The fascinating history and facts of the Thai language
As Thailand becomes a hotspot for travel and a favourite destination for expats, more people are drawn to learn Thai to connect more deeply with the culture and people. With its melodic tones and distinct script, it may seem like one of the hardest languages to learn at first glance. However, it’s actually an incredibly captivating language. Together with ALA Language School, we’ve compiled some historical insights and fascinating facts about the Thai language that make it unique and worthwhile to learn.
A brief history of the Thai language
Thai is part of the Kra-Dai language family, which can be found across mainland Southeast Asia, southern China, and parts of northern Asia. There’s an ongoing debate about where the Thai language originated, with some suggesting it began near what is now the border between Vietnam and China.
The establishment of the Sukhothai Kingdom in the 13th century marked a significant turning point for the Thai language. During this period, written Thai was introduced, with King Ramkhamhaeng credited as the creator of the Thai script. The script was influenced by the Old Khmer script, which itself derived from the ancient south Indian Pallava alphabet. The language developed further through interactions with neighbouring cultures, particularly the Mon, Khmer, and Indian civilisations.
While the writing system has changed little since its introduction, the language underwent significant modernisation during the reign of King Chulalongkorn in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Today, standard Thai is the sole official language of Thailand. It’s the principal language of education and government and is spoken by 69 million people.
Interesting facts about the Thai language
Here are some of the most interesting Thai language facts that may help you appreciate its beauty and understand why learning it can be such a rewarding experience.
1. It’s a tonal language
Thai is a tonal language, which means that the pitch you use can change the meaning of a word. There are five tones in Thai: mid, low, high, rising, and falling. Therefore, it’s important to recognise the pitch of a word when you’re learning the language. Here’s an example of words that sound similar but have different meanings depending on the tone:
- Mid tone (เสียงสามัญ): ไมล์ [may] – mile
- Low tone (เสียงเอก): ใหม่ [mày] – new or again
- Falling tone (เสียงโท): ไม่ [mây] – no or not
- High tone (เสียงตรี): ไม้ [máy] – wood
- Rising tone (เสียงจัตวา): ไหม [mǎy] – question particle or silk
For some learners, hearing and producing these different tones comes naturally, while for others, it requires more time and practice. Therefore, it’s important to find the right approach to learning Thai.
2. The Thai script has 44 consonants, 32 vowels and 4 tone markers!
The Thai script consists of 44 consonants, 32 vowels, and 4 tone markers. This may seem overwhelming at first, especially given the script’s unique and intricate appearance. However, once you become familiar with the patterns and sounds, it becomes much easier to learn and memorise.
3. Understanding the Absence of Verb Conjugation
In languages that conjugate verbs, the verb form changes based on various grammatical aspects, including tense (past, present, future), person (first, second, third), and number (singular, plural). For instance, in English, the verb “to eat” changes to “eats” in the third person singular present tense and “ate” in the past tense. In contrast, Thai verbs remain in their base form regardless of tense or subject. Instead of modifying the verb itself, Thai relies on context and time indicators to convey meaning. This simplifies the grammatical structure, making it more accessible for learners.
For example, take a look at the following phrases:
- ฉันไปบ้านเพื่อน (chán pay bâan phʉ̂an) – I go to a friend’s house. “ไป” (pay) conveys the present action.
- ฉันกำลังไปบ้านเพื่อน (chán kamlaŋ pay bâan phʉ̂an) – I am going to a friend’s house. “กำลัง” (kamlaŋ) conveys the present continuous action.
- ฉันไปบ้านเพื่อนแล้ว or เมื่อวาน – chán pay bâan phʉ̂an lɛ́ɛw or mʉ̂awaan – I went to a friend’s house. (already or yesterday), “แล้ว” or “เมื่อวาน” (“lɛ́ɛw“ or “mʉ̂awaan”) conveys the past action. [note that แล้ว (lɛ́ɛw) also indicates the present action that existing now e.g. ฝนตกแล้ว (fǒn tòk lɛ́ɛw) – It’s raining now.]
- ฉันจะไปบ้านเพื่อนพรุ่งนี้ (chán jà pay bâan phʉ̂an phrûŋ níi) – I will go to a friend’s house tomorrow, “จะ” (jà) and “พรุ่งนี้” (phrûŋ-níi) conveys the future action.
Learners find it is easier to grasp the language since they do not have to memorize various verb forms. By using static verb forms and relying on context and time indicators, such as the words “กำลัง” (kamlaŋ – to be going to), “แล้ว” (lɛ́ɛw – already), “เมื่อวาน” (mʉ̂awaan – yesterday), “จะ” (jà – will), and “พรุ่งนี้” (phrûŋníi – tomorrow), Thai maintains a level of simplicity that enhances communication. Understanding this aspect is crucial for learners as they navigate the language, enabling them to focus on effective expression rather than complex grammatical structures.
