School Related Terms In Thai: 125+ Essential And Beneficial Vocabulary

School Related Terms In Thai

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. 

Thailand also doesn’t have middle schools.

The types of schools in Thai are:

  • Nursery – สถานรับเลี้ยงเด็ก (sa-tan-rab-lieng-dek)
  • Kindergarten – อนุบาล (a-nu-ban)
  • Primary school – ประถม (pra-tom)
  • Secondary school – มัธยม (mat-tay-yom)
  • University – มหาวิทยาลัย (mah-ha-wi-tee-yah-lai)
  • 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

School Related Terms In Thai Types Of Students

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.

EnglishThaiPronunciationSound
Nursery student นักเรียนเนอสเซอรี่(nak-rien-nur-sir-ee)
Kindergarten student นักเรียนอนุบาล(nak-rien-a-nu-ban)
Elementary or primary studentนักเรียนประถม(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.

EnglishThaiPronunciationSoundTranslation
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 Related Terms In Thai School Subjects

School Subjects In Thai

EnglishThaiPronunciation
Biologyชีววิทยา(chee-wah-wit-tah-yaa)
Calculusแคลคูลัส(kaeow-koo-lat)
Chemistry เคมี(kay-mee)
Civics หน้าที่พลเมืองศึกษา(nah-tee-poh-la-muang-suk-sah)
Computer programmingการเขียนโปรแกรมคอมพิวเตอร์(gan-kien-pro-gram-com-pew-ter)
Drama การแสดงละคร(gan-sah-dang-la-kon)
English ภาษาอังกฤษ(pah-sah-ang-krit)
Geometryเรขาคณิต(ray-kah-ka-nit)
Gym พลศึกษา(pah-la-sue-ek sah)
Historyประวัติศาสตร์(pra-wat-sat)
Math คณิตศาสตร์(kah-nit-sat)
Musicดนตรี(don-dree)
Poetry การประพันธ์(gan-pra-pan)
Physics ฟิสิกส์(fee-sick)
Reading การอ่าน(gan-an)
Religion ศาสนา(sat-sa-nah)
Scienceวิทยาศาสตร์(wit-tah-ya-sat)
Writing การเขียน(gan-kian)

Other School Related Terms In Thai

School Related Terms In Thai People At School

Thai Words For People At School

EnglishThaiPronunciationSound
Math teacherครูคณิตศาสตร์(kru-ki-nit-sad)
Nurseพยาบาล(pi-ya-baan)
PE teacherครูพละ(kru-pa-la)
Principalอาจารย์ใหญ่(ah-jan-yai)
Science teacherครูสอนวิทยาศาสตร์(kru-sawn-wi-tah-ya-sad)
Studentนักเรียน(nak-rien)
Teachersครู(kru)
Teaching assistantผู้ช่วยสอน(poo-chuay-sawn)
Thai teacherครูภาษาไทย(kru-pa-sat-thai)
School Related Terms In Thai Rooms Or Places

Thai Words For Rooms Or Places In A School

EnglishThaiPronunciationSound
Basketball courtสนามบาสเกตบอล(sa-nam-bas-ket-bun)
Bathroomห้องน้ำ(hong-nam)
Classระดับ(ra-dap)
Classroomห้องเรียน(hong-rien)
Football pitchสนามฟุตบอล(sa-nam-foot-bun)
Gymnasiumโรงยิม(rong-yim)
Libraryห้องสมุด(hong-sa-moot)
Nurse roomห้องพยาบาล(hong-pa-ya-baan)
Playgroundสนามเด็กเล่น(sa-nam-dek-len)
Schoolโรงเรียน(rong-rien)
Swimming poolสระว่ายน้ำ(sa-wai-nam)
School Related Terms In Thai Furniture And Accessories

Thai Words And Phrases For Classroom Furniture And Accessories

EnglishThaiPronunciation
Bookshelfชั้นวางหนังสือ(chan-wang-nang-suea)
Chairเก้าอี้(gao-ee)
Deskโต๊ะ(doh)
Doorประตู(pra-due)
Projectorโปรเจ็กเตอร์(pro-jec-ter)
Smartboardสมาร์ทบอร์ด(s-mart-board)
Tableตาราง(tah-rang)
Teacher’s deskโต๊ะครู(doh-kru)
Whiteboardไวท์บอร์ด(white-board)
School Related Terms In Thai School Stationary And Supplies

Thai Words For School Stationary Or Supplies

EnglishThaiPronunciationSound
Erasersยางลบ(yang-lob)
Notebookสมุดบันทึก(sa-moot-ban-took)
Paperกระดาษ(kra-dat)
Pencil caseกล่องดินสอ(klong-din-saw)
Pencil sharpenerกบเหลาดินสอ(kob-lao-din-saw)
Rulerไม้บรรทัด(mai-bun-tat)
Shoesรองเท้า(long-tao)
Textbookหนังสือเรียน(nang-sue-rien)
Uniformยูนิฟอร์ม(yuu-nee-form)

Asking People About School In Thai

EnglishThaiPronunciation
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)
School Related Terms In Thai Speaking With Teachers Or Administrators

Speaking With Your Teacher or School Administrator In Thai

EnglishThaiPronunciationSound
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 todayวันนี้ลูกจะสาย(Wan-nee-look-ja-saai)
My child is not going to school todayวันนี้ลูกไม่ไปโรงเรียน(Wan-nee-look-mai-bai-rong-rien)
My child is sick todayวันนี้ลูกไม่สบาย(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)Speechword voice=”Thai Female” isinline]ฉันจะไปรับลูกกี่โมง[/Speechword]

Learn More Thai With Ling!

What do you think, is the Thai language difficult? Not when it’s presented like this! The 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.

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