When you arrive in Thailand, what is the first word you say in Thai? We bet that it’s สวัสดี (sà wàt dii), which means hello. There is a vast lexical landscape waiting to be explored. If you’re up for a challenge, we have many hard Thai words to throw you into a loop!
Before we throw you into a sea of hard Thai words, we want to know how far along you are in your Thai studies. If you’ve been studying Thai for a while, testing yourself by reviewing these words can ensure you’re using the language correctly. Then we want you to tackle these challenging Thai terms that are prone to spelling and pronunciation errors together; let’s get you up to speak Thai properly!
Hard Thai Words Even Natives Pronounce It Wrong
Let’s tackle the easier Thai word first. Most native speakers will mispronounce these terms; thus, if you hear someone using a pronunciation that differs from the one in the table below, you should not adopt that pronunciation yourself. Of course, speaking Thai with an accent similar to that of native speakers is preferable, but proper pronunciation is also important. Well then, let’s get this party started!
| English | Thai | Pronunciation | Sound |
|---|---|---|---|
| Algebra – พีชคณิต | พีชคณิต | Pii chá ká nít | [Speechword voice=”Thai Female” isinline]พีชคณิต[/Speechword] |
| Monk’s residential quarters | มณฑป | Mon dòp | [Speechword voice=”Thai Female” isinline]มณฑป[/Speechword] |
| Crematory | เมรุ | Meen | [Speechword voice=”Thai Female” isinline]เมรุ[/Speechword] |
| Terminate/stop | ยุติ | Yút dtì | [Speechword voice=”Thai Female” isinline]ยุติ[/Speechword] |
| Nearly – รอมร่อ | รอมร่อ | Rɔɔm ma rɔ̂ɔ | [Speechword voice=”Thai Female” isinline]รอมร่อ[/Speechword] |
| Strange/abnormal | วิตถาร | Wít tǎan | [Speechword voice=”Thai Female” isinline]วิตถาร[/Speechword] |
| Qualification | วุฒิ | Wút | [Speechword voice=”Thai Female” isinline]วุฒิ[/Speechword] |
| Century | ศตวรรษ | Sà dtà wát | [Speechword voice=”Thai Female” isinline]ศตวรรษ[/Speechword] |
| Honest | สุจริต | Sùt jà rìt | [Speechword voice=”Thai Female” isinline]สุจริต[/Speechword] |
| Temperature | อุณหภูมิ | Un hà puum | [Speechword voice=”Thai Female” isinline]อุณหภูมิ[/Speechword] |
| Appoint | รังสฤษฎ์ | Rang sa rìt | [Speechword voice=”Thai Female” isinline]รังสฤษฎ์[/Speechword] |
| Radical | สมุฎฐาน | Sà mút tǎan | [Speechword voice=”Thai Female” isinline]สมุฎฐาน[/Speechword] |
| Medicine | โอสถกรรม | Oo sòt gam | [Speechword voice=”Thai Female” isinline]โอสถกรรม[/Speechword] |
| July | กรกฎาคม | Gà rá gà daa kom | [Speechword voice=”Thai Female” isinline]กรกฎาคม[/Speechword] |
| Strategy | กลวิธี | Gon lá wí tii | [Speechword voice=”Thai Female” isinline]กลวิธี[/Speechword] |
| Sexual pervert | กามวิตถาร | Gaam wít tǎan | [Speechword voice=”Thai Female” isinline]กามวิตถาร[/Speechword] |
| Occasion/period | กาลสมัย | Gaa lót mai | [Speechword voice=”Thai Female” isinline]กาลสมัย[/Speechword] |
| Methodology | กุศโลบาย | Gùt sà loo baai | [Speechword voice=”Thai Female” isinline]กุศโลบาย[/Speechword] |
| Reach | จรด | Jà ròt | [Speechword voice=”Thai Female” isinline]จรด[/Speechword] |
