Names Of Colors In Thai: 10 Amazing Words To Learn

names of colors in Thai - A photo of a woman holding coloring tools

Colors in Thailand have an interesting connection with culture. For some countries, the color of the flag is synonymous with the country itself. But for Thailand, it goes even deeper than that. For that reason, it’s important to learn about the names of colors in Thai.

At the same time, you should also learn some essential vocabulary to communicate correctly with the locals. This blog post will help you understand the language and mindset of the Thai people a little bit better.

Colorful umbrellas

What Are The Names Of Colors In Thai?

In Thailand, colors have deep meanings tied to the country’s culture and history. When you’re exploring places like the city of Bangkok or the beach town of Phuket, knowing what these colors mean can make your trip even better.

Let me teach you the basic Thai words for colors and how to use them. This way, you can talk about and understand the colorful world of Thailand better though knowing the names of colors in Thai.

EnglishThaiTransliterationSound
Redสีแดงsǐi dɛɛng
Blueสีน้ำเงินsǐi nám ngən
Yellowสีเหลืองsǐi lʉ̌ang
Greenสีเขียวsǐi kǐao
Orangeสีส้มsǐi sôm
Purpleสีม่วงsǐi mûang
Pinkสีชมพูsǐi chom puu
Blackสีดำsǐi dam
Whiteสีขาวsǐi kǎao

As you may notice, the word sǐi (สี) is usually placed before the names of colors in Thai. It actually means color and is one of the Thai classifiers placed before the name.

If you want to say light or dark when talking about a color, you would say ɔ̀ɔn (อ่อน) for light and kêm (เข้ม) for dark. You place these after the color name, so dark blue, for example, would be sǐi náam ngəən kêm (สีน้ำเงินเข้ม).

The Meanings Of Colors In Thai Culture

As mentioned before, there is some significance for the colors in Thai culture. Each day is assigned one or more lucky and unlucky colors. The reasoning behind this system is due to the Thai names for the days of the week. Each name corresponds to a planet or star in the solar system, which in turn corresponds with certain gods who are said to protect that day.

For instance, the Thai name for Monday, ‘wan jan,’ is associated with the Moon. Therefore, the color yellow is considered lucky for this day. These gods have an associated color, which is used as the lucky color for that day.

DayLucky ColorUnlucky Color
MondayYellowRed
TuesdayPinkYellow or White
Wednesday (Daytime)GreenPink
Wednesday (Nighttime)GrayOrange-Red
Thursday Orange or BrownPurple
FridayLight BlueDark Blue or black
SaturdayPurple or BlackGreen
SundayRedBlue

While this is an ancient custom, some people still follow this system. Of course, it is not strictly followed every day. It is more often relegated to special occasions, Thai holidays, or certain superstitious dates and religious events. You will probably find that people do follow the ‘unlucky color’ schedule to an extent. It is better to be safe than sorry, after all. 

Then there are people’s birth colors. These are considered the luckiest of all for the individual, so people may choose to wear their color when they want luck to be on their side. Yellow is heavily associated with the royal family for this reason. 

Otherwise, while the tradition holds historical significance, its observance varies among the modern Thai population. Still, understanding this aspect of Thai culture is worth learning, and sharing this knowledge of ancient tradition can be a conversation starter with locals.

The Deeper Meanings Of Each Color

Colors in Thailand have stories and deep meanings. Let’s learn what some colors mean in Thai culture:

Red (สีแดง, sǐi dɛɛng)

In Thailand, red is a symbol for Sundays. But it’s also a deep reminder of the brave Thais who spilled their blood to keep their country free.

Yellow (สีเหลือง, sǐi lʉ̌ang)

Yellow is the color of Mondays. It’s tied to King Rama IX, also known as King Bhumibol. He was born on a Monday. When Thais wear yellow, especially on Mondays or during big royal events, it’s a sign of respect and love for him.

Blue (สีน้ำเงิน, sǐi nám ngən)

Blue is special for Fridays because it’s linked to Queen Sirikit, who was born on a Friday. It also stands for the Thai royal family and is a nod to Thailand’s allies during the First World War.

Green (สีเขียว, sǐi kǐao)

Wednesday in Thailand is marked by green, linked to the day’s guardian, Mercury. A tale tells of Phra Isuan turning 17 elephants into powder, wrapped in green, as a gift to the King. By evening, influenced by the Hindu god Rahu, colors shift to grey, orange, or red.

Pink (สีชมพู, sǐi chom puu)

Pink is the color for Tuesdays. The story goes that King Rama IX, or King Bhumibol, wore a pink shirt because his astrologer said it was lucky. So, pink has a touch of royalty to it as well.

White (สีขาว, sǐi kǎao)

In Thailand, white speaks of purity and the peaceful teachings of Buddhism. While black is now the color for mourning, white is still chosen for prayers and holy events.

As you can see, the names of colors in Thai tell stories. They remind people of their history, kings and queens, and beliefs. When you see these colors in Thailand, you’ll now know the special stories behind them. It’s a beautiful way to feel closer to the Thai people and their way of life.

How Do You Say ‘Colors’ In Thai?

The general Thai word for ‘color’ is sǐi (สี) . To specify the color, you simply add the color word to the end of the word. For example, sǐi dɛɛng (สีแดง) means ‘red’.

Below you’ll find a vocabulary table with all the colors we’ve talked about in this post, and some more related words and phrases, too. For more related Thai vocabulary and phrases, check out the Ling app!

EnglishThaiTransliterationSound
Colorสีsǐi
Redสีแดงsǐi dɛɛng
Blueสีน้ำเงินsǐi nám ngən
Yellowสีเหลืองsǐi lʉ̌ang
Greenสีเขียวsǐi kǐao
Orangeสีส้มsǐi sôm
Purpleสีม่วงsǐi mûang
Pinkสีชมพูsǐi chom puu
Blackสีดำsǐi dam
Whiteสีขาวsǐi kǎao
Lightอ่อนɔ̀ɔn
Darkเข้มkêm
My favorite color is…สีที่ฉันชอบคือ…sǐi tîi chǎn chɔ̂ɔp kʉʉ
What’s your favorite color?คุณชอบสีอะไร?kun chɔ̂ɔp sǐi à rai

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What Are Thailand’s Colors?

Thailand’s national colors are blue (สีน้ำเงิน, sǐi nám ngən), white (สีขาว, sǐi kǎao), and red (สีแดง, sǐi dɛɛng), reflecting the Thai flag’s colors.

2. What Color Is Lucky In Thailand?

The lucky colors change for each day of the week. For example, the color red may be considered lucky on a Sunday, but unlucky on a Monday. Each day is associated with a certain god, and thus their colors are also associated with that day.

3. How Do You Say The Colors In Thai?

The word for ‘color’ in Thai is sǐi (สี). To specify the color, you add the color word to the end. You can add either ɔ̀ɔn (อ่อน) for to specify if a color is light and kêm (เข้ม) if a color is dark.

Names of colors in Thai  - A photo of various colors in liquid form inside a plastic container

Learn The Names Of Colors In Thai!

So there you go, the somewhat complicated backstory and the significance of colors in Thailand. I hope that knowing this now motivates you to learn the names of colors in Thai and possibly even consider following the daily color system mentioned above.

Next time you take a trip around Thailand, look at the colors people are wearing to see how many people actually follow this system, as well as notice the colors of decorations and places around you. Not only is it a unique cultural tradition, it could make for a great way to practice the new vocabulary you’ve learned, too.

Leave a Reply