The Thai written language is essentially alphabetic, but notoriously difficult to read due to a profusion of 44 consonants (many redundant), complicated tone and vowel signage around consonants and a complete lack of spaces between words.
; ka ?? : like 'a' in "car" (short vowel) ; kaa ?? : like 'a' in "father" (longer than "a") ; kae ?? : like 'a' in "man" (short vowel: "???") ; ke ?? : like 'e' in "bed" (short vowel: "???") ; ki ?? : like 'y' in "greedy" ; kii ?? : like 'ee' in "see" (longer than "i") ; ko ?? : like 'o' in "torn" (short vowel: "????") ; ko ?? : like 'oa' in "moan" (short vowel: "???") ; koe ??? : like 'i' in "sir" (short vowel: "????") ; ku ?? : like 'oo' in "hoop" ; kuu ?? : like 'ue' in "blue" (longer than "u") ; kue ??? : frontal version of "u" (akin to German "u", French "d'''u'''", not found in English) (short vowel: "??") ; kam ?? : like 'um' in "dummy" ; kai ??/?? : like 'i' in "kind" ; kia ???? : like 'eer' in "beer" (but don't pronounce "r") ; kua ??? : similar to 'ou' in "tour" (but don't pronounce "r") ; kuea ???? : like "ue" followed by a short "a" ; kao ??? : like 'ow' in "cow"
In Thai romanized with the Royal Thai General System (used on Wikitravel), the distinction is usually represented by writing aspirated consonants with "h" and unaspirated ones without it. In particular, "ph" represents a hard aspirated 'p' and ''not'' a soft 'f', and Phuket is thus pronounced "Poo-ket". Likewise, "th" is a hard aspirated 't' and hence Thailand is pronounced "Tie-land".
Other systems of romanization may use 'bp', 'dt' and 'g' for the unaspirated sounds, and 'p', 't', and 'k' for the aspirated sounds. This is not used on Wikitravel.
; b <big><big><big>?</big></big></big> : like 'b' in "bed" ; bp : not used in Wikitravel, but in other romanizations may represent unaspirated 'p' ; ch <big><big><big>? ? ?</big></big></big> : like 'ch' in "chop" ; d <big><big><big>? ?</big></big></big> : like 'd' in "dog" ; dt : not used in Wikitravel, but in other romanizations may represent unaspirated 't' ; f <big><big><big>? ?</big></big></big> : like 'f' in "fun" ; g : not used in Wikitravel, but in other romanizations may represent unaspirated 'k' ; h <big><big><big>? ?</big></big></big> : like 'h' in "help" ; j <big><big><big>?</big></big></big> : like 'j' or 'dg' in "judge" ; k <big><big><big>?</big></big></big> : like 'k' in "skate" (unaspirated) ; kh <big><big><big>? ? ? ? ?</big></big></big> : like 'c' in "Kate" (aspirated) ; l <big><big><big>? ? ?</big></big></big> : like 'l' in "love" ; m <big><big><big>?</big></big></big> : like 'm' in "mother" ; n <big><big><big>? ?</big></big></big> : like 'n' in "nice" ; ng <big><big><big>?</big></big></big> : like 'ng' in "sing", but can also be used at the beginning of words ; p <big><big><big>?</big></big></big> : like 'p' in "spit" (unaspirated) ; ph <big><big><big>? ? ?</big></big></big> : like 'p' in "pit" (aspirated) ; r ? <big><big><big>?</big></big></big> : very light 'r', often pronounced as 'l' or omitted entirely ; s <big><big><big>? ? ? ?</big></big></big> : like 'ss' in "hiss", ; t <big><big><big>? ?</big></big></big> : like 't' in "stop" ; th <big><big><big>? ? ? ? ? ?</big></big></big> : like 't' in "top" ; v : not used in Wikitravel, but in other romanizations may represent 'w' ; w <big><big><big>?</big></big></big> : like 'w' in "weight" ; y <big><big><big>? ?</big></big></big> : like 'y' in "yes"
: ''phom kin khao'' ????????? : "I eat rice"
Adjectives are placed after the noun, not before. : ''phom kin '''khao suai''''' ???????????? : "I eat '''rice beautiful'''" (I eat white rice)
The negation marker ?? ''mai'' goes before the verb. : ''phom '''mai kin''' khao'' ???????????? : "I '''not eat''' rice" (I will not eat/am not eating rice)
The past tense marker ???? ''laew'' goes after the verb and its object (if any). : ''phom '''kin''' khao '''laew''''' ????????????? : "I '''eat''' rice '''already'''" (I ate rice)
Pronouns are often omitted if it's clear from the context who is doing what.
