. However, the English lexicon doesn’t have any word that begins with “ng.”

In Thai, though, many words start with “ng” or the alphabet “ง.” For example “ง่าย” (ngai), “งี่เง่า” (ngee-ngao), “งู” (ngoo), “เง็ม” (ngem), “โง่” (ngo), and much more. So, English speakers will have a hard time trying to pronounce these words correctly.

On the vowel side, there is the “- ือ.” The sound is similar to “oo” + “a,” but not exactly. It is a unique sound that doesn’t exist in English.

Furthermore, the “- ือ” can mix with other vowels to generate even more sounds that might confuse English speakers further.

3. The mind-blowing grammar

Grammar is always merciless in whatever language you try to learn.

One of the most irritating features of Thai grammar for English speakers is how the locals use adjectives.

In English, adjectives are put before a noun to describe a person, animal, or object. For example, “red car,” or “tall boy.”

In Thai, however, the nouns and adjectives switch places. The noun comes first, then the adjective follows. For example, if you want to say “red car” you have to say “รถสีแดง” (Rot See Daeng) — and it can be directly translated as “car red.”

If you know Spanish, you might say that “Spanish does the same.” But don’t let that trick you into thinking Thai is similar to Spanish. Why? Because the similarity ends there.

The Thai language doesn’t have the concept of “tense.” That means you can forget all about the verb conjugation and time-related functions of English and Spanish. They are all gone.

Remember that these are just a few examples of confusing Thai grammar. There is much more you need to learn. But don’t let that discourage you. There are ways you can learn to speak Thai more effectively.

What is the easiest way to learn Thai?

There are thousands of ways to learn Thai. However, not all of them are easy. Some might even spiral you down to the depth of confusion and misunderstanding. And once you hit rock bottom, it will be back-breaking to get back up.

So, it is recommended that you take an official Thai course.

It can be a Herculean task to learn Thai only from a book without the supervision of a native or a proper way to evaluate yourself. So, search for Thai courses on the internet.

Of course, there are many online Thai courses — free and paid — with various goals, like speaking or writing. So, choose the ones that suit your liking. But if you’re unsure which ones to take, here is the recommended Thai online courses list.

However, some of you might not be that interested in online courses. And that’s understandable. So, are there any other easy ways to learn Thai?

Going to Thailand is one of the best solutions. This might not be the most budget-friendly way to do things, but the result is guaranteed. Why? Because you will be forced to speak Thai all the time.

In such a situation, you would gradually adapt and learn some essential words and phrases or even the culture.

But if going to Thailand is impossible for you, here are other ways to learn Thai fast and effectively.

Is Thai hard to learn? Mastering Thai is possible

Despite the high difficulty level, you can definitely be fluent in Thai. 

Many English-speaking ex-pats in Thailand have overcome linguistic differences and speak Thai like a local. Some can even write in Thai. And some can even teach.

So, you can surely master the Thai language too.

Like always, if you want to discover more about Thailand, stay guided with ThaiGuider. You might learn something you never knew about this unique country.

The post Is Thai Hard to Learn? 3 Unique Reasons Why It Is Difficult appeared first on ThaiGuider.

The time it takes to speak Thai fluently depends on the learner’s purpose. If the goal is to hold a daily conversation, it can be attained in 3 months. But if the goal is to communicate in business settings or other intricate scenarios, achieving it can take over 1,000 hours of study.

So, your Thai study session length actually depends on you. But are there any ways you can shorten the study time a bit? Read on to find out some tricks to learn Thai faster.

How long does it take to learn Thai fluently?

As mentioned, it could take you around 1,100 hours to master spoken Thai. And that’s about 1 and a half years if you study for 2 hours a day. However, these numbers are only rough references for an average native English speaker. Some factors can make these numbers shrink. (Source)

Your 1st language:

If you are a native of other languages, the hours might shorten significantly. Why? Because your mother tongue might be more similar to Thai than English. 

For example, Cantonese sentence structures and grammar are close to Thai ones. If your first language is Cantonese or something similar, you will learn Thai faster than others.

Your experience:

Another factor is your language learning experience. If you have learned a second language before, you might have understood Thai linguistic logic faster. Why? Because you have already broken through the language barrier once.

Learning a language is not easy. You have to step out of your comfort zone and wrap your mind around something that doesn’t even make sense initially. But if you have done it before, you will start to see a pattern. And that pattern will help you acquire more languages in the future.

A bit of luck:

Finally, your innate language learning aptitude. Some people are born with what many call a “language gift.” If you were one of those lucky people, you might breeze through the Thai language.

With these factors in your favor, you can master intermediate Thai as fast as three months. At this level, you can perform greetings & farewells, introductions, instruction, and daily conversation.

Advance Thai might take longer than that, but you might not need that in the first place. If your goal is to communicate with your Thai friends or enjoy Thai media, intermediate Thai would be more than enough.

6 Hacks to learn the Thai language fast

As discussed before, learning a language is no simple feat. But usually, people want to do it fast. So, are there any tips and tricks you should perform alongside your Thai study? The answer is yes.

Here are 6 tips to speed up your spoken Thai study:

1. Make a Thai friend

This one might be difficult if you live in the 1860s. But it’s the 21st century, and making international friends is just a few clicks away. Just go online and post on your social media regularly. You might attract a Thai person into your life.

Once you have Thai friends, you will be more eager to learn Thai to communicate with them. You can ask them to teach you some essential slang unmentioned in a book. Or you can even let them check your pronunciation.

The most essential advantage of having Thai friends is the exposure to original accents and real-life vocabulary. You will hear it all the time in a conversation circle. And your brain will pick them up fast.

2. Watch Thai films, series, and TV shows

If you have basic Thai knowledge, it is recommended that you give Thai movies a try. You might have added K-dramas to your watchlist already. So, adding one more show from another language wouldn’t hurt.

When you watch Thai media, turn on the subtitles. You might have to rely on it for a long time. But when that moment you notice an error in the subtitle comes, the satisfaction is beyond imaginable.

Learning Thai from entertainment media will make the process less stressful. Reading a book might bore you to death, but watching TV will keep you up for hours.

The recommended Thai movie is called “Bad Genius.” For the series, “Kahon Mahoratuk” is a great choice. And for TV shows, “The Wall Song” is arguably the best.

Interested in Thai TV Shows? Check out our detailed guide on ‘F4 Thailand: Boys Over Flowers Series.’

3. Listen to Thai music

With Thai music, you don’t have to go for old folk songs and nursery rhymes. (But if you like them, that’s fine too.) You can listen to any tune that sounds good and resonates with you.

Learning Thai from songs might be tricky, but it will be worth your time. You will learn many “poetic” languages, and word plays this way. Many Thai slang and memes originate from music. So, you will catch up with the newest language trend this way.

And besides, everybody loves music. Learning a language from something you enjoy will encourage you to learn more and more. You might end up becoming a big fan of a Thai indie band.

4. Read Thai novels

You might think that reading novels doesn’t help with speaking. However, Thai fiction will expand your vocabulary and help you learn sentence structure faster than you think.

Plus, you can learn many fancy words and quotes to impress your Thai friends from novels.

If you don’t know where to start, Win Lyovarin is arguably the best gateway. He has won many S.E.A. Write Awards, and his books cover various topics that you might find interesting.

5. Switch your computer/phone language

Sometimes, it takes force to make progress. And by switching your devices’ language, you’re forcing yourself to learn.

Keep in mind that this method is recommended for those who already know Thai to an extent. Why? Because it can backfire horribly. If you changed your device language to Thai and found that you didn’t understand a thing, it could be back-breaking to switch back.

