2 Common Mistakes You May Be Making While Speaking Thai

Learning Thai is fun and rewarding. However, you may run into some issues when trying to use your newly learned Thai phrases with the locals. 

Here are 2 common mistakes foreigners may make when learning to speak Thai and some simple tips to help you avoid them. 

Let’s make your learning journey easier together!

Sidenote: This article was written by Jakrapan Sasibutra, a Thai language teacher from the Knowledge, a Thai language school located in Ratchadapisek.

Pronunciation of Tones

Thai has five tones: mid, low, falling, high, and rising. Many foreigners have trouble pronouncing these tones correctly, which can change the meaning of the words.

For example, <maa> can mean “come,” “dog,” or “horse” depending on the tone. And <kao> can mean “rice,” “white,” or “news,” also depending on the tone.

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You can avoid misunderstandings with more listening practice and by repeating the tones. Use tone marks and audio resources. Try to copy native speakers. Recording yourself and comparing your pronunciation with native speakers can help, too. Check out the table below for a great example of what tones there are in Thai and how they affect the meanings of words.

Direct Translation from English

Many new learners try to translate sentences directly from English to Thai, which often leads to incorrect sentences because the grammar and sentence structures are different.

Here are some examples:

1.  “I am hot.”

Incorrect: ฉัน เป็น ร้อน (chǎn pēn rɔ́ɔn)

Correct: ฉัน ร้อน (chǎn rɔ́ɔn)

2.  “I have two dogs.”

Incorrect: ฉัน มี สอง หมา (chǎn mīi sɔ̌ɔŋ mǎa)

Correct: ฉัน มี หมา สอง ตัว (chǎn mīi mǎa sɔ̌ɔŋ tūa)

3.  “He is very tall.”

Incorrect: เขา คือ มาก สูง (khǎw khʉ̄ʉ mâak sǔuŋ)

Correct: เขา สูง มาก (khǎw sǔuŋ mâak)

So how do we avoid this? Instead of translating word-for-word, try to think in Thai. Learn some grammar structure basics, common Thai phrases and expressions. 

Practice speaking in Thai without translating in your head first. Watch Thai TV shows or listen to Thai songs to get used to the language.

Final Tip

Learning Thai takes time and practice. Be patient with yourself and enjoy the process. It’s okay to make mistakes – it’s all part of the learning process! Don’t be afraid to ask for help. 

Thai people definitely appreciate your efforts to learn their language and will always be happy to support you!