When addressing people, ??? ''khun'' is a safe, respectful all-purpose equivalent to "Mr/Ms/Mrs". People you're familiar with can be addressed as ??? ''phii'' (if they are elders) or ???? ''nong'' (if they are younger). These are always used with first names, so your business partner Supachai Sakulwattana is ''khun Supachai'' and your secretary Nipaporn Khampolsiri is ''nong Nipaporn''. All Thais also have short nicknames, but these are only used informally.
The closer two friends are, the less often you will hear ???? ''khrap'' and ??? ''kha'' being spoken. This is especially prominent in lower and middle classes, but is a general trend. This can be compared to western languages, where adding "Sir" at the end of each sentence when speaking to somebody in authority is becoming less and less common, and already entirely removed in many languages. On another note, there is a trend among the upper and middle classes, especially among younger men, to call each other ''phii'', no matter the age difference. This is part of greater age equality in Thailand.
; Hello. : ?????? (''sa-wat-dii'') (informal) ; Hello. : ?????????? (''sa-wat-dii, khrap'') (polite, speaker is man) ; Hello. : ????????? (''sa-wat-dii, kha'') (polite, speaker is woman) ; Hello. : ??????[????/???] (''haloh, khrap/kha'') (answering the phone) ; How are you? : ?????????? (''sabaai-dii rue?'') ; Fine : ?????? (''sabaai-dii'') ; Fine, and you? : ?????? ??????????[????/???] (''sabaai-dii lae khun la, khrap/kha'') ; What is your name? : ??????????? (''khun chue arai?'') ; My name is ______ . : ??/????????? (''ph?m/di-ch?n cheu _____ '') ; Nice to meet you. : ????????????????? (''yin-dii thii dai ruu-jak'') ; Please. : ????? (''karunaa'') ; Thank you [very much]. : ??????[???] (''khop khun [maak]'') ; You're welcome. : ????????? (''mai pen rai'') ; Yes. : ??? (''chai'') ; No. : ?????? (''mai chai'') ; Excuse me. (''begging pardon'') : ????? (''kho thot'') ; I'm sorry. : ????? (''kho thot'') ; Goodbye : ?????? (''laa kon'') ; Goodbye. : ??????[????/???] (''sa-wat-dii [khrap/kha]'') ; How : ????? ?? (''yangrai'') ; Where? : ?????? (''thii nai''') ; What? : ???? (''a'rai''') ; When? : ????????? (''muea-rai''') ; Who? : ??? (''khrai'') ; Why? : ???? (''thammai''') ; How much, how many? : ????????, ??? (''thao'rai''') or (''kii'') ; I want/would like to _____.''(verb)'' : ??/????? ???? _____(''ph?m/di-ch?n yaak'') ; I want/would like _____.''(noun)'' : ??/????? ?? _____(''ph?m/di-ch?n kh?w'') ; I need_____. : ??/????? ??????? _____(''ph?m/di-ch?n tong kaan'') ; Make a question : add ??? to end of sentence (''m?i'') ; I can't speak Thai [well]. : ????????????????[??] (''phuut phaasaa thai mai dai [dii]'') ; Do you speak English? : ??????????????????? (''phuut phaasaa ang-krit dai mai?'') ; I don't understand. : ????????? (''mai khao jai'') ; I understand. : ?????? (''kao jai'') ; Please speak more slowly : ??????? ????? (''phuut chaa chaa noi'') ; How do you say this in Thai? : ????????????????????? (''phuut pen phaa-s?a thai yaang-rai'') ; Please repeat it : ???????? (''phuut iik thii'') ; O.K./All right : ???? (''tok long'') ; Really? : ????? ???? (''jing jing rue'') ; Thank you very much : ????????? (''khop khun maak'') ; That_fs all right : ????????? (''mai pen-rai'') ; I don_ft know : ??????? / ?????? (''mai saap (formal)''/''mai roo'') ; I think so : ???????? (''h?n duai'') ; What do you think? : ????????????? (''khun