So, make sure that you’re ready before you commit.

6. Go to Thailand

This is the equivalent of the “cold turkey” of language acquisition.

You can force yourself to speak Thai by living in a Thai-spoken environment. This way, your speaking skill will improve fast since your survival depends on it. And if you slack off, you will be punished immediately.

Of course, not everyone can afford to go to Thailand. So, please use this tip only if you have the budget. If you don’t, the five tips before will suffice.

Master Thai at your own pace

At the end of the day, learning Thai will take time. No matter how excellent you are with language study, you cannot acquire one instantly.

So, study at your own pace.

Rushing through everything might be nice, but you might miss some practical nuance of a word or grammar. Think of learning Thai as a journey and enjoy the view as you go.

Remember, you’re not learning just the language; you’re witnessing the beauty of Thai cultures and values too.

Like always, if you want to discover more about Thailand, stay guided with ThaiGuider. You might learn something you never knew about this unique country.

The post How Long Does It Take to Learn Thai? 6 Fun Fail-Proof Tips appeared first on ThaiGuider.

Traditionally, Thai people say “Sawasdee” to greet each other. Women say Sawasdee ka and men say Sawasdee krab. They say this as they perform a salutation gesture called “Wai.” However, in reality, not many people say “Sawasdee.” The locals opt for an abbreviated and friendly version of the term that reads “Wasdee.”

Nevertheless, Thai greeting culture is not that simple. You might want to know a trick or two to handle local greetings more elegantly. So, read on to find out what the practical greeting in Thailand sounds like.

What is the most common greeting in Thailand?

As mentioned, the traditional Thai greeting term is “Sawasdee” (สวัสดี).

This term consists of 2 words: “Sawas,” and “Dee.” And both words have the same meaning — “good or great.”

So when Thai people say “Sawasdee,” it’s much more than just a greeting. It is their way of wishing a person a great day.

However, most Thais don’t really say “Sawasdee” anymore. Why? Because as time passed, they started to consider the term too formal and unintimate. The locals only use the original “Sawasdee” for religious ceremonies, huge events, and other official settings.

So, they abbreviate “Sawasdee” to only “Wasdee” (หวัดดี).

Despite its shorter pronunciation, “Wasdee” still conveys the full message of the original term. Since the two words that make up “Sawasdee” have the same meaning, cutting one short won’t make much difference. And besides, the abbreviated version gives a more friendly and intimate vibe.

Most locals see “Wasdee” as a slang-ish derivation of “Sawasdee.” But unlike other slang, you can use “Wasdee” even with the elders.

Respect is a big deal in Thailand. And it’s paramount that you show respect to anyone your senior. Using slang is widely considered disrespectful, and you should avoid them when talking to elders.

But for some reason, “Wasdee” seems to be an exception to this rule. The elder won’t mind if you use this shorter term instead of the full one. In a way, you can see this as a language evolution. But in other ways, you can see this as an example of the Thai’s laid-back attitude.

Nevertheless, “Wasdee” is still a slang term. And whenever you use it, you must abide by the Thai language’s “rule of politeness” (a particular branch of how you show respect through verbal communication in Thailand).

This might sound like a headache, but the solution is actually simple.

• If you greet a friend, you can plainly say “Wasdee.” There is no politeness required here.

• When saluting an elder, you must add an “ending word” to your “Wasdee.” Or else, your greeting will come out as rude.
  • If you are a male (from birth or chosen), you say “Wasdee Krab”
  • If you are a female (from birth or chosen), you say “Wasdee Ka”

Of course, this doesn’t mean you cannot say “Sawasdee” at all. All the Thai would appreciate a “Sawasdee” every once in a while — especially from a foreigner. So, don’t sweat it if you find the local greeting too confusing. The Thais will understand you.

Does the Thai language have “Good morning,” “Good afternoon,” and “Good evening?”

In Thailand, people usually greet with the time-independent “Sawasdee” or “Wasdee” (similar to hello). You rarely see anyone use time-dependent terms to greet their friends or family. But if you want to do it, you can.

• If you want to say “good morning,” you can use “Arun Sawas” (อรุณสวัสดิ์). “Arun” means dawn or morning. “Sawas,” as mentioned, means good or great. So basically, it is “Good morning.”

• For “good afternoon,” there is no equivalent word in Thai. So, you should go with “Sawasdee” or “Wasdee.”

• For “good evening,” you have “Sayan Sawas” (สายัณห์สวัสดิ์). Like “Arun Sawas,” “Sayan” means dusk or evening, and Sawas means good or great. Hence, “Good evening.”

You can use these terms to express greetings at different times. However, keep in mind that these words are archaic. Nobody really uses them anymore. So, if you plan to use these words, be prepared to get weird looks.

However, you can intentionally use these archaic terms to get a laugh as soon as you greet your friends. Since nobody uses them anymore, people usually giggle when they hear such words. They might add, “When is this? 1600s? Hahaha.” And from there, you can enjoy a lively conversation.

Do Thai people say, “How are you?”

For English speakers, “How are you?” is a natural follow-up to a “Hello” or “Hi.” You use it because you genuinely want to know or only to appear friendly. However, the Thais don’t usually ask that.

Instead of “How are you,” Thai people opt for a “Where are you going” or “Where have you been.”

Now, for English speakers, these questions might sound too intrusive. But for the Thai, they are totally normal.

You can use “where are you going” when you meet an acquaintance by chance on the street or at a department store. For “Where have you been,” use it when you meet someone in your house.

Your interlocutors’ responses can give you a glimpse of what they are up to. 

For example, if they say work, shopping, or a restaurant, you can assume they are doing fine. But if they say a hospital or a bank, you can guess something is going on. So, you can add a follow-up question like “What happened?”

Now, here is how you pronounce each question.

• Where are you going: “Pai Nai” (ไปไหน).
• Where have you been: “Pai Nai Ma” (ไปไหนมา).

Of course, this doesn’t mean Thai people don’t say “How are you” at all. If you haven’t met the person for a long time, it’s still appropriate. “How are you” is pronounced, “Pen Ngai Mang” (เป็นไงมั่ง).

Hello in Thai: Greet like a local

At the end of the day, Thai greetings might be more flexible than you think. 

As you can see, “Sawasdee” is the proper Thai greeting, but the locals prefer the shorter and friendlier “Wasdee.” And who knows? This might change in the future. “Sawasdee” used to be the norm, but now it somewhat belongs in a museum.

So, do what the Thai do. Keep updating yourself on how to do a proper greeting. One day, the Thai might opt for the even shorter “Dee,” instead of “Wasdee.” Just adapt, and you will have a great time in this foreign land.

Like always, if you want to discover more about Thailand, stay guided with ThaiGuider. You might learn something you never knew about this unique country.

The post Hello in Thai: Most Common & Useful Greetings in Thailand appeared first on ThaiGuider.

There are many reasons why you should learn Thai while living in Thailand. The most obvious is to form stronger connections with the locals, whether it’s a personal relationship or a group scenario. However, there are more benefits to learning Thai as an expat. So, learn it at any chance you get.

Even though the Thai language can be challenging to learn, it will still be worth your effort. Read on to discover the 12 edges to learning Thai as an expat in Thailand.

Why should you learn Thai when living in Thailand?

1. To form a meaningful connection with the Locals

As mentioned, this reason is the most obvious. But for those who’re still unsure why here’s a quick recap.

The language barrier is real, so you should never underestimate it. Speaking Thai lets you connect deeper with your local neighbors, friends, and colleagues. 

Once the barrier is gone, you will get to know people and learn more about their problems and other things they couldn’t communicate with otherwise. As a result, an acquaintance might become a friend. And your friend might become closer.