| Penalty | ทัณฑกรรม | Tan tá gam | [Speechword voice=”Thai Female” isinline]ทัณฑกรรม[/Speechword] |
| Public | ธารกำนัล | Taa rá gam nan | [Speechword voice=”Thai Female” isinline]ธารกำนัล[/Speechword] |
| Conviction | ทิฐิ | Taa rá gam nan | [Speechword voice=”Thai Female” isinline]ทิฐิ[/Speechword] |
| Childhood | ปฐมวัย | Bpà tǒm má wai | [Speechword voice=”Thai Female” isinline]ปฐมวัย[/Speechword] |
| Illness | พยาธิ | Pá yaa tí | [Speechword voice=”Thai Female” isinline]พยาธิ[/Speechword] |
| Parasite (animal) | พยาธิ | Pá yâat | [Speechword voice=”Thai Female” isinline]พยาธิ[/Speechword] |
| Queen | พระบรมราชินี | Prá bɔɔ rom má raa chí nii | [Speechword voice=”Thai Female” isinline]พระบรมราชินี[/Speechword] |
| Driver | พลขับ | Pon lá kàp | [Speechword voice=”Thai Female” isinline]พลขับ[/Speechword] |
| Paratrooper | พลร่ม | Pon rôm | [Speechword voice=”Thai Female” isinline]พลร่ม[/Speechword] |
Hard Thai Words Even Natives Can’t Spell Correctly
You can imagine the fantastic possibilities of this tonal language, given that the Thai script is one of the most difficult due to its 44 consonants, 18 vowels, and 5 tone marks. Aside from mispronouncing the word, the next lesson will cover the most often made spelling errors.
| English | Thai | Pronunciation | Sound |
|---|---|---|---|
| Corpse (also refer to people with bad behavior) | กเฬวราก (commonly misspelled as กเลวราก) | Gà leeo râak | [Speechword voice=”Thai Female” isinline]กเฬวราก [/Speechword] |
| Goldsmith’s fee | กำเหน็จ (commonly misspelled as กำเหน็ด) | Gam nèt | [Speechword voice=”Thai Female” isinline]กำเหน็จ [/Speechword] |
| Honorary – กิตติมศักดิ์ | กิตติมศักดิ์ (commonly misspelled as กิติมศักดิ์) | Gìt dti ma sàk | [Speechword voice=”Thai Female” isinline]กิตติมศักดิ์[/Speechword] |
| Be energetic | ขะมักเขม้น (commonly misspelled as ขมักเขม้น) | Kà mák kěe món | [Speechword voice=”Thai Female” isinline]ขะมักเขม้น[/Speechword] |
| Reign | ครองราชย์ (commonly misspelled as ครองราช) | Krɔɔng râat krɔɔng râat | [Speechword voice=”Thai Female” isinline]ครองราชย์[/Speechword] |
| Villa | คฤหาสน์ (commonly misspelled as คฤหาสถ์) | Krí hàat | [Speechword voice=”Thai Female” isinline]คฤหาสน์[/Speechword] |
| Murder | ฆาตกรรม (commonly misspelled as ฆาตรกรรม) | Kâat gam | [Speechword voice=”Thai Female” isinline]ฆาตกรรม[/Speechword] |
| Layman | ฆราวาส (commonly misspelled as ฆารวาส) | Ká raa wâat | [Speechword voice=”Thai Female” isinline]ฆราวาส[/Speechword] |
| Emperor | จักรพรรดิ (commonly misspelled as จักรพรรดิ์) | Jàk gà pát | [Speechword voice=”Thai Female” isinline]จักรพรรดิ[/Speechword] |
| Intention | เจตจำนง (commonly misspelled as เจตจำนงค์) | Jèet jam nong | [Speechword voice=”Thai Female” isinline]เจตจำนง [/Speechword] |
| Bright | ชัชวาล (commonly misspelled as ชัชวาลย์ | Chát chá waan | [Speechword voice=”Thai Female” isinline]ชัชวาล[/Speechword] |
| Ambassador | ทูต (commonly misspelled as ฑูต) | Tûut | [Speechword voice=”Thai Female” isinline]ทูต[/Speechword] |
| Penalty | ทัณฑ์ (commonly misspelled as ฑัณฑ์) | Tan | [Speechword voice=”Thai Female” isinline]ทัณฑ์[/Speechword] |