kit yaang-rai'') ; Are you sure? : ??????????? (''khun nae-jai m?i'') ; It_fs fine : ?????? ('dii laew''') ; Is it possible? : ???????????? (''pen pai dai m?i'') ; Is it good? : ????? (''dii m?i'') ; Be careful! : ???????????? (''ra-wang noi na'') ; What is this? : ??????? (''nii a-rai'') ; Is it far? : ?????? (''klai m?i'') ; Beautiful : ??? (''s?ai'') ; Delicious : ????? (''a-roi'') ; Wonderful : ??,????? (''dii, wi-set'') ; Interesting : ??????? (''naa s?n-jai'') ; What_fs the matter? : ?????????? (''pen a-rai pai'') ; Are you all right? : ?????????????? (''khun mai pen-rai na'') ; Hot [temp] : ???? (''ron'') ; Hungry : ??? (''h?w'') ; Thirsty : ?????? (''h?w nam'') ; Tired : ??????? (''nueai'') ; Happy : ????????? (''mii khwaam suk'') ; Sad : ????? (''sao'') ; Sorry/Excuse me : ????? (''kh? thot'') ; Angry : ???? (''mo-h?'')
; Help! : ???????? (''chuai duai'') ; Watch out : ????? (''ra-wang'') ; Fire! : ?????? (''fai mai'') ; It_fs dangerous : ?????????? (''man antaraai'') ; Danger : ??????? (''antaraai'') ; I am sick : ??/????? ??????? (''ph?m/di-ch?n mai sa-baai'') ; Where is the toilet? : ??????? ???? ??? ??? (''hong nam yuu thii n?i'')
Thai has its own set of numerals, shown below, but these are used quite rarely — the major exception being sites with double pricing for Thais and foreigners, the Thai price being often disguised with Thai numbers. Being able to read the Thai price just might get you in at the Thai rate.
; 0 : ? (''suun'') ????? ; 1 : ? (''nueng'') ????? ; 2 : ? (''song'') ??? ; 3 : ? (''saam'') ??? ; 4 : ? (''sii'') ??? ; 5 : ? (''haa'') ??? ; 6 : ? (''hok'') ?? ; 7 : ? (''jet'') ???? ; 8 : ? (''paet'') ??? ; 9 : ? (''kao'') ???? ; 10 : ?? (''sip'') ??? ; 11 : ?? (''sip-et'') ??????? ; 12 : ?? (''sip-song'') ?????? ; 13 : ?? (''sip-saam'') ?????? ; 14 : ?? (''sip-sii'') ?????? ; 15 : ?? (''sip-haa'') ?????? ; 16 : ?? (''sip-hok'') ????? ; 17 : ?? (''sip-jet'') ??????? ; 18 : ?? (''sip-paet'') ?????? ; 19 : ?? (''sip-kao'') ??????? ; 20 : ?? (''yii-sip'') ?????? ; 21 : ?? (''yii-sip-et'') ?????????? ; 22 : ?? (''yii-sip-song'') ????????? ; 23 : ?? (''yii-sip-saam'') ????????? ; 30 : ?? (''saam-sip'') ?????? ; 40 : ?? (''sii-sip'') ?????? ; 50 : ?? (''haa-sip'') ?????? ; 60 : ?? (''hok-sip'') ????? ; 70 : ?? (''jet-sip'') ??????? ; 80 : ?? (''paet-sip'') ?????? ; 90 : ?? (''kao-sip'') ??????? ; 100 : ??? (''nueng roi'') ????????? ; 200 : ??? (''song roi'') ??????? ; 300 : ??? (''saam roi'') ??????? ; 1000 : ???? (''nueng phan'') ???????? ; 2000 : ???? (''song phan'') ?????? ; 10 000 : ????? (''nueng muen'') ?????????? ; 100 000 : ?????? (''nueng saen'') ???????? ; 1 000 000 : ??????? (''neung laan'') ????????? ; 1 000 000 000 : ?????????? (''phan laan'') ??????? ; 1 000 000 000 000 : ????????????? (''laan laan'') ???????? ; number _____ (''train, bus, etc.'') : ????? _____ (''ber'') ; half : ????? (''krueng'') ; less : ???????? (''noi kwa'') ; more : ??????? (''maak kwa'')
; now : ????????? (''d?o nii'') ; later : ???? (''l?ng'') ; before : ???? (''kon'') ; morning : ???? (''chao'') ; afternoon : ???? (''baai'') ; evening : ???? (''yen'') ; night : ??? (''khuen'')
The easiest of the three is '''24-hour official clock''', encountered primarily in bus and railway schedules. To create an official time, simply affix ''naalikaa'' ?????? to the number of hours, so that e.g. ''kao naalikaa'' is 9 AM (0900) and ''sip-saam naalikaa'' is 1 PM (1300).