2. To be a part of the “Thai community”

While Thai people are very open towards foreigners, you can still feel the distance if you can’t speak their language.

So, the Thai language is the most effective tool to bridge you with them.

Knowing Thai allows you to join a group of Thai friends as “another human,” not as “that tourist.” There’s a huge difference there. Why? Because being a “tourist” is practically the same as being an “outsider.” And you can’t join a group that way.

3. To feel less “ashamed” when you speak

When your time in Thailand exceeds 2 or 3 years, it begins to get “embarrassing” if you can’t speak Thai.

Imagine this. You visited the same Seven-Eleven and met the same clerk every evening. This clerk remembered you and would make a face that said, “Oh, boy. Here we go again. Let me switch to English mode,” every time. Seeing that face often could spike your “shame” and make you feel like an “alien.”

And sometimes, it’s not even because of the locals. You will be self-conscious about it yourself.

4. To gain “credibility” among other expats

If you are an expat in Thailand, you will inevitably spend time with other expats.

In this circle, there will always be “that person” who knows Thai. If that person were you, you would be in for a treat.

Other people in the circle will come to you for help. This will make you feel like a hero among your fellow expats. You can feel the respect other foreigners give you.

5. To surprise the Locals

If you looked like a Westerner and walked like one, Thai people wouldn’t expect you to speak a word in Thai. But if you can pull a fluent “Sawasdee Krab/Ka” out, you will immediately see an exclamation mark on the locals’ faces.

Establish that “I can speak Thai,” and the mood of the conversation will change. Relief, surprise, humility, and welcome — all sorts of emotions will rush your interlocutor’s face. And the tension will disappear.

6. To date a Thai person

As mentioned, the language barrier is real. And you can feel its presence intensifying in a romantic setting.

Even though many Thais can speak English, foreign words and sentences don’t reach their heart as well as their parents’ language. So, they might miss the sweet nuances from your pick-up lines.

Knowing Thai allows you to understand the depth of Thai courting culture. As a result, you will have an easier time stepping into the local’s heart or opening your own.

7. To deal with Thai authorities with ease

Interacting with Thai authorities like police or immigration can be a pain — especially when you don’t know what they are talking about.

Even though many Thai authorities understand English, their speaking pattern is still broken. Sometimes, they might mix a Thai word or two into their sentences.

But if you can at least understand or read Thai, things can proceed smother. You can pull an “Oh. I know what that means” and streamline everything out — impressing the officers and getting them from suspecting you to trying to help you out.

And if you hold an education Visa, these authorities might try to test you too. They will want to know if you have skipped the Thai language class or not. So, you better be prepared.

8. To understand local news

Knowing what’s happening around you is crucial to survival — especially in a foreign land. You don’t want to get to a bar in the evening and learn that the local government started banning alcohol this morning to prevent the spread of COVID.

So, if you understand Thai, you can get the most updated news from various channels faster. These include social media like Facebook and Twitter. You don’t have to wait for someone to bring you up to date at the bar or restaurant anymore.

9. To be able to chat on “Line”

If you have been to Thailand, you would know that Thai people are crazy about a texting application called “Line.” And, of course, they prefer chatting on Line over phone calls.

So, if you know how to read and type in Thai, your life will automatically be more “Thai”. You can communicate with your Thai friend more often, and the conversation topic will be more friendly.

Additionally, the Thai “social media” language or “chat language” is super convenient. The greatest example is the “55555.” Ever wondered what 555 means in Thailand?

In Thai, “5” is pronounced “ha.” So if you see a bunch of “5” in Thai chat, it means people are laughing. 55555.

10. To understand Thai jokes

Thai people are usually humorous. They want you to be able to laugh with them.

Understanding Thai will expand your view of puns, word plays, and linguistic tricks. You will be able to laugh at more things than you imagined. And who knows? You might actually like “dad jokes” when they are in another language.

11. To know when people talk behind your back

Not only are cats curiosity-driven, but so do humans. And, of course, you want to know how people bad-mouth you.

Knowing Thai allows you to catch any locals who gossip about you. It might be positive, sometimes. But as you know, what matters are the negative ones.

If you did catch a gossiper, what to do next is up to you. But you will at least be more aware of how Thai people really see you as a person.

12. To brag about it

Sometimes, all we want in life is some bragging rights. And if you mastered Thai, you have certaintly earned that.

The Thai language is not easy to speak or write. And if you know how to perform those feats, you deserve a certain degree of respect. So, be proud.

Can you live in Thailand speaking English?

You… could. Some Thais are eager to communicate with you in English. But they won’t come up that often. It’s almost impossible to catch a local like that on the street.

In addition, you might have to rely on a personal interpreter or an auto-translating machine daily. And that gets annoying fast.

So, if you have a chance, please learn Thai. Even though Thai isn’t the most effortless language to learn — thanks to its complex grammar and “tonal” nature — studying Thai can give you a rewarding experience. And who knows? You might find a new hobby after your study.

How is that possible? Well. Aside from the 12 reasons above, you will understand Thailand’s unique culture more deeply. 

If you can read Thai, you can immerse yourself in Thai literature. Local books and poems are rich with strange tales of fantastical creatures and mysterious places you cannot find anywhere else. Not to mention the exotic values and new mindsets you can explore.

If you understand Thai, you can also enjoy Thai music and songs at a higher level. You don’t just vibe to the melody and rhythm anymore. Now you know the lyrics. And you can finally sing them out.

Let’s learn Thai

What you just read is only a glimpse of Thai culture you might find interesting. Knowing Thai can broaden your worldview more than you can read in this article.

So, once again, learn Thai if you can. You will thank yourself later.

Like always, if you want to discover more about Thailand, stay guided with ThaiGuider. You might learn something you never knew about this unique country.

The post Why Learn Thai? 12 Fun Reasons Expats Should Speak Thai appeared first on ThaiGuider.

The language spoken in Thailand is Thai. It is the country’s official language, and people use it in spoken and written form. However, Thai people are not 100% unified in how they speak. They also have 4 dominant dialects, distinguished by regions, including Central, Northeastern, Northern, and Southern.

Thai people consider their language a national pride. And if you want to stay in Thailand for a while, you should at least know about its existence. Read on to learn the beauty and nature of the Thai language.

What language is mostly spoken in Thailand?

As mentioned, Thailand is one of those countries with an original language. So, the locals opt to speak in their mother tongue: Thai language.

You will hear Thai people speak Thai no matter where you go. Thai people use the Thai language in every setting, whether in daily lives, official authority contacts, or festivities and events.

Like Spanish and French, foreigners like you can learn Thai too. However, it might take a different kind of effort to master its delicate linguistic features.

The challenging part about learning Thai, many English speakers agree, is the “tone” or the “musical quality” of the language. And that’s understandable. If your first language doesn’t have a tonal system, it is almost impossible to spot the difference at first.

But what is a tonal system?

Basically, it’s how one word can change its meaning based on the tone you choose to articulate. Different languages have different numbers of tones. For example, Chinese has 4, while Thai has 5. (Source)

That explanation might confuse you a bit. So, look at the following example to understand “tone” better. Reading a blog like this will probably not give you a clear perception of how Thai tones work and sound. But at least you can understand the general mechanics.

This example will use the term that reads “cow” (คาว).

In the Thai language, there are 5 tones — starting from 0th to 4th. Each tone will have a distinct pitch and meaning.

