Let 's Speak Thai

This is a tonal monosyllabic language. The same word can be said in five different ways - normal or middle tone, low, rising and falling.

Like English it is read from left to right. but that 's where the similarities end. Some English sounds like "th" and "z" don 't appear at all, while some Thai sounds are not commonly used in English either.

There are no plural in Thai, nor are there tenses as such. A word or two is usually added to determine the past, present or future. If you run into difficulties, remember to speak slowly and clearly, stick to the simple present tense and don 't use slang or idioms.

In Thai there is a "politening" word attached to the end of anything you say. For men it is "krup" for women it is "kha" .The words have have little if any direct translation but a Thai will think very highly of you if you use it.

Basic Greetings and Phrases