Knowing school-related terms in Thai will help you so much if you plan to send your son or daughter to a school in Thailand. It will also be beneficial if you plan to teach in Thailand or are already a teacher here.

Students going to school in Thailand for their first day might feel more confident if they know some Thai vocabulary to use in the classroom and communicate with others. Thai society adores it when foreigners speak Thai, so it will make a great first impression to greet your teacher or fellow teachers on your first day with:

สวัสดีคุณครู (sa-wa-dee-khun-kru)Play

This means, "Good morning (hello), teacher."

Oh, and don't forget to wai! In Thai society, it's crucial to be respectful to teachers and elders. So, always 'wai' by putting your palms together in a prayer position, holding them at chest level, and bowing slightly.

We present common school subjects, items, and furniture that you'll find in classes and the names of people you'll commonly find in a school. There are even questions you can ask children or students you meet and useful queries you may need when speaking with school administration.

The Thai language can appear simple, and many people pick it up quickly. In contrast, others find learning Thai vocabulary difficult because of the Thai tones. The information below is presented simply with valid Thai words, phrases, and questions related to school to help you learn Thai.

We've broken the words into syllables so you can practice saying the sounds.

Types Of Schools In Thai

Thailand's schooling system is set up very similarly to the rest of the world. They have nursery, kindergarten, primary school, and secondary school. However, the names are not the same, and it's pretty standard for a student to attend the same school their entire educational lives. 

Thailand also doesn't have middle schools.

The types of schools in Thai are:

• Nursery - สถานรับเลี้ยงเด็ก (sa-tan-rab-lieng-dek)Play
• Kindergarten - อนุบาล (a-nu-ban)Play
• Primary school - ประถม (pra-tom)Play
• Secondary school - มัธยม (mat-tay-yom)Play
• University - มหาวิทยาลัย (mah-ha-wi-tee-yah-lai)Play
• Vocational College - วิทยาลัยอาชีวศึกษา (wi-tee-yah-lai-ah-chee-wah-sick-sah)Play

Grades In Thai

Children may begin attending school in Thailand as young as six months. When they graduate from high school, most students are 17 or 18 and move on to university or vocational college.

Students are separated into designated 'grades' during their time at nursery through secondary school. However, in Thailand, they have their unique names. Grades are also separated into four levels.

The grade names and levels in Thai are:

Preschool Level:

• Nursery - สถานรับเลี้ยงเด็ก

Ages 6 months - 3 years

Level 1:

• Kindergarten 1 (KG1) - อนุบาล 1 (a-nu-ban-nueng)
• Kindergarten 2 (KG2) - อนุบาล 2 (a-nu-ban-song)
• Kindergarten 3 (KG3) - อนุบาล 3 (a-nu-ban-sam)

Ages 3-5 years old

Level 2:

The primary school level is called Prathom ประถม and is separated into six grades.

• Prathom 1 - ประถม 1 (pra-tom-nueng)
• Prathom 2 - ประถม 2 (pra-tom-song)
• Prathom 3 - ประถม 3 (pra-tom-sam)
• Prathom 4 - ประถม 4 (pra-tom-see)
• Prathom 5 - ประถม 5 (pra-tom-ha)
• Prathom 6 - ประถม 6 (pra-tom-hok)

Ages 6-11 years old

Level 3:

The secondary or high school level is called Mattayom มัธยม and is separated into six grades.

• Mattayom 1 - มัธยม 1 (mat-tay-yom-nueng)
• Mattayom 2 - มัธยม 2 (mat-tay-yom-song)
• Mattayom 3 - มัธยม 3 (mat-tay-yom-sam)
• Mattayom 4 - มัธยม 4 (mat-tay-yom-see)
• Mattayom 5 - มัธยม 5 (mat-tay-yom-ha)
• Mattayom 6 - มัธยม 6 (mat-tay-yom-hok)

Ages 12-18 years old

Types Of Students In Thai

For each level of schooling, a student will get a designation much like in other countries. In English, such students may be college students or elementary students. The same applies in Thailand. Let's learn what types of students are in Thai.

