Knowing Thai numbers and counting before visiting Thailand will give you an advantage while negotiating with locals. Want to save money with every purchase you make? Keep reading!
Don’t worry if numbers make you nervous; we won’t be teaching you to calculate! Instead, we’ll be delighted to show you how the Thais count.
Knowing Thai numbers will be handy for any Thai enthusiast, whether trying to buy a bus ticket, find some fruit at the market, or find your way around town.
For example, if someone tells you to walk for “หนึ่งกิโลเมตร (nʉ̀ng gì-loo-mêet),” you’ll know that they mean “one kilometer.”
Now is the time for some light entertainment. Are you all set? Okay, let’s get moving!
Thai Numbers At A Glance
Let’s get into the most intriguing bit of language first! Do you know Thai uses its unique numeral alphabet, apart from Arabic numerals? Check out the Thai numerals we’ve written in the following table.
| English Numerals | Thai Numerals |
|---|---|
| 1 | ๑ |
| 2 | ๒ |
| 3 | ๓ |
| 4 | ๔ |
| 5 | ๕ |
| 6 | ๖ |
| 7 | ๗ |
| 8 | ๘ |
| 9 | ๙ |
| 0 | ๐ |
Since 1292 (or 1835 B.C.), the Thai numerals on the Ram Khamhaeng inscription were first discovered.
Like its namesake, it was created by Ram Khamhaeng or Pho Khun Ram Khamhaeng Maharat. He ruled the Sukhothai Kingdom from 1279 until 1298 as the third monarch of the Phra Ruang dynasty.
When Do The Locals Use Thai Numbers?
Thai people use Arabic numerals daily, so you might have little chance to see original Thai numbers. But, if you learn Thai to an advanced level, you’ll see Thai numbers and more complex language and sentences, especially in official papers or government documents.
In addition, you can usually see these numbers on the temple’s whiteboard alongside notices of upcoming religious events or at a rural school and train station. Thais advocate for the widespread use of Arabic numerals to eliminate potential confusion.
Thai writing might be a manageable challenge, but you should start working on counting and pronouncing them immediately, so read on!
How To Read A Number In Thai?
Here are the basics of Thai numerical digits from 1 to 10.
| English | Thai | Transcription | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zero | ศูนย์ | Sǔun | |
| One | หนึ่ง | Nʉ̀ng | |
| Two | สอง | Sɔ̌ɔng | |
| Three | สาม | Sǎam | |
| Four | สี่ | Sìi | |
| Five | ห้า | Hâa | |
| Six | หก | Hòk | |
| Seven | เจ็ด | Jèt | |
| Eight | แปด | Bpɛ̀ɛt | |
| Nine | เก้า | Gâao | |
| Ten | สิบ | Sìp |
The Rule Of Reading Thai Numerals
Alright, before we begin Thai number counting and reading, we’d like to teach you a new word for “1” that will be used for numbers that come after the number ten, which are 11 to 91.
- One – เอ็ด (èt)
Let’s see the examples below!
How To Read A Number That Has Many Digits?
You’re about to see a more extended digit in a number. Are you prepared? If yes, let’s get some practice together!
How To Read Decimal Number In Thai
You must remember one word below to be fluent in Thai decimal numbers.
- Dot/point – จุด (jùt)
Specifically, the numbers preceding and after the point will be interpreted differently. Alright, now it’s time to look at some examples and get some practice!
How To Read Fractions In Thai
In this case, you need only one vocabulary to comprehend how to read fractions in Thai.
- Fraction – เศษส่วน (sèet-sùan)
The words เศษ (sèet) and ส่วน (sùan) will be used when reading fractions in Thai. Come on, let’s take a look at some examples and practice!
How To Read House Numbers In Thai
Without the correct number and postcode, you risk losing your package. In Thai, two important words are used when reading ordinal numbers:
- Number – เลขที่ (lêek tîi)
- Slash – ทับ (táp)
Address Numbers And Postcodes
Let’s check it out and get some practice with the rules for reading address digits and postcodes.
In Summary
So, now when you buy fruit at the local market and they say “แตงโม หนึ่ง ลูก หนึ่งร้อย บาท (dtɛɛng moo nʉ̀ng lûuk nueng roi bàat),” you then understand that it means “a watermelon is one hundred baht.”
The ability to converse fluently in Thai numbers will serve you well not just in understanding the natives but also in negotiating down the prices of goods in the local marketplace in Thailand.
The Thai language has so many complicated but exciting words to learn.
So, if you’re motivated to learn more, let’s use the Ling app!
Learn Thai With The Ling App
Using the Ling app in your Thai language study can add a new dimension of fun. We know that people will experience many situations in their everyday lives.
Therefore we meet their desires by offering diverse vocabulary and topics. Use our sophisticated chatbot, Ling, to practice pronunciation and fill in your lexicon.
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!