• “Cow” in the 0th tone (locals call it “สามัญ” or “Saman” tone) means “smell of meat, blood, or fish.” It could also describe the main course of a meal in different contexts.
• “Cow” in the 1st tone (locals call it “เอก” or “Ake” tone) means “news.”
• “Cow” in the 2nd tone (locals call it “โท” or “Toe” tone) means “rice”
• “Cow” in the 3rd tone (locals call it “ตรี” or “Tree” tone) doesn’t mean anything.
• “Cow” in the 4th tone (locals call it “จัตวา” or “Chattawa” tone) means “white.”

You might notice that the meaning in each tone of “cow” is totally unrelated. And that’s because each tone isn’t a derivation of “cow.” They are 5 different words that Thai people would rarely mishear one for another.

If you wish to learn to speak Thai, it is paramount that you train your ear first. Or else, you wouldn’t be able to distinguish these 5 tones and simulate them. It would be like a tone-deaf person trying to sing musical notes (not that it’s impossible, but it’s tough).

Does the Thai language have dialects?

As discussed, the Thai language has variations linguists call dialects. And there are many.

Most Thai dialects have different tone ranges, accents, speech patterns, and speeds. Some dialects even have their own set of vocabulary and grammar. And as a result, communication using multiple dialects can be stress-inducing.

Despite the many dialects in Thailand, you can distinguish them into 4 large groups. Each group is characterized by its region and “mood.”

Central (or Common):

This dialect is the most widely spoken in Thailand. You can hear this dialect all over the country, especially in the central, eastern, and western regions.

Since this dialect is Common, Thai people choose to speak Central in national-level events and ceremonies. Or else not everyone would understand what was going on.

It is hard to describe the characteristics of this dialect. Why? Because when Thai people explain their regional language, they compare them with the Central. So in a sense, the Central dialect is self-explanatory. 

You can think of the Central dialect as the “US dollars” of the international currency world.

And, of course, not all Central dialects are the same. For example, the “Suphanburi” accent — a branch of the central dialect — has notable tonal differences from the “Bangkok” accent. Thai people can tell if someone was born in Suphanburi right away just from hearing how the person speaks.

(It will be too long to “write” about “tonal differences,” but you get the point.)

Northeastern (or “Esan”):

This is arguably the most famous dialect in Thailand (if you count Central as a “language,” not “dialect”).

As the name suggests, this dialect is widely used in the northeastern region. Thai people usually describe this dialect as “fiery and spicy.” This is thanks to how the locals use this tongue with a more vibrant tone and faster speech.

Many Thais joke that this dialect borrows its “fierceness” from the local spicy food and harsh weather. Northeastern foods are famous for their extreme tastes. And the climate there is usually hotter and drier than in other parts of the country.

Northern:

You can see this dialect as the opposite of the Northeastern (even though they are next to each other). Why? Because the Northern dialect is famous for its “calm and soothing” voice.

Widely used in the north, the Northern dialect usually involves slow speech, extended syllables, and lengthy vowel sounds. And as a result, most northerners are viewed as slow talkers.

Furthermore, this dialect seems to have narrower tonal differences. It doesn’t mean that they have less tone than 5. But it means the difference between each tone is more subtle. So, Northern sounds tend to have less up and down pitch than other places.

These “calm” characters can be seen as the influence of neighboring countries like Laos and Cambodia. But you can also say that it’s thanks to the colder climate of the region.

Southern:

Southern dialect arguably has the most “character” in the Thai dialect. Why? Because southern culture is different from other parts of the country thanks to the coastal landscape and neighbor influences.

So, when someone speaks in the Southern dialect, most Thai will think about the different coastal life of the southerners immediately.

This dialect is famous for its fast speech and nasal voice. Most Thais describe this way of speaking as “coppery” because it sounds like the ringing of copper.

Southerners also have more original vocabulary than other regions. And with new words comes new grammar. So, if you are not a local, it can be challenging to understand a word the southerners say. Even central Thai people have a hard time understanding southerners’ conversations.

What are the other top languages spoken in Thailand? 

Even though Thailand has its own original language, many Thais are eager to become at least bilingual — especially the younger generations. So, don’t be surprised if your Thai friend can speak 2 or 4 languages.

This interest in other languages partly stems from the economy of the country. Thailand is a famous tourism country, especially before COVID-19. So, whoever can communicate with foreign tourists has an advantage over those who can’t.

The business scene in Thailand is also populated with foreign investors. So if you can speak other languages, you are more likely to land a job in an international company and get bigger pay.

Another reason for Thai people’s interest in other languages is their lineage. Many Thai have a Chinese bloodline and prefer to communicate in half-Thai-half-Chinese in their household. This familial preference automatically enables their bilingual capability.

Now, it’s time to look at the 4 dominant foreign languages spoken in Thailand.

1. English

English is the most common 2nd language choice for Thai people. Why?

No, not because Thailand was colonized.

It’s because English is included in modern Thai compulsory education. And that means most members of the newer generations already have at least the basic knowledge of English before graduation.

In other words, they understand English to a certain degree and can respond in English too.

However, most Thais are shy and don’t like to stand out. So, they might refuse to communicate with foreigners even though they know the language. And this isn’t exclusive to English. Other languages face similar problems too.

Furthermore, it’s (unfortunately) safe to say that not all Thais are educated equally. So, do not expect every Thai to understand English. Some people don’t even know how to say “Hi.”

2. Chinese

As mentioned, there are many Thais with Chinese bloodlines. And these Chinese-Thai sometimes prefer to communicate in Chinese or at least a mixed language.

Another factor that promotes the use of Chinese in Thailand is Chinese schools. You can see them in most major cities in the country. They teach and communicate with their students in Chinese daily.

On the economic side, many Chinese companies have a branch in Thailand. And even big local companies in Thailand are share-owned by Thai-Chinese families or Chinese investors. So, being able to speak Chinese is an edge in one’s career.

You can also argue that Chinese is the actual No.1 choice for Thai people’s second language. Not English. However, there has never been an official survey, so it’s still uncertain.

3. Japanese

Like the Chinese, many big Japanese companies and factories are in Thailand. So if you can speak the language, you have a better chance of winning a well-paying job in these places.

However, Thai-Japanese families are not as abundant in Thailand. So, it’s still a “wow-worthy” phenomenon to find a Japanese-speaking Thai. 

And besides, schools dedicated to Japanese communication are also rare. Most Thais learn Japanese from specialized language institutions or pursue a Japanese-related degree in Universities.

Another reason for Thai people to learn Japanese is the media. Thanks to the boom of Japanese idols, YouTubers, VTubers, and anime, more and more Thai people are studying this complex language.

4. Korean

In the Korean case, it’s more about personal preferences.

K-pop and K-drama are definitely big in Thailand. Several Thai superstars are also in this industry. So, people pick up this language to immerse themselves deeper into these entertainments.

Of course, some want to live in Korea too. Many younger Thais dream of living in foreign countries. This is caused by inner political conflicts and the country’s “not-so-rich” economy. And Korea happens to be one of the popular destinations.

So, don’t be surprised if you know a Thai friend or two who has a degree in the Korean language. It’s one of the more popular courses these days.

Does Thai have a written language?

Like the spoken counterpart, written Thai also survived the test of time.

The language has an “alphabet” system like English. You can mix consonant and vowel letters to spell words with different sounds and meanings. This system is opposed to the “Character” system of the Chinese and Japanese. (In short, one character has specific pronunciations and meanings)

There are 44 consonants and 24 vowels in the Thai alphabet — with 4 tone indicators (the 0th tone doesn’t have a written symbol) and 10 numbers (0-9). (Source)

Most foreigners would say that written Thai is difficult because the lines are long, curved, and confusing. And that is understandable. However, with proper guidance and consistent practice, you can memorize and write the Thai alphabet within a month. 

