Learning Thai the Easy Way!

For foreigners speaking Thai for the first time, it can be embarrassing if they get the tone wrong. Fortunately for you, you have chosen to learn the Thai language. When you travel in Thailand you will find the Thai people to be very supportive when they find out that you are trying to learn Thai. They will help you a lot without laughing!

Probably one of the main problem words you will come across is for "near" and "far". Although they are opposite in meaning, in Thai they are very similar sound.

Obviously, if you ask someone if it is far to the train station, you must know your tones. Is it far or near!

Actually, kee is not really a bad word. It is used often for things like "sleep in your eyes" (kee dtaa), bogies up your nose (kee mook) and also ear wax (kee hoo). Oh yes, can you guess what dandruff would be? Yes, kee hua!

The word maa can mean different things depending on the spelling

Another difficult word for foreigners to get right is khao. Be careful, you might be saying you want to eat rice, or if you get the tone wrong, people might think you are a canibal!

A story that Mike told us on the message forums was quite embarrassing. He was asking around for the person who sold tickects. He wanted to catch a train. However, he got a tone wrong and people were shocked when they thought he was asking for a prostitute!

If you are staying with some Thai people, be careful when you are saying good night!

This is another of those words which change its meaning with the tone.

Foreigners learn how to say "beautiful" quite quickly. But, be careful, you might be cursing a woman instead of saying how pretty she is!

Don't mix up your older sibling with a ghost!

Or your younger sibling and pus!

Do you want some water or thorns?

OK, be very careful here!

The last one is the funniest. Do you want milk with your coffee or do you want her to shake her breasts!!!

If you have any questions, then please use our Learning Thai forum.