| Balance | ถ่วงดุล (commonly misspelled as ถ่วงดุลย์) | Tùang dun | [Speechword voice=”Thai Female” isinline]ถ่วงดุล[/Speechword] |
| Refer | เท้าความ (commonly misspelled as ท้าวความ) | Táao kwaam | [Speechword voice=”Thai Female” isinline]เท้าความ[/Speechword] |
| Custom | ธรรมเนียม (commonly misspelled as ทำเนียม) | Tam niam | [Speechword voice=”Thai Female” isinline]ธรรมเนียม[/Speechword] |
| Reconstruct (refer to the temple) | บูรณปฏิสังขรณ์ (commonly misspelled as บูรณะปฏิสังขรณ์) | Buu rá ná bpà dtì sǎng kɔ̌ɔn | [Speechword voice=”Thai Female” isinline]บูรณปฏิสังขรณ์[/Speechword] |
| Orientation | ปฐมนิเทศ (commonly misspelled as ปฐมนิเทศน์) | Bpòt má ní têet | [Speechword voice=”Thai Female” isinline]ปฐมนิเทศ[/Speechword] |
| Command | ประกาศิต (commonly misspelled as ประกาษิต) | Bprà gaa sìt | [Speechword voice=”Thai Female” isinline]ประกาศิต[/Speechword] |
| Virgin | พรหมจรรย์ (commonly misspelled as พรมจรรย์) | Prom jan | [Speechword voice=”Thai Female” isinline]พรหมจรรย์[/Speechword] |
| Brahman | พราหมณ์ (commonly misspelled as พรามณ์) | Praam | [Speechword voice=”Thai Female” isinline]พราหมณ์[/Speechword] |
| Commerce | พาณิชย์ (commonly misspelled as พานิชย์) | Paa nít | [Speechword voice=”Thai Female” isinline]พาณิชย์[/Speechword] |
| Storekeeper | ภัณฑารักษ์ (commonly misspelled as พันธารักษ์) | Pan taa rák | [Speechword voice=”Thai Female” isinline]ภัณฑารักษ์[/Speechword] |
| Circumstance | ภาวการณ์ (commonly misspelled as ภาวการ) | Paa wá gaan | [Speechword voice=”Thai Female” isinline]ภาวการณ์[/Speechword] |
| Palace | มนเทียร (commonly misspelled as มรเฑียร) | Mon tian | [Speechword voice=”Thai Female” isinline]มนเทียร[/Speechword] |
| Functional advantage | สารัตถประโยชน์ (commonly misspelled as สารัตถะประโยชน์) | Sǎa rát tà bprà yôot | [Speechword voice=”Thai Female” isinline]สารัตถประโยชน์ [/Speechword] |
| Plunder | ปล้นสะดม (commonly misspelled as ปล้นสดมภ์) | Bplôn sà dom | [Speechword voice=”Thai Female” isinline]ปล้นสะดม[/Speechword] |
| Result | ผลลัพธ์ (commonly misspelled as ผลลัพท์) | Pǒn láp | [Speechword voice=”Thai Female” isinline]ผลลัพธ์ [/Speechword] |
| Procrastinate | ผลัดวันประกันพรุ่ง (commonly misspelled as ผัดวันประกันพรุ่ง) | Plàt wan bprà gan prûng | [Speechword voice=”Thai Female” isinline]ผลัดวันประกันพรุ่ง[/Speechword] |
| Die (refer to the monk) | มรณภาพ (commonly misspelled as มรณะภาพ) | Mɔɔ rá ná pâap | [Speechword voice=”Thai Female” isinline]มรณภาพ[/Speechword] |
| Magical | มหัศจรรย์ (commonly misspelled as มหรรศจรรย์) | Má hàt sà jan | [Speechword voice=”Thai Female” isinline]มหัศจรรย์ [/Speechword] |
| Decorative arts | มัณฑนศิลป์ (commonly misspelled as มันทนศิลป์) | Man tá ná sǐn | [Speechword voice=”Thai Female” isinline]มัณฑนศิลป์ [/Speechword] |
| Giant | ราพณาสูร (commonly misspelled as ราพนาสูร) | Raa pá naa sǔun | [Speechword voice=”Thai Female” isinline]ราพณาสูร[/Speechword] |
Easy Thai Words That Are Often Misspelled
We’re not just here to teach you the difficult Thai words; we also want to teach you the common Thai terms that even Thai people often need clarification on. So let’s review these words again to be sure you don’t make the same error everyone else does.