Spelling words would take longer than that, but it is definitely possible. Thai spelling can be tricky since there are silences and tricky combinations — not to mention tone subjugations and other exceptions. So, you might have to perform mental gymnastics to get around them.

But, of course, languages are all made up. And they are not perfect. Sometimes you have to take their linguistic features as what they are and move on. Or else you will be stuck trying to find a reason forever.

Should you learn Thai if you want to live in Thailand?

The short answer is “Yes, definitely.”

Learning Thai allows you to make a deeper connection with the locals. It will also make your life more enjoyable since you can easily understand the news and contact the authorities. And besides, being able to communicate with store clerks and vendors is convenient.

But more than anything, learning the Thai language will help you understand Thailand’s unique culture better. Because — in case you forget — language is a kind of culture too.

Once you understand the language, you can spot the connections between one culture and another. And as a result, you may fall deeper in love with the country.

But of course, learning Thai will take time and effort. If you choose Thai as your second language, you must get through the mind-blowing fundamental linguistic differences. Not all languages operate on the same concept and mindset. And it can be a Herculean task to wrap your mind around them.

But if you give it a proper time, you can master it. So, learn Thai if you can. It can expand your horizon more than you think. And if you are still unconvinced, you can check out the 12 reasons to learn Thai.

Thai language vs. others

If you were bilingual, you would already know that all languages are — in a way — the same. And by that, it means they all work differently from each other.

Of course, similarities exist. And they are no coincidence since many languages have the same root and origin.

Thai language might look and sound strange to you. But that is more reason to appreciate it. These differences make your trips and travel one of a kind. So, enjoy these divergences.

Like always, if you want to discover more about Thailand, stay guided with ThaiGuider. You might learn something you never knew about this unique country.

The post What Language Do They Speak in Thailand? (4 Clear Dialects) appeared first on ThaiGuider.

To learn to speak Thai as a beginner, start with basics like greetings and simple phrases. Utilize online resources, apps, or language courses for structured learning. Practice regularly with native speakers or language exchange partners, and immerse yourself in Thai culture through movies, music, and books.

That’s why we have put together this complete guide for beginners to learn how to speak Thai – from the basic knowledge about how the Thai language is structured, and how tones and sounds work, to essential Thai words that anyone should know.

Learn how to speak Thai

Let’s start by looking at how the Thai language works:

Words and Script:

One of the trickiest parts for beginners when learning the Thai language is the Thai script. The Thai language is written using its unique alphabet, which originates from the old Khmer script known as ‘aksorn Thai (อักษรไทย)’.  

Thai script is written from left to right, with vowels sitting on top and below consonants. (Source)

Thai language also does not use spaces in the written language, and there are no such things as capital letters and lower cases.

Unlike English, the Thai language does not also use punctuation to the same extent that the English language does. Even though full stops (or periods) can signify the end of a sentence, blank spaces are often used more in the Thai language.

Commas can also be used for the same function as they are used in English. There are brackets and quotation marks in the Thai language too. One punctuation form that is unique to the Thai language is the ‘kho mut’ ๛ (โคมูตร) which is used to signify the end of a document or a story.

Due to the way Thai characters are ordered, you might need to look above or to the right of a character to read it correctly. In the Thai alphabet, there are 72 characters (44 consonants and 28 vowels). However, note that 6 of these characters (2 consonants and 4 vowels) are no longer used because they are a relic from old Thai or taken from Pali or Sanskrit.

This makes the Thai language very tricky for beginners when recognizing the words. So it is no surprise that the Thai language is considered to have one of the most challenging alphabets in the world to learn. (Source)

Tones and Sounds:

Like the Chinese language, the Thai language is a ‘tonal language’. Tonal language means that every syllable is pronounced in the tone of one of these 5 tones – low tone, mid-tone, high tone, falling tone, or rising tone. It also means that depending on the tone of a syllable, the meaning of a word can change entirely. (Source)

The tone of a syllable is also determined by a combination of the syllable’s type, the class of consonant, the length of the vowel, and the tone marker. This makes the Thai language a tricky language to learn, especially for foreigners whose native language does not have such tones.

For anyone who has never learned a tonal language before, it might take a while to get used to the differences between the 5 tones and to pronounce them accordingly.

Thai language is also considered extremely hard to pronounce and has many vowels that are tricky to get the correct sound out for native English speakers. This is because producing some of the sounds in the Thai language requires one to make specific shapes with the mouth and position the tongue in ways you have probably not done before (3).

Also, those normal vowels have double vowels in the Thai language, meaning that two or more vowel sounds are combined in the Thai language to produce one smooth sound.

Here are some examples of this:

• The word ‘muang’ (เมือง), which means city, is also used for famous places like Don Muang Airport or Muang Thong Thani Arena, consists of the vowels ‘eu’ + ‘uh.’
• The word ‘nuay’ (เหนื่อย), which means tired, consists of the vowels ‘oo’ + ‘ay’ + ‘ee.’

For people whose native language does not have such kinds of sounds (where two or more vowels are put together to create one vowel sound), getting these sounds right would require some time and practice. Otherwise, it would be awkward to pronounce these words, and local people might not understand them as they have not been pronounced accurately (3).

Grammar:  

This may be the easiest part for beginners when learning the Thai language. Compared to other languages, it is notorious for having relatively few simple-to-understand grammar rules and structures.

Thai language’s grammar structure is easy for native English speakers or people already familiar with English, as sentences are expressed in the same way in both languages through Subjects, Verbs, and Objects (SVO) order.

However, it would help to keep in mind that Thai people sometimes use the Object + Verb + Subject (OVS) order when they want to emphasize the Object. (Source)

Another similarity between the grammar structure of Thai and English is that both languages make use of personal pronouns, even though Thai has more pronouns.

Here are some useful pronouns for Thai language beginners:

• chǎn (ฉัน) = I
• khun (คุณ) = you
• man (มัน) = it
• khǎo (เขา) = he/him
• thooe/làawn (เธอ/หล่อน) = she/her
• phûuak rao (พวกเรา) = we/us
• phûuak khǎo (พวกเขา) = they/them
• khǎawng khun (ของคุณ) = yours
• khǎawng chǎn (ของฉัน) = my/mine
• khǎawng khǎo (phûu chaai) (ของเขา (ผู้ชาย)) = his
• khǎawng thooe/khǎawng làawn (ของเธอ/ของหล่อน) = hers
• khǎawng phûuak rao (ของพวกเรา) = our/ours

(Source)

Unlike French or Spanish, one does not need to learn about masculine or feminine words in the Thai language.

Also, words do not change form with the person, gender, or even tenses. There are no present tenses or past tenses in Thai words; simply adding words like yesterday, already, tomorrow, or will to the sentences is enough.

Unique Thai Language Structures:

Even though Thai grammar is pretty simple and easy to understand, there are some unique rules that every beginner should know:

1. Different Ways Of Speaking Thai When It Comes To Royal Family And Monks

As a country where monarchy still exists, the Thai royal family is considered to hold the highest status in the country and others have to use different words and speeches when talking to the royals.

Also, monks are considered above ordinary people due to Buddhist beliefs, so people also have to communicate differently when talking to the monks. Whatsmore, these words are complicated and not very easy to remember. Hence, most local people can even misuse them most of the time.

Below are some examples of the words used when communicating with the royal family members and the monks:

2. Numeric Quantifiers and Classifiers

Unlike other languages, nouns do not have singular or plural forms in Thai. To identify the amount or quantity, Thai people put quantifiers for almost everything, and this pattern follows the format below:

Noun + Amount or Number + Quantifier

The most standard quantifier that can be used for most of the nouns is “an (อัน).” This quantifier can be used when there is no specific quantifier designated for the noun.