English	Thai	Pronunciation
Nursery student	นักเรียนเนอสเซอรี่Play	(nak-rien-nur-sir-ee)
Kindergarten student	นักเรียนอนุบาลPlay	(nak-rien-a-nu-ban)
Elementary or primary student	นักเรียนประถมPlay	(nak-rien-pra-tom)
High school or secondary student	นักเรียนมัธยมPlay	( nak-rien-mat-tay-yom)
University student	นักศึกษามหาวิทยาลัยPlay	(nak-sook-sa-mah-we-ti-ya-lai)
Vocational student	นักศึกษาอาชีวศึกษาPlay	(nak-sook-sa-ah-chi-wah-sook-saa)

During the four levels of education up until the end of secondary schooling, students are called นักเรียน (nak-rien) in Thai. The word student goes before the type of school level in the sentence.

Nicknames For Students In Thailand

• University student: Pii (ปี.)
• Junior high to high school student: Mor (ม.)
• Elementary school student: Por (ป.)

How To Ask Someone What Grade They Are In Or Which School They Go To

You may meet some students on your adventures in Thailand, whether out and about or through friends. It's a common question to ask what grade people are in or what school they go to as a way to start a conversation.

English	Thai	Pronunciation	Translation
What grade are you in?	คุณเรียนอยู่ชั้นไหนPlay	(khun-rien-yuu-chan-nai)	You study stay level which?
Which school do you go to?	คุณไปโรงเรียนไหนPlay	(khun-bai-rong-rien-nai)	You go school which?
Which university do you go to?	อยู่ปีอะไรPlay	(Yuu-pii-arai)	Stay university what?
Which high school do you go to?	อยู่ม.อะไรPlay	(Yuu-mor-arai)	Stay high school what?
Which primary school do you go to?	อยู่ป.อะไรPlay	(Yuu-por-arai)	Stay primary school what?

School Subjects In Thai

English	Thai	Pronunciation
Biology	ชีววิทยาPlay	(chee-wah-wit-tah-yaa)
Calculus	แคลคูลัสPlay	(kaeow-koo-lat)
Chemistry	เคมีPlay	(kay-mee)
Civics	หน้าที่พลเมืองศึกษาPlay	(nah-tee-poh-la-muang-suk-sah)
Computer programming	การเขียนโปรแกรมคอมพิวเตอร์Play	(gan-kien-pro-gram-com-pew-ter)
Drama	การแสดงละครPlay	(gan-sah-dang-la-kon)
English	ภาษาอังกฤษPlay	(pah-sah-ang-krit)
Geometry	เรขาคณิตPlay	(ray-kah-ka-nit)
Gym	พลศึกษาPlay	(pah-la-sue-ek sah)
History	ประวัติศาสตร์Play	(pra-wat-sat)
Math	คณิตศาสตร์Play	(kah-nit-sat)
Music	ดนตรีPlay	(don-dree)
Poetry	การประพันธ์Play	(gan-pra-pan)
Physics	ฟิสิกส์Play	(fee-sick)
Reading	การอ่านPlay	(gan-an)
Religion	ศาสนาPlay	(sat-sa-nah)
Science	วิทยาศาสตร์Play	(wit-tah-ya-sat)
Writing	การเขียนPlay	(gan-kian)

Other School-Related Terms In Thai

People At School

English	Thai	Pronunciation
Math teacher	ครูคณิตศาสตร์Play	(kru-ki-nit-sad)
Nurse	พยาบาลPlay	(pi-ya-baan)
PE teacher	ครูพละPlay	(kru-pa-la)
Principal	อาจารย์ใหญ่Play	(ah-jan-yai)
Science teacher	ครูสอนวิทยาศาสตร์Play	(kru-sawn-wi-tah-ya-sad)
Student	นักเรียนPlay	(nak-rien)
Teachers	ครูPlay	(kru)
Teaching assistant	ผู้ช่วยสอนPlay	(poo-chuay-sawn)
Thai teacher	ครูภาษาไทยPlay	(kru-pa-sat-thai)

