Thai language
The Thai language is the national and official language of Thailand. It is the first language of the Thai people, Thailand's main ethnic group. Thai is closely related to the Lao language. In fact, some dialects of Thai and Lao are mutually intelligible, meaning that speakers of one language can talk with and understand speakers of the other language without knowing the other's language.
| Thai | |
|---|---|
| ภาษาไทย phasa thai | |
| Native to |  Thailand Myanmar Laos Cambodia Malaysia |
| Native speakers | 60-65 million (date missing) |
| Language family | |
| Official status | |
| Official language in | Thailand ASEAN |
| Recognised minority language in |  Indonesia Myanmar Cambodia Laos |
| Regulated by | The Royal Institute |
| Language codes | |
| ISO 639-1 | th |
| ISO 639-2 | tha |
| ISO 639-3 | tha |
 | |
Sounds
Thai is a tone language, like Chinese.
Writing System
The Thai alphabet has 44 consonants: ก ข ฃ ค ฅ ฆ ง จ ฉ ช ซ ฌ ญ ฎ ฏ ฐ ฑ ฒ ณ ด ต ถ ท ธ น บ ป ผ ฝ พ ฟ ภ ม ย ร ล ว ศ ษ ส ห ฬ อ ฮ
The alphabet has Thai numbers:
- ๑ 1
- ๒ 2
- ๓ 3
- ๔ 4
- ๕ 5
- ๖ 6
- ๗ 7
- ๘ 8
- ๙ 9
- ๐ 0
Thai Language Media
A native Thai speaker, recorded in Bangkok
Example of divergence among the Kra-Dai Language
Monophthongs of Thai. From Tingsabadh & Abramson (1993:25)
Diphthongs of Thai. From Tingsabadh & Abramson (1993:25)
Th-Thai tones marked with IPA with na
Tone system of the Thai language.
"Kingdom of Thailand" in Thai script.
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Other websites
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This language has its own Wikipedia project. See the Thai language edition. |
- thai-language.com English speakers' online resource for the Thai language
- Thai Online Web Application with 105 Interactive Lessons of which the first 10 are free to access.
- Thai Flashcards, online flashcards with sound.