There are also other types of quantifiers, and they include:

• bai (ใบ) – used with pillows, cups, bowls, leaves, glasses, dishes
• thâaeng (แท่ง) – used with pencils
• dâam (ด้าม) – used with pens
• gâaeo (แก้ว) / khùuat (ขวด) – used with nouns related to liquids, foods, and grains

(Source)

3. Special Pronoun Type

A special type of pronoun in the Thai language is called wí-phâak-sàp-phá-naam (วิภาคสรรพนาม), which is used with a group of nouns to describe whether each component of that group performs the same action or not (4). There is no such pronoun or word in English, making it a unique Thai language rule.

For example, thúk-khon-dtàang-chûuai-tham-ngaan (ทุกคนต่างช่วยกันทำงาน) = each of everyone is helping each other working’ or ‘everyone works together.’

Why you should learn and speak Thai

With the Thai language being complicated and not easy to remember, you might think, why to bother learning the language, especially if foreigners can survive in Thailand without speaking any Thai.

Even though most Thai people speak English, or a version known as ‘Tinglish’, here are a few reasons why you should learn at least a beginners’ level Thai language if you are going to spend time in Thailand.

Better Social Integration:

Thai people love it when foreigners can speak their language, even when the pronunciations or sentence structures may be off. By communicating with locals in the Thai language, you can gain many new friends and fast-track your language skills in the process. The locals will be more than happy to help you understand their language and even teach you some slang words that you cannot learn formally in the textbooks.

Also, more of the older generation do not speak English. So, if you can speak Thailand, you can easily be friends with almost everyone – from the neighbors in your new Thai home to the vendors in the markets.

Less Likely To Get Scammed:

Thailand is relatively safe for everyone, but some scams are targeted at tourists and foreigners, such as the infamous jet ski scam and ladyboys scam that used to happen a lot in Pattaya. They are more likely to scam foreigners who cannot speak any Thai language as they won’t be able to argue back. So, if you can talk even the beginners’ level Thai, you are more likely to get yourself out of troublesome situations.

Also, some taxi drivers and TukTuk drivers may try to overcharge the foreigners as they know these foreigners won’t complain much due to the language barrier. But if you know how to speak some Thai, for example, tell them to open the meter in the taxi or ask for a fixed price before getting on the TukTuk, they will not be able to take advantage.

Most importantly, if you can understand and speak Thai, you can easily ask for help anytime, anywhere.

Bargaining:

Thailand is known as a shopping paradise and has a lot of places, from high-end department stores to weekend flea markets. You won’t need any bargaining skills when shopping at department stores and malls. But bargaining is much needed for flea markets like the famous Chatuchak weekend market or retail malls like Platinum Mall.

Even though the merchants display prices on the products, you can always ask for a lower price at these markets. And if they don’t show any price (and the merchant says whatever price they want), keep in mind that they might try to overcharge you as a foreigner. So, it would be best if you always asked for a discounted price.

And bargaining is more effective when speaking the Thai language, especially the numbers, as many vendors don’t speak English that well. Here are how to count the numbers in the Thai language so that you can easily bargain and get more bang for your bucks (or bahts!)

• sun (ศูนย์) = 0
• nùeng (หนึ่ง) = 1
• sǎawng (สอง) = 2
• sǎam (สาม) = 3
• sìi (สี่) = 4
• hâa (ห้า) = 5
• hòk (หก) = 6
• jèt (เจ็ด) = 7
• bpàaet (แปด) = 8
• gâo (เก้า) = 9

More Job Opportunities:

Knowing the Thai language will be a great asset if you are an international student studying in Thailand. Many companies require their candidates to speak the Thai language, at least at a conversational level.

Of course, there are still jobs that do not require knowing the Thai language but knowing the local language will give you much more opportunities. Perhaps a thai speaker job if you start to get confident. Also, being familiar with the Thai language will help broaden social circles as an expat living in Thailand. It’s easier to join clubs, take classes, and attend events if you know how to communicate in Thai.

Stronger Relationships:

For foreigners who want to start a relationship with a Thai person, learning the native language can help strengthen relationships. There will be no language barrier which can be pretty frustrating at times.

By knowing the language, one can get to know their Thai partner more deeply and communicate with their friends and family who may not know how to speak English. Especially if they are from the countryside and not from the major cities. It also shows that you are putting effort into making the relationship work despite the differences and likely gaining more positive feelings from your partner.

20 Basic words that beginners can learn to speak Thai

If the reasons stated above have successfully convinced you to start learning the Thai language, here are some basic Thai words that every beginner should know.

These words and phrases are easy to memorize and can be used in everyday life, making them essential for beginners who want to speak in Thai language. Please note that the word ‘ka’ is used for every phrase if the speaker is female, while the word ‘krup’ or ‘krub’ is used if it is male speaking. (Source)

1. Sawadee khrup/ka (สวัสดี – ครับ / ค่ะ) = Hello
2. Sa bai dee mai khrup/ka (สบายดีไหม – ครับ / ค่ะ) = How are you?
3. Sa bai dee khrup/ka (สบายดี – ครับ / ค่ะ) = I’m fine, thank you.
4. Khop khun khrup/ka (ขอบคุณ  – ครับ / ค่ะ) = Thank you
5. Chai khrup/ka (ใช่ – ครับ / ค่ะ) = Yes
6. Mai khrup/ka (ไม่ – ครับ / ค่ะ) = No
7. Mai ben rai khrup/ka (ไม่เป็นไร – ครับ / ค่ะ) = Nevermind/ It’s okay/ No problem
8. Phom/chan phut phasa Thai mai dai khrup/ka (ผมฉันพูดภาษาไทยไม่ได้ – ครับ / ค่ะ) = I cannot speak Thai
9. Ga-ru-na phut cha cha khrup/ka (กรุณาพูดช้าๆ– ครับ / ค่ะ) = Please speak slowly
10. Phom/chan mai kao jai khrup/ka (ผมฉันไม่เข้าใจ – ครับ / ค่ะ) = I don’t understand
11. Nee ku arai khrup/ka (นี่คืออะไร – ครับ / ค่ะ) = What is this?
12. Ra ka tao rai khrup/ka? (ราคาเท่าไหร่ – ครับ / ค่ะ) = How much is it?
13. Paeng mak khrup/ka! (แพงมาก – ครับ / ค่ะ) = That’s expensive!
14. Ga ru na lot rakha hai noi dai mai khrup/ka? (กรุณาลดราคาให้หน่อยได้ไหม- ครับ / ค่ะ) = Can you give me a discount please?
15. Ga-ru-na gep dang duay khrup/ka (กรุณาเก็บตังค์ด้วย – ครับ / ค่ะ) = Can I have the bill please?
16. Hong nam yu tee nai khrup/ka? (ห้องน้ำอยู่ที่ไหน – ครับ / ค่ะ) = Where is the restroom?
17. Leow jer gan na khrup/ka (แล้วเจอกันนะ – ครับ / ค่ะ) = See you later/bye!
18. By gon khrup/ka (ไปก่อน ครับ / ค่ะ) = Goodbye
19. Khor thoad khrup/ka (ขอโทษ – ครับ / ค่ะ) = Sorry/Excuse me
20. Yin dee thi dai roojak (ยินดีที่ได้รู้จัก – ครับ / ค่ะ) = Nice to meet you

Loan Words From English

Many Thai words are adopted from English, but one might not immediately recognize them, as they are pronounced quite differently in Thai.

