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Why learn Thai?
Thai is one of the 67 languages you can learn on Lingocard with frequency-ranked flashcards, spaced repetition, and live speaking partners. Build vocabulary and pronunciation at your own pace, on web and mobile.
In the US Foreign Service Institute ranking, Thai is a Category III language - about 1100 class hours to professional working proficiency for English speakers. Thai forms its own branch - learners commonly study it alongside Vietnamese or Chinese.
The 50 most common Thai words
Start with the words you will actually meet: learn these and you will recognize something in almost every Thai sentence.
| # | Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ที่ | tee | at |
| 2 | เป็น | pen | be |
| 3 | ไม่ | mai | not (negation) |
| 4 | ได้ | dai | can |
| 5 | มี | mee | have |
| 6 | ฉัน | chahn | I |
| 7 | คุณ | koon | you |
| 8 | เขา | kao | he |
| 9 | เรา | rao | we |
| 10 | มัน | mahn | it |
| 11 | จะ | jah | will |
| 12 | ไป | pai | go |
| 13 | มา | mah | come |
| 14 | ทำ | tahm | do |
| 15 | พูด | poot | talk |
| 16 | รู้ | roo | know |
| 17 | เห็น | hen | see |
| 18 | ให้ | hai | give |
| 19 | อยาก | yahk | want |
| 20 | ปี | pee | year |
| 21 | เวลา | weh-lah | time |
| 22 | วัน | wahn | day |
| 23 | ดี | dee | good |
| 24 | ใหญ่ | yai | large |
| 25 | คน | kohn | people |
| 26 | ใหม่ | mai | new |
| 27 | ของ | khawng | of |
| 28 | อะไร | ah-rai | what |
| 29 | มาก | mahk | very |
| 30 | สอง | sawng | two |
| 31 | แรก | rehk | first |
| 32 | ที่ไหน | tee-nai | where |
| 33 | ทำไม | tahm-mai | why |
| 34 | แล้ว | lehw | already |
| 35 | นั่น | nahn | that |
| 36 | กัน | gahn | together |
| 37 | งาน | ngahn | work |
| 38 | ชีวิต | chee-wit | life |
| 39 | ตอน | tawn | time |
| 40 | อื่น | uhn | another |
| 41 | แต่ | teh | but |
| 42 | ยัง | yahng | yet |
| 43 | กับ | gahp | with |
| 44 | ใน | nai | in |
| 45 | และ | leh | and |
| 46 | ก็ | gaw | also |
| 47 | นี้ | nee | this |
| 48 | ดู | doo | look |
| 49 | ต้อง | tawng | must |
| 50 | เมื่อ | muh-ah | when |
Useful phrases in Thai
- สวัสดี · sa-wat-DEE · Hello / Good day
- สบายดีไหม · sa-baai-dee-MAI · How are you?
- ขอบคุณ · korp-KOON · Thank you
- กรุณา · ga-ru-NAA · Please
- ฉันชื่อ... · chan cheu ... · My name is...
- ... อยู่ที่ไหน · ... yoo tee NAI · Where is...?
- ลาก่อน · lah GAWN · Goodbye
- ขอโทษ · kaw TOHT · Excuse me
- ฉันไม่เข้าใจ · chan my kow-JY · I don't understand
- คุณช่วยฉันได้ไหม · koon CHOO-ay chan dy MY · Can you help me?
- ราคาเท่าไหร่ · rah-KAH tow-RY · How much is it?
- พรุ่งนี้เจอกัน! · PROONG-nee jer GAHN · See you tomorrow!
Learn Thai with comprehensive language resources
- Pronunciation
- Numbers
- Verbs and adjectives
- Frequency dictionaries
- Basic sentences
- Thematic dictionaries
- Politeness
- Idioms
Learn Thai, wherever you are
- AI-powered spaced repetition learning system on the go
- Audio processing for pronunciation
- Creation of visual language flash cards with images
- Search for speaking practice partners
- Frequency and thematic dictionaries for any language
- Alert system with exercise reminders
- Live video and messaging to facilitate learning
Join our global Thai learning community
Collaborate with native Thai speakers and fellow learners: exchange messages, correct each other's cards, and practice real conversation.
Send friend requests to the speakers you click with and build your own friends list - many practice partners become real friends.
Are you an educator? Teach Thai online · Create an online Thai school · Build a Thai curriculum
Frequently asked questions about learning Thai
How difficult is it to learn Thai?
How difficult Thai is depends on your background, but every language becomes manageable with consistent daily practice. Focusing on the most frequent words first means you can understand and say a lot early on. In the US Foreign Service Institute ranking, Thai is a Category III language - about 1100 class hours to professional working proficiency for English speakers.
What should I learn first to reach a basic level in Thai?
Start with the 100-500 most frequent words (free in our apps) and the thematic dictionaries most relevant to your daily life. Set clear goals and practise a few minutes every day - consistency is what produces results. Then connect with other learners to build confidence at your new basic level.
How long does it take to learn Thai?
Most learners reach a comfortable conversational level in Thai within 8-18 months of consistent daily study. Practising vocabulary with spaced repetition and speaking regularly speeds this up considerably. About 60 million people across 1 countries speak Thai, so you will never run short of practice partners.
How do I improve my Thai vocabulary?
Use the spaced-repetition and flashcard systems in the app. You can set daily, weekly, or yearly goals in our mobile apps and steadily reach the vocabulary size you’re aiming for.
Is Thai pronunciation hard?
Every language has a few sounds that take practice, but Thai pronunciation becomes consistent with regular listening and speaking. Hearing the language often matters more than memorising rules.
How do I get Free Thai speaking practice?
Open the Practice or Friends page in the app, send practice requests, and start real conversations with other learners - don’t be shy! You can also mention that you want speaking practice when you create your account, and the platform will help match you with suitable partners.
Do I need to learn the Thai alphabet first?
If Thai uses a different script, learning it early unlocks reading - and it's usually faster than people expect. On Lingocard you'll find every alphabet, with example words, free.