Thai Language are becoming better and better known around the world. Whereas, before World war II and perhaps even as recently as 10-20 years ago, the Thai language was generally regarded by most Westerners as a "rare" or "exotic" - even "mysterious" - language, it is now taking its place among the ranks of the useful modern languages. No longer is it considered rather unusual to find a "Westerner" who can not only speak Thai, but can also read and write it. This is as it should be because the Thai language is a rich, colorful and distinctive one, well worth the trouble of learning.
Beside being spoken by at least almost sixty million people in Thailand, the Thai language is undoubtly known by a great number of people in many other countries, not only in Southeast Asia but all over the world. As for those areas outside the geographical confines of Thailand where the Thai language or a dialect of standard Thai may be heard, i.e. Shan States in Burma, many parts of Laos, parts of Yunnan Province in China, parts of Cambodia, and even in Canton province in China. (Although the Lao language is itself considered as a separate language and not a dialect of Thai).
Thai is one of the oldest languages in East and South-East Asia. It is a monosyllabic language which uses five tones (high, mid, low, rising, and falling tone) to alter the meaning of a single syllable. This makes it rather tricky to learn for most Westerners used to speaking non-tonal languages.
The Thai script, created and introduced by King Rham Khamhaeng in 1283, consists of 44 consonants and 48 vowels, and is of Sanskrit origin.
Central Thai is Thailand's official language and is used in schools, although other Thai dialects are spoken in various areas. Thai is a tonal language, so that a given syllable can have different meanings depending on the inflection with which it is pronounced. Central Thai has five tones. Chinese and Malay are spoken by many people. Individuals with an advanced education often speak English. Some minority groups, such as the Mon and Hmong, have their own languages. Thailand has a very high literacy rate—95 percent of Thai citizens can read and write.
Words and Phrases
When being polite the speaker ends his or her sentence with "khrap" (for men) or "kha" (for women). khrap and kha are also commonly used to answer 'yes' or to show agreement.
| Some Thai words and phrases |
| English | Thai | English | Thai |
| I | phom (men)
di-chan (women) | You | khun |
| Thank you | khaup khun krap/kha | Hello | sawasdii |
| How are you? | khun pen yaang rai / khun sabaay dii reu |
| (I) understand | khao jai | (I) don't understand | mai khao jai |
Excuse me.
Sorry. | khau thot khrap/kha | It doesn't matter. | mai pen rai |
| What's your name? | khun cheu arai | my name is ...... | phom/di-chan cheu .... |
| Speak slowly, please | ka-ru-naa phuut chaa chaa | What? | arai |
| When? | meua rai | Where? | thii nai |
| Who? | khrai | Why? | tham mai |