| English | Thai | Pronunciation | Sound |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ice cream | ไอศกรีม (commonly misspelled as ไอศครีม) | Ai sà griim | [Speechword voice=”Thai Female” isinline]ไอศกรีม[/Speechword] |
| Cake | เค้ก (commonly misspelled as เค๊ก) | Kék | [Speechword voice=”Thai Female” isinline]เค้ก[/Speechword] |
| Chocolate | ช็อกโกแลต (commonly misspelled as ช๊อกโกแลต, ช็อคโกแลต) | Chɔ́k goo lɛ̂ɛt | [Speechword voice=”Thai Female” isinline]ช็อกโกแลต[/Speechword] |
| Pad Thai (Thai food) | ผัดไทย (commonly misspelled as ผัดไท) | Pàt tai | [Speechword voice=”Thai Female” isinline]ผัดไทย [/Speechword] |
| Shaved ice | น้ำแข็งไส (commonly misspelled as น้ำแข็งใส) | Náam kɛ̌ng sǎi | [Speechword voice=”Thai Female” isinline]น้ำแข็งไส[/Speechword] |
| Film/movie | ภาพยนตร์ (commonly misspelled as ภาพยนต์) | Pâap pá yon | [Speechword voice=”Thai Female” isinline]ภาพยนตร์[/Speechword] |
| Permission | อนุญาต (commonly misspelled as อนุญาติ) | à nú yâat | [Speechword voice=”Thai Female” isinline]อนุญาต[/Speechword] |
| Sudden | กะทันหัน (commonly misspelled as กระทันหัน) | Gà tan hǎn | [Speechword voice=”Thai Female” isinline]กะทันหัน[/Speechword] |
| Joke | มุกตลก (commonly misspelled as มุขตลก) | Múk dtà lòk | [Speechword voice=”Thai Female” isinline]มุกตลก[/Speechword] |
In Summary
There are obviously many difficult terms in Thai that even native speakers get wrong. It doesn’t matter how frequently a word is used; its spelling and pronunciation will still be improperly spelled and pronounced by many. In addition to the difficulties associated with the Thai language’s tonal system, the Thai writing system presents unique challenges to those trying to master the language.
We bet you’re a Thai learner who wants to become an expert in Thai spelling and pronunciation; if this is the case, you should download the Ling app immediately!
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The Ling app helps improve your Thai pronunciation and memorization. If you need help with Thai pronunciation, the Ling app can help! We offer a wide range of terms that Thai learners can study from the comfort of their own homes or offices. In addition, the provided audio will allow you to capture how the words sound, recall them and listen to how they are pronounced in natural and different tones. The Ling app has it all and more!
Most Thai learners chose the Ling app to help them succeed, so why not join them? Download the Ling app from Google Play Store and Apple App Store now, and prepare to be fluent in Thai soon!
