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)
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.
Vocational College - วิทยาลัยอาชีวศึกษา (wi-tee-yah-lai-ah-chee-wah-sick-sah)
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
นักเรียนเนอสเซอรี่
(nak-rien-nur-sir-ee)
Kindergarten student
นักเรียนอนุบาล
(nak-rien-a-nu-ban)
Elementary or primary student
นักเรียนประถม
(nak-rien-pra-tom)
High school or secondary student
นักเรียนมัธยม
( nak-rien-mat-tay-yom)
University student
นักศึกษามหาวิทยาลัย
(nak-sook-sa-mah-we-ti-ya-lai)
Vocational student
นักศึกษาอาชีวศึกษา
(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?
คุณเรียนอยู่ชั้นไหน
(khun-rien-yuu-chan-nai)
You study stay level which?
Which school do you go to?
คุณไปโรงเรียนไหน
(khun-bai-rong-rien-nai)
You go school which?
Which university do you go to?
อยู่ปีอะไร
(Yuu-pii-arai)
Stay university what?
Which high school do you go to?
อยู่ม.อะไร
(Yuu-mor-arai)
Stay high school what?
Which primary school do you go to?
อยู่ป.อะไร
(Yuu-por-arai)
Stay primary school what?
School Subjects In Thai
English
Thai
Pronunciation
Biology
ชีววิทยา
(chee-wah-wit-tah-yaa)
Calculus
แคลคูลัส
(kaeow-koo-lat)
Chemistry
เคมี
(kay-mee)
Civics
หน้าที่พลเมืองศึกษา
(nah-tee-poh-la-muang-suk-sah)
Computer programming
การเขียนโปรแกรมคอมพิวเตอร์
(gan-kien-pro-gram-com-pew-ter)
Drama
การแสดงละคร
(gan-sah-dang-la-kon)
English
ภาษาอังกฤษ
(pah-sah-ang-krit)
Geometry
เรขาคณิต
(ray-kah-ka-nit)
Gym
พลศึกษา
(pah-la-sue-ek sah)
History
ประวัติศาสตร์
(pra-wat-sat)
Math
คณิตศาสตร์
(kah-nit-sat)
Music
ดนตรี
(don-dree)
Poetry
การประพันธ์
(gan-pra-pan)
Physics
ฟิสิกส์
(fee-sick)
Reading
การอ่าน
(gan-an)
Religion
ศาสนา
(sat-sa-nah)
Science
วิทยาศาสตร์
(wit-tah-ya-sat)
Writing
การเขียน
(gan-kian)
Other School-Related Terms In Thai
People At School
English
Thai
Pronunciation
Math teacher
ครูคณิตศาสตร์
(kru-ki-nit-sad)
Nurse
พยาบาล
(pi-ya-baan)
PE teacher
ครูพละ
(kru-pa-la)
Principal
อาจารย์ใหญ่
(ah-jan-yai)
Science teacher
ครูสอนวิทยาศาสตร์
(kru-sawn-wi-tah-ya-sad)
Student
นักเรียน
(nak-rien)
Teachers
ครู
(kru)
Teaching assistant
ผู้ช่วยสอน
(poo-chuay-sawn)
Thai teacher
ครูภาษาไทย
(kru-pa-sat-thai)
Rooms Or Places In A School
English
Thai
Pronunciation
Basketball court
สนามบาสเกตบอล
(sa-nam-bas-ket-bun)
Bathroom
ห้องน้ำ
(hong-nam)
Class
ระดับ
(ra-dap)
Classroom
ห้องเรียน
(hong-rien)
Football pitch
สนามฟุตบอล
(sa-nam-foot-bun)
Gymnasium
โรงยิม
(rong-yim)
Library
ห้องสมุด
(hong-sa-moot)
Nurse room
ห้องพยาบาล
(hong-pa-ya-baan)
Playground
สนามเด็กเล่น
(sa-nam-dek-len)
School
โรงเรียน
(rong-rien)
Swimming pool
สระว่ายน้ำ
(sa-wai-nam)
Classroom Furniture And Accessories
English
Thai
Pronunciation
Bookshelf
ชั้นวางหนังสือ
(chan-wang-nang-suea)
Chair
เก้าอี้
(gao-ee)
Desk
โต๊ะ
(doh)
Door
ประตู
(pra-due)
Projector
โปรเจ็กเตอร์
(pro-jec-ter)
Smartboard
สมาร์ทบอร์ด
(s-mart-board)
Table
ตาราง
(tah-rang)
Teacher's desk
โต๊ะครู
(doh-kru)
Whiteboard
ไวท์บอร์ด
(white-board)
School Stationary Or Supplies
English
Thai
Pronunciation
Erasers
ยางลบ
(yang-lob)
Notebook
สมุดบันทึก
(sa-moot-ban-took)
Paper
กระดาษ
(kra-dat)
Pencil case
กล่องดินสอ
(klong-din-saw)
Pencil sharpener
กบเหลาดินสอ
(kob-lao-din-saw)
Ruler
ไม้บรรทัด
(mai-bun-tat)
Shoes
รองเท้า
(long-tao)
Textbook
หนังสือเรียน
(nang-sue-rien)
Uniform
ยูนิฟอร์ม
(yuu-nee-form)
Asking People About School In Thai
English
Thai
Pronunciation
Which grade are you in?
เรียนอยู่ชั้นไหน
(rien-chan-grade-nai)
Where is your school?
โรงเรียนของคุณอยู่ที่ไหน
(Rong-rien-khong-khun-yuu-tee-nai)
Do you like school?
คุณชอบโรงเรียนไหม
(Khun-chob-rong-rien-mai)
What is your favorite subject?
คุณชอบวิชาอะไร
(Khun-chob-we-cha-a-rai)
Who is your teacher?
ใครคือครูของคุณ
(Krai-ku-kru-khong-khun)
Speaking With Your Teacher or School Administrator In Thai
English
Thai
Pronunciation
How much is the school?
ค่าเรียนเท่าไหร่คะ
(Ka-rien-tao-rai-ka)
What do the children get for lunch?
เด็กๆ ได้อะไรเป็นอาหารกลางวัน
(Dek-dek-dai-ah-rai-ben-ah-han-glang-wan)
My child will be late today
วันนี้ลูกจะสาย
(Wan-nee-look-ja-saai)
My child is not going to school today
วันนี้ลูกไม่ไปโรงเรียน
(Wan-nee-look-mai-bai-rong-rien)
My child is sick today
วันนี้ลูกไม่สบาย
(Wan-nee-look-mai-sa-bai)
What is the homework?
การบ้านคืออะไร
(Kan-ban-keu-a-rai)
When is the test?
สอบเมื่อไหร่
(Sob-meu-rai)
What time does school start?
โรงเรียนเข้ากี่โมง
(Rong-rien-khoa-gee-moong)
What time do I pick up my child?
ฉันจะไปรับลูกกี่โมง
(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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