Here are some of the examples of loan words from English and how to pronounce them in Thai (3):

• bát (บัส) = bus
• khom-phiw-têr (คอมพิวเตอร์) = computer
• táek sî (แท็กซี่) = taxi
• wai-o-lin (ไวโอลิน) = violin
• thi-wi (ทีวี) = television/TV

How beginners can advance their Thai

For those who want to take their Thai language learning to the next level, these are the resources that can help you continue your Thai language learning journey.

The first one is the Thaipod101 online courses that many foreigners recommend for other foreigners. Many introductory courses on the site are suitable for beginners. You can get free access to lessons about Thai scripts and useful Thai phrases by simply signing up on the website.

Another learn-to-speak Thai app is Learn Thai from a White Guy, a simple but effective course to learn Thai script in two weeks.

If you prefer language schools instead of online sources (as different styles work for different people), here are some of the language schools that foreigners recommend:

• Summa Language and Culture Institute
• Duke Language School
• Rak Thai Language School

4 Ways beginners can speak like a Thai fast

Finally, this article has compiled some of the tips and know-how to make your Thai language journey as a beginner easier and more effective

Please remember that everyone works at a different pace and has different learning styles. Hence, it is totally up to you to choose the way you would like to learn the Thai language as a beginner. After all, learning a new language should be fun and exciting too!

1. Learn to Read

Yes, learning all the forty-four consonants and twenty-eight vowels isn’t easy. Many expats usually give up on reading the language and instead focus on improving their conversational skills. However, knowing how to read Thai can make a big difference in speaking it and greatly help while living there.

Reading Thai will enable you to use a Thai-English dictionary, which is a must for everyone learning a new language. To help your reading skills, Benjawan Poomsan Becker’s series of textbooks from “Thai for Beginners” are highly recommended. They introduce Thai to the beginner through a special Romanized script accessible before gradually introducing the Thai letters to the English speakers, making learning easier.

2. Find Someone to Converse in Thai With

Having a conversation partner can help improve language skills and make the whole learning process less tedious. It is also easy to find local people who can converse with you one-to-one, as most Thai people are friendly and eager to help. You can speak in Thai with them for an hour, and in exchange, talk in English with them for another hour so that both of you can improve your language skills.

If you don’t know where to start looking for a conversational partner, then maybe try reaching out to Thai universities (such as Chulalongkorn or Thammasat), as these universities usually have conversation clubs run by students who are looking to improve their English skills.

3. Learn the Correct Tone

This is essential for every beginner as Thai is a tonal language, and one difference in the tone for the same word can change the whole meaning of that word. It is essential to learn the correct tones from the beginning. If you get used to speaking in monotone, it will take a long time to fix that habit and learn the correct tones again.

Also, not being able to speak in appropriate tones will make learning the Thai language more frustrating as local people won’t be able to understand what you are saying if you are not using the correct tones. (Source)

Another benefit of learning the right tones from the start is that you can improve your listening skills by knowing how the word is supposed to sound. It will help to understand when native speakers are talking.

To learn the correct tones, it is recommended to learn Thai from native speakers. Spending time with a native speaker will help you understand the individual phonemes, the phonetic building blocks of the language.

Hanging out with the locals can also help you learn the tones as you get used to how the words are supposed to sound. This will help you to be able to differentiate between different tones. It may seem complicated and time-consuming, but it is indeed important and will bring you more benefits than the hardships you may face while learning.

4. Learn from Thai Music Videos

Many Thai music videos have their lyrics displayed across the bottom of the screen through the music video. This can help beginners improve their Thai language skills as they can practice two skills at once – reading and listening.

One can also build up their Thai vocabulary knowledge by listening to Thai songs and watching music videos, as the translation of the lyrics can be found online. This learning style is not only fun but also can make you a popular ‘insider’ among young Thai students, as they love to watch Thai music videos and are fans of Thai superstars. (Source)

And that’s how to speak Thai for beginners.

Compared to English, Thai words are pronounced differently, and some words require you to move your mouth and tongue in ways you have probably have never done before. For these reasons, the Thai language is considered hard to learn for English speakers. However, it is not impossible to speak in Thai.

The benefits of learning the Thai language outweigh the hardships and struggles during the process. We hope our explanations about the Thai language and tips on how beginners can learn to speak Thai found in this article are helpful to anyone looking to start learning this unique language.

Like always, if you want to discover more about Thailand, stay guided with ThaiGuider. You might learn something you never knew about this unique country.

The post Learn How to Speak Thai (20 Easy Words for Beginners) appeared first on ThaiGuider.

Thai people use 555 as a way to express laughter in their texts. It is a local quirk derived from the Thai word ‘Ha.’ If you put 555 together, it makes ha-ha-ha, equivalent to ‘lol’ in the western world. There are many reasons why Thai people use the number ‘5’ to communicate.

Then again, you might be wondering why ‘555’ in particular? Why not ‘444’ or ‘111’? To solve this mystery, we must first understand the meaning behind the numbers in Thailand. 

Numbers in Thai

Most Thai people use the local language when counting numbers. Below is how to count from 0 to 9 in the Thai language and how to pronounce them in English.

0 – ศูนย์ (sǔun)

1 – หนึ่ง (nùeng)

2 – สอง (sǎawng)

3 – สาม (sǎam)

4 – สี่ (sìi)

5 – ห้า (hâa)

6 – หก (hòk)

7 – เจ็ด (jèt)

8 – แปด (bpàaet)

9 – เก้า (gâo)

If you take a careful look at how the number 5 is pronounced in the Thai language, then you will immediately understand why this particular number is used to express laughing sounds.

Yes, that’s right – ‘555’ is not pronounced as ‘Five Five Five’ like many of us were probably thinking.

According to the Thai language, the number 5 is pronounced as ‘ห้า’ or ‘Ha’ in English. By typing ‘555’ or ‘Ha Ha Ha’ in text, it sounds like how one would be saying “hahaha” and laughing in real life.

Number five seems like the easiest and most familiar option, with an already friendly tone to laughing sounds in the Western world. Now known as local internet slang, you can send ‘555+’ to your friends to convey an even funnier reaction. 

Why do Thai people laugh with ‘555’ in the social world?

The Thai language has forty-four alphabets, twenty-two vowels, and five tones, which means that to write ‘Ha Ha Ha,’ one would need to combine the alphabets, vowels, and tones to form a single phrase would look as such: ‘ฮ่า ฮ่า ฮ่า.’

However, it would take a very long time to correctly type out Thai letters on a keyboard, which is why it is preferred to type in ‘555’ instead. (Source)

Additionally, with the phenomenon of social media taking over Thailand by storm in the early 2000s, Thai people were getting more into social networking apps and text messaging. Known as one of the top countries with millions of Twitter users, many of today’s tweets include ‘555’ and ‘555+’, as the abbreviation is commonly known among the Thai community.

Moreover, Thai celebrities, idols, foreign fans, and kpop fangirls are also familiar with the term ‘555’ and use the phrase when interacting with local Thai people online. 

The powerful meaning behind the number 5

The number 5 is quite a robust number for many reasons. While the number is used in the entertainment industry as laughter and social connection, it is also deemed profound and meaningful.

The number 5 is used in many forms of divine reading, from where it represents exploration, travel, freedom, and change. Additionally, the use of tripe 5 emphasizes and amplifies its power. 

The number 5 can indicate that change is coming; the beginning of a new period of personal growth or physical change, such as a new job or an exciting new house move. However, if you are in Thailand, it might just mean that you did read something funny on the internet.

This can get you thinking about why the number ‘555’ was used in the first place. Well, take a look at the number ‘666’ – altogether, it is the “number of the beast,” a term taken from the Book of Revelation. Although that might sound interesting, it does not represent anything connected to the world of laughter.