Things get a little more difficult in the '''12-hour common clock'''. As in the West, the number of the hour runs from 1 to 12, but instead of just AM and PM, the day is divided into four sections (??? ''ton''):
# ???? ''chao'' (morning), from 6 AM to noon # ???? ''baai'' (afternoon), from noon to 4 PM # ???? ''yen'' (evening), from 4 PM to 6 PM # ??? ''khuen'' (night), from 6 PM to 11 PM
A 12-hour time is thus composed from the hour, the word ''mong'' ??? and the correct ''ton'' ???. As exceptions, the word ''baai'' comes before ''mong'' (not after); 1 PM is just ''baai moong'' with no number; and there are special words for noon and midnight. Some examples:
; 1:00 AM : ??????? (''tii nueng''') ; 2:00 AM : ????? (''tii s?ng'') ; 3:00 AM : ????? (''tii saam'') ; 4:00 AM : ????? (''tii sii'') ; 5:00 AM : ????? (''tii ha'') ; 6:00 AM : ????????? (''hok mong chao'') ; 7:00 AM : ??????????? (''jet mong chao'') ; 8:00 AM : ?????????? (''paet mong chao'') ; 9:00 AM : ??????????? (''kao mong chao'') ;10:00 AM : ?????????? (''sip mong chao'') ;11:00 AM : ?????????????? (''sip et mong chao'') ;12 noon : ?????? (''thiang'') or ????????? (''thiang wan'') ; 1:00 PM : ??????? (''baai mong'') ; 2:00 PM : ?????????? (''baai s?ng mong'') ; 3:00 PM : ?????????? (''baai saam mong'') ; 4:00 PM : ?????????? (''sii mong yen''') ; 5:00 PM : ?????????? (''haa mong yen''') ; 6:00 PM : ????????? (''hok' mong yen''') ; 7:00 PM : ????????? (''nueng' thum''') ; 8:00 PM : ??????? (''s?ng thum''') ; 9:00 PM : ??????? (''saam thum'')' ;10:00 PM : ??????? (''sii thum''') ;11:00 PM : ??????? (''ha thum''') ;12:00 midnight : ????????? (''thiang khuen'') or ?????? (''s?ng yaam'')
; _____ second(s) : _____ ?????? (''wi na-thii'') ; _____ minute(s) : _____ ???? (''na-thii'') ; _____ hour(s) : _____ ??????? (''chua mong'') ; _____ day(s) : _____ ??? (''wan''') ; _____ week(s) : _____ ??????? (''aathit''') or ??????? (''sap-daa'') ; _____ month(s) : _____ ????? (''duean'') ; _____ year(s) : _____ ?? (''pii'')
; today : ?????? (''wannii'') ; yesterday : ??????????? (''muea wan nii'') or ???????? (''muea waan'') ; tomorrow : ???????? (''phrung nii'') ; this week : ?????????? (''aathit nii'') ; last week : ??????????? (''aathit kon'') ; next week : ??????????? (''aathit naa'')
; Monday : ????????? (''wan jan'') ; Tuesday : ????????? (''wan angkaan'') ; Wednesday : ?????? (''wan phut'') ; Thursday : ??????????? (''wan pharuehat'') ; Friday : ???????? (''wan suk'') ; Saturday : ???????? (''wan sao'') ; Sunday : ?????????? (''wan aathit'')
; January : ?????? (''makarakhom'') or ???? (''makara'') ; February : ?????????? (''kumphaaphan'') or ????? (''kumphaa'') ; March : ?????? (''miinakhom'') or ???? (''miina'') ; April : ?????? (''mesayon'') or ???? (''mesa'') ; May : ??????? (''pruetsaphakhom'') or ????? (''pruetsapha'') ; June : ???????? (''mithunayon'') or ?????? (''mithuna'') ; July : ??????? (''karakadaakhom'') or ????? (''karakadaa'') ; August : ??????? (''singhakhom'') or ????? (''singha'') ; September : ??????? (''kanyaayon'') or ????? (''kanyaa'') ; October : ?????? (''tulaakhom'') or ???? (''tulaa'') ; November : ????????? (''pruetsajikaayon'') or ??????? (''pruetsajikaa'') ; December : ??????? (''thanwaakhom'') or ????? (''thanwaa'')