4. Unique classifiers
If you want to speak Thai naturally, you need to learn the correct classifiers. Thai uses classifiers when counting or referring to specific nouns, typically following a Noun-Number-Classifier order. Different classifiers exist for people, objects, shapes, and abstract concepts, adding a unique layer of complexity to the language. For example,
ตัว (tua) is the classifier used for animals , so
- “two dogs” would be หมาสองตัว (mǎa sɔ̌ɔŋ tua). Thai WON’T say สองหมา (sɔ̌ɔŋ mǎa)
คน (khon) is the classifier for people, so
- เพื่อนสองคน (phʉ̂an sɔ̌ɔŋ khon) means two friends. Thai WON’T say สองเพื่อน (sɔ̌ɔŋ phʉ̂an)
5. No spaces between words
One of the most interesting facts about the Thai language is that it uses a different rule for spacing compared to languages like English, French, or Bahasa Indonesia. In Thai, everything flows together, so there are no spaces between words. Instead, spaces are used to separate phrases or sentences. This might seem tough at first, but once you get the hang of it, the rhythm of the language starts to make sense.
6. Politeness in the Thai language
Thais also have a unique way of showing respect through language. Speakers often add politeness particles like “ครับ” (khráp) for men and “ค่ะ” (khà) or “คะ” (khá) for women at the end of sentences to show respect. Additionally, there are specific pronouns and forms of address that vary depending on the person’s age, social status, and the nature of your relationship with them.
7. Various regional dialects
To the untrained ear, Thai may sound uniform, but just like English (and many other languages), there are regional dialects. There are actually 73 living languages in Thailand. Central Thai, spoken in Bangkok, is the standard. It’s taught in schools and used in the government and media. However, while 88% of the country’s population speaks Thai, only 33% use Central Thai as their first language. Most people speak their regional dialects, which can be so different that it’s like speaking a different language.
8. Loanwords from other languages
Throughout its history, Thai has borrowed words from various languages. Over the centuries, it has absorbed words from languages like Khmer, Chinese, Portuguese, and English. The oldest borrowed words likely came from Chinese, and you’ll still find recent Chinese loanwords in use today. Many sophisticated and literary terms are derived from Pāli and Sanskrit, reflecting Thailand’s deep Buddhist roots. These influences are especially evident in words related to religion and philosophy.
In modern times, English has become a major source of new words, particularly in technology, business, and pop culture. One of the best examples is คอมพิวเตอร์ (khɔm-phíw-tə̂ə), which means, you guessed it, “computer.” Other examples include โทรศัพท์ (thoo-rá-sàp) for “telephone” and อินเตอร์เน็ต (ʔin-təə-nèt) for “internet.”
9. Royal speak
Thailand has a special set of vocabulary for the royal family called “raa-chaa-sàp.” This language is used in formal settings and when talking about the monarchy, showing the deep respect Thai people have for their royals.
10. Reduplication in Thai
Reduplication is a distinctive linguistic feature in Thai that involves repeating a word or part of a word to convey various meanings, such as indicating plurality, intensifying meaning, or expressing habitual actions. For instance,
- The adjective “ง่าย” (ŋâay) means “easy,” but when reduplicated as “เรื่องง่ายๆ” (rʉ̂aŋŋâay ŋâay), it translates to “It’s a piece of cake”
- The adverb “ซ้ำ” (sám) means “to repeat,” can be transformed into “เขียนซ้ำๆ จนกว่าจะจำ” (khǐan sám sám jon kwàa jà jam), meaning “To write it repeatedly until you remember it.”
- The verb “หลับ” (làp) means “to sleep” while “ตื่น” (tʉ̀ʉn) means “to wake up” but when these verbs are reduplicated as “เขาหลับๆ ตื่นๆ ตลอดทั้งคืน” (khǎw làp làp tʉ̀ʉn tʉ̀ʉn talɔ̀ɔt tháŋ khʉʉn), it conveys the idea that “He kept dozing off and waking up the whole night.”
Mastering reduplication not only enriches one’s vocabulary but also improves fluency, enabling more expressive and nuanced conversations in Thai.
Start your Thai language journey today
Thai is a beautiful language. Beyond just picking up a new skill, learning Thai can open many doors. It allows you to immerse yourself in the rich culture, connect more deeply with locals, explore Thai literature, and fully enjoy your time in Thailand.
If you’re ready to start learning Thai, ALA Language School in Thailand is a great place to start. They offer courses for all levels, with experienced teachers who make learning Thai practical and enjoyable. ALA also offers both offline and online classes, so it’s easy for you to learn the language no matter where you are in the world.
For more information on their courses, visit ALA Language School’s website or stop by the school at The Trendy Office Building, Soi Sukhumvit 13, Bangkok.
If you want to learn Thai for specific purposes, check out our guide on learning Thai for travel, socialising, and business.
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