Rooms Or Places In A School

English	Thai	Pronunciation
Basketball court	สนามบาสเกตบอลPlay	(sa-nam-bas-ket-bun)
Bathroom	ห้องน้ำPlay	(hong-nam)
Class	ระดับPlay	(ra-dap)
Classroom	ห้องเรียนPlay	(hong-rien)
Football pitch	สนามฟุตบอลPlay	(sa-nam-foot-bun)
Gymnasium	โรงยิมPlay	(rong-yim)
Library	ห้องสมุดPlay	(hong-sa-moot)
Nurse room	ห้องพยาบาลPlay	(hong-pa-ya-baan)
Playground	สนามเด็กเล่นPlay	(sa-nam-dek-len)
School	โรงเรียนPlay	(rong-rien)
Swimming pool	สระว่ายน้ำPlay	(sa-wai-nam)

Classroom Furniture And Accessories

English	Thai	Pronunciation
Bookshelf	ชั้นวางหนังสือPlay	(chan-wang-nang-suea)
Chair	เก้าอี้Play	(gao-ee)
Desk	โต๊ะPlay	(doh)
Door	ประตูPlay	(pra-due)
Projector	โปรเจ็กเตอร์Play	(pro-jec-ter)
Smartboard	สมาร์ทบอร์ดPlay	(s-mart-board)
Table	ตารางPlay	(tah-rang)
Teacher's desk	โต๊ะครูPlay	(doh-kru)
Whiteboard	ไวท์บอร์ดPlay	(white-board)

School Stationary Or Supplies

English	Thai	Pronunciation
Erasers	ยางลบPlay	(yang-lob)
Notebook	สมุดบันทึกPlay	(sa-moot-ban-took)
Paper	กระดาษPlay	(kra-dat)
Pencil case	กล่องดินสอPlay	(klong-din-saw)
Pencil sharpener	กบเหลาดินสอPlay	(kob-lao-din-saw)
Ruler	ไม้บรรทัดPlay	(mai-bun-tat)
Shoes	รองเท้าPlay	(long-tao)
Textbook	หนังสือเรียนPlay	(nang-sue-rien)
Uniform	ยูนิฟอร์มPlay	(yuu-nee-form)

Asking People About School In Thai

English	Thai	Pronunciation
Which grade are you in?	เรียนอยู่ชั้นไหนPlay	(rien-chan-grade-nai)
Where is your school?	โรงเรียนของคุณอยู่ที่ไหนPlay	(Rong-rien-khong-khun-yuu-tee-nai)
Do you like school?	คุณชอบโรงเรียนไหมPlay	(Khun-chob-rong-rien-mai)
What is your favorite subject?	คุณชอบวิชาอะไรPlay	(Khun-chob-we-cha-a-rai)
Who is your teacher?	ใครคือครูของคุณPlay	(Krai-ku-kru-khong-khun)

Speaking With Your Teacher or School Administrator In Thai

English	Thai	Pronunciation
How much is the school?	ค่าเรียนเท่าไหร่คะPlay	(Ka-rien-tao-rai-ka)
What do the children get for lunch?	เด็กๆ ได้อะไรเป็นอาหารกลางวันPlay	(Dek-dek-dai-ah-rai-ben-ah-han-glang-wan)
My child will be late today	วันนี้ลูกจะสายPlay	(Wan-nee-look-ja-saai)
My child is not going to school today	วันนี้ลูกไม่ไปโรงเรียนPlay	(Wan-nee-look-mai-bai-rong-rien)
My child is sick today	วันนี้ลูกไม่สบายPlay	(Wan-nee-look-mai-sa-bai)
What is the homework?	การบ้านคืออะไรPlay	(Kan-ban-keu-a-rai)
When is the test?	สอบเมื่อไหร่Play	(Sob-meu-rai)
What time does school start?	โรงเรียนเข้ากี่โมงPlay	(Rong-rien-khoa-gee-moong)
What time do I pick up my child?	ฉันจะไปรับลูกกี่โมงPlay	(Chan-ja-bai-rap-look-gee-moong)

Learn More Thai With Ling!

What do you think, is the Thai language difficult? Not when it's presented like this! Ling App would love to help you practice even more Thai language especially understanding Thai grammar and Thai words.

With Ling, you will even learn to write in Thai and read in Thai by association! Our app is a powerful learning tool with over 60 languages and over 10 million downloads.

We hope you learned many school-related terms in Thai today and hope you bookmark this page for reference in the future. If you'd like to continue learning the Thai language, head over to our learn Thai page and start. It's free to try!

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