Thai people have always been superstitious, meaning they take their numbers very seriously. The number nine, for example, is related to long life, prosperity, and progress.

However, in Japan, the number 9 is considered trouble. In the same way, Thailand has its idea of how lucky and unlucky numbers feel to them, and ‘555’ is regarded as one of the positive ones. (Source) 

When and how to properly use ‘555’

Thai people love it when their foreign friends learn and use the Thai language when communicating with them. Most significantly, ‘555’ is one of the most straightforward Thai words you can learn and use with your Thai friends and colleagues.

The use of a phrase that has a similar connotation to Western abbreviations like ‘lol’ makes it easier to relate to people, and at the same time, not have to learn how to use the complicated Thai keyboard.

As for when to use ‘555’, one can use ‘555’ whenever they see something funny posted on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, or when someone says something funny in their text messages.

Put, ‘555’ is the equivalent of ‘LOL’ or ‘ROFL’ in the Thai language, so one can use ‘555’ in the situations they usually use ‘LOL.’ The funnier the post or the conversation is, the longer ‘555’ is!

And just like using ‘LOL’ to lessen the awkwardness or soften the tone in the text, you can use ‘555’ in the same way. Additionally, applications like Line have stickers, gifs, and emojis, linking to ‘555’, which can be used in place of text messages. 

However, you do not always have to use ‘555’ to laugh. As several people use the term ‘lol’ to lighten up the mood or tone of the text, young people use ‘555’ in casual conversation, even if the post is not funny.

For example, when texting between close friends, one might say ‘Where are you 5555??’ instead of just writing ‘Where are you?’, which sounds more serious and interrogating to the recipient. (Source)

Here are some example sentences using ‘555’ so that you can text like a local in Thai and earn more social points among your friends and colleagues!

Example 1:

Person 1: Have you seen this viral meme?

Person 2: Yes, that meme is so funny and on-point 555!

Example 2:

Person 1: Did you see the red light?

Person 2: I did, I didn’t see the policeman

Person 1: 5555555+

Example 3:

Person 1: When are you arriving 55555?

Person 2: I am almost there 555.

Note that 555 is pretty informal usage, so be careful when using it with elders or your boss, even when they are the ones using it first. As much as Thai people love foreigners learning their habits, they are also serious about age and hierarchy.

What does 555 mean in Thailand?

‘555’ is a powerful phrase used in Thailand for casual and humorous entertainment. Famously known as Thailand’s top internet slang, you can catch locals, teenagers, elders, politicians, and celebrities using the phrase across social media.

However, also note that ‘555’ has an extremely serious and positive connotation; it links to long-term freedom and change, thus linking to prosperity for the future of Thailand. Make sure that when using ‘555’, you carry truthful and courageous energy. 

Like always, if you want to discover more about Thailand, stay guided with ThaiGuider. You might learn something you never knew about this unique country.

The post What Does 555 Mean in Thailand? Master the Local Lingo appeared first on ThaiGuider.

In the 2020 EF English Proficiency Index, Thailand ranked 89th place out of 100 countries. In big cities like Bangkok, Chiang Mai, or Pattaya, you will find people who can speak English. But daily, you might encounter many people who cannot speak English, especially when you travel to provinces.

This shouldn’t put you off visiting Thailand, though. There are still ways you can effectively converse with the locals during your stay. Read on to get some basic “Tinglish” tips along with some alternative forms of communication.

How openly do Thai people speak English?

Interestingly, even when they understand English, some might still refuse to talk with you in English or even pretend like they don’t understand you out of fear or shyness.

So, it’s safe to say that it can get pretty frustrating to communicate in English with the local people. But of course, if you go to department stores, hotels, and high-end restaurants, you will find people who can speak English. Also, most of the younger generation can speak (or at least understand) English very well.

However, there are many ways for foreigners and non-Thai speakers to enjoy their everyday lives in Thailand despite the language barriers and knowing very limited Thai language.

Here is what communication is like for foreigners like us in the Land of Smiles, where English is limited.

Learn “Tinglish”

One thing foreigners should understand is that it’s easier to communicate in English with the locals if one just forgets all the grammatical rules and make short sentences focusing only on the main points. This is because most Thai people speak what is known as “Tinglish.”

Tinglish is the method of conversing in English without using the proper grammar and/or sentence construction.

For example, Thai people use many clipped words when speaking in Tinglish, like saying ‘sewen’ instead of ‘7-11’. Propositions are often omitted in the sentences, so instead of ‘Where can I go for the toiler?’, local people are more likely to understand ‘Where go toilet?’.

Tinglish also has a lot of sentences that are spoken in literal translation from Thai to English, which can be pretty confusing for foreigners and expats who are not familiar with such usage of English.

Tinglish is used very widely, even on the official signs in public areas, as seen in the picture below.

Mastering Tinglish

As a general rule, just forget all the grammar rules and sentence structure you might have learned in the class and focus on catching the main points. If the vendor or the hotel receptionist says ‘No have’ when you asked for something, it means they don’t have the thing you asked for.

If the taxi driver asks you where you want to go, just say the name of the place you would like to go to and forget about using proper sentences like ‘I would like to go to this place please,’ because it will just confuse him and probably cause a lot of stress for both of you.

How do most Thai people speak English with foreigners?

Body language is the key:

It’s actually the universal truth for every foreigner. There have been many anecdotes that said that ordering meals at food courts is the most effective when one just simply points to the food displayed on the menu.

Also, body language and hand gestures help a lot when trying to explain or ask for something. Want the vendor aunty to pack your food for takeaway? Use body language.

Want to tell the direction of your hotel to the taxi uncle? Use body language. Simple and effective! You will also see that Thai people use a lot of body language to communicate with foreigners.

And that’s actually how one can even pick up some basic Thai words and Tinglish, by observing the body language Thai people use when they speak in English, or rather ‘Tinglish.’

With the help of smart phones and the internet:

Local people, especially the older generations, use the Thai language when it comes to numbers. Instead of saying ‘1, 2, 3’ to count, they will just use ‘หนึ่ง (nùeng), สอง (sǎawng), สาม (sǎam).’

Vendors are more likely to just show the price on the calculator when asked about the price. It’s a very common sight in the markets and fashion malls like Platinum Mall to see the vendors holding calculators or using the calculator app on their smartphones every time to let their customers know the price.

Google translate is something local people use a lot when they need to speak in English as well. When using online shopping applications such as Shopee or Lazada, both of which are very widely used in Thailand, the shops are likely to use google translate more often than not for inquiries made in English.

Grab drivers or food delivery riders use the auto-translated chat. This is why many foreigners and expats prefer to use Grab often. It saves non-Thai speakers from the trouble of explaining the location, which most of the time is not understood by the drivers due to the different accents or ways of pronouncing the words.

Now, you might be thinking, ‘Is google translate even accurate?’

Well, it’s not 100% accurate, but it helps to get the context in general, like how Tinglish works.

Conclusion

And even if all the things that have been mentioned above failed, fear not! Thai people are very friendly, and they are happy to help you most of the time.

More often than not, they will try their best to communicate with you, be it in Tinglish or by using body language, and they will even try to find someone who can communicate in English to help you.

You will see many nice people who are willing to step in and help out even without needing to ask for their help. Also, as above, many people from the younger generations can speak fluent English, making it easier to communicate than years ago.

Therefore, even though Thai people who can speak English are very low compared to other countries, it should not be a problem to visit the Land of Smiles.

Like always, if you want to discover more about Thailand, stay guided with ThaiGuider. You might learn something you never knew about this unique country.

The post Do Thai People Speak English? (How to Master “Tinglish”) appeared first on ThaiGuider.