; black : ???? (''sii dam'') ; white : ????? (''sii khao'') ; gray : ????? (''sii thao'') ; red : ????? (''sii daeng'') ; blue : ?????/????????? (''sii faa/sii nahm-ngern'') ; yellow : ???????? (''sii lueang'') ; green : ??????? (''sii khiao'') ; orange : ????? (''sii som'') ; purple : ?????? (''sii muang'') ; brown : ???????? (''sii nam taan'') ; gold : ????? (''sii thong'') ; silver : ?????? (''sii ngern'')
; Do you have this in my size? : Do you have this in my size? (''...'') ; How much is this? : ???????????? (''nii thao rai?'') ; That's too expensive. : ????? (''phaeng pai'') ; Would you take _____? : ?????? _____ ???? (''khun rap _____ m?i'') ; expensive : ??? (''phaeng'') ; cheap : ??? (''thuuk'') ; I can't afford it. : ??/??????????????? (''ph?m/di-ch?n sue mai w?i'') ; I don't want it. : ??/??????????????? (''''ph?m/di-ch?n mai tong karn'') ; You're cheating me. : ?????????????/????? (''khun kam-lang kong ph?m/di-ch?n'') ; I'm not interested. : ??/???????????????? (''ph?m/di-ch?n mai koi s?n jai'') ; OK, I'll take it. : ???? ??/????? ?????? (''tok long ph?m/di-ch?n ja sue'') ; Can I have a bag? : ????????????? (''kh? th?ng dai m?i'') ; Do you ship (overseas)? : ????????? (????????????) ?????????? (''khun song kh?ng (pai taang pra-tet) hai dai m?i'') ; Need... : ???????... (''tong kaan'') ; ...toothpaste. : ...??????? (''yaa s?i fan'') ; ...a toothbrush. : ...????????? (''praeng s?i fan'') ; ...tampons. : ...??????????????? (''phaa a-n?a-mai baep sot'') ; ...soap. : ...???? (''sa-buu'') ; ...shampoo. : ...????? (''chaem-phuu'') ; ...medicine. : ...?? (''yaa'') ; ...aspirin : ...???????? (''aet-pai-rin'') ; ...pain reliever. (''e.g., aspirin or ibuprofen'') : ...???????? (''yaa gae puat'') ; ...fever medicine. : ...??????? (''yaa lod khai'') ; ...stomach medicine. : ...???????????? (''yaa gae puat tong'') ; ...a razor. : ...?????? (''miit kon'') ; ...an umbrella. : ...??? (''rom'') ; ...sunblock lotion. : ...???????????? (''lochan kan daet'') ; ...a postcard. : ...??????????? (''prai-sa-nii-ya-bat'') ; ...postage stamps. : ...?????? (''sa-taem'') ; ...batteries. : ...????????? (''taan fai ch?ai'') ; ...writing paper. : ...????????????????? (''kra-daat kh?an jot m?i'') ; ...a pen. : ...????? (''paak-kaa'') ; ...book : ...???????(''n?ngs?e'') ; ...magazine : ...???????(''nit-ta-ya-s?an'') ; ...newspaper : ...???????????? (''n?ngs?e phim'') ; ...English-language books. : ...????????????????? ('n?ngs?e phaas?a angkrit'') ; ...English-language magazines. : ...????????????????? (''nit-ta-ya-s?an phaas?a angkrit'') ; ...an English-language newspaper. : ...?????????????????????? (''n?ngs?e phim phaas?a angkrit'') ; ...an English-English dictionary. : ...????????????????????????? (''photja naanukrom angkrit pen angkrit'')