It is impossible to give the correct pronunciation of Thai words by using the Roman alphabet without auxiliary signs.  However, by observing the following pronunciation guide, the words will be understood if used in context. Pronounce "a" like the  "u" in cup   aa   a spa   ae   a man   ai   i fight   aw   aw law   e   e set   eh   ea bear   i   i fit   ee   ee feet   o   oa board   u   u put   oo   oo food   ue   ui French   dt is a consonant somewhat between a "d" and "t". The National Language The official national language, spoken by almost 100 per cent of the population, is Thai, classified by linguists as belonging to a Chinese-Thai branch of the Sino-Tibetan family. It is a tonal language, uninflected, and predominantly monosyllabic. Most polysyllabic words in the vocabulary have been borrowed, mainly from Khmer, Pali or Sanskrit. Dialects are spoken in rural areas. Principal other languages are Chinese and Malay. English, a mandatory subject in public schools, is widely spoken and understood, particularly in Bangkok and other major cities.   Muay Thai Terminology Aenken Anklet, protecting instep and shin Andap Ratings Baak Mouth Bangkok Capital of Thailand Bat Block Chaikrong Floating ribs Champ Champion Chiang Mai Provincial capital in the North. Seond largest city in Thailand Chok Fight Choraked faad haang Turn kick, literally 'crocodile thrashes its tail' Dadsin To judge, to decide Daihuachai Region under the heart, a vital point. Dermpan A form of betting. Dontree Muay The music played during a match Dtaa Eyes Dtaai To die Dtae To kick Dtae Kao Knee kick Dtae Tao Kick with foot Dtae Wiang Round kick Dtai Kidneys, a vital point. Dtai Kao Knee kick from side Dtee To hit Dtee Mat To hit with the fist Dtee Sawk To hit with the elbow Dtoi To box, boxing Dtoi Lom Shadow boxing, literally to box with the wind or air. Faad To thrash, wipe, swipe Faidaeng The red corner Fainamnerng The blue corner Gamagan Referee Gaan Dadsin Judging Gangkeng Muay Boxer's trunks Gawn Welaa Literally before time. "Gawn welaa" bouts, reserved for novices, are held before the program starts. Grajab Groin guard Grammon Srisa Top of head, a vital point Grasawb Bag, punching bag Hua Head Huajai Heart Hook Hook, word borrowed from English. Jad Promote Jamook Nose Kaa Leg Kaen Arm Kai Camp Kai Muay Boxing camp Kagangai Jawbone, a vital point Kamab Temples, vital points. Kao Knee Kao Kong Over-arm knee kick Kao Loy Jumping knee kick Kao Drong Frontal knee kick Khuen Kroo The ceremony during which a teacher accepts a new student. Koo Ek Main bout on a card, literally the "number one pair". Kradot Jump Dradot Dtae Jump kick Druang Rang Bands worn around biceps Kroo Muay Boxing teacher Kwaa Right, to the right Lang Tao Instep Limpee Solar Plexus, a vital point Mat Fist Mat At Uppercut Mat Drong Straight punch Mao Mat "Punch drunk" Mongkon The headband worn during pre-fight ceremony Muay Acheep Professional boxing Muay Thai Thai-style boxing Muay Sakon International-style boxing Na Kaeng Shin Nak Muay Boer Namnak Weight Na Paang Forehead Nuam Gloves Pang-nga To dodge, evade Paa Pan Mue Bandages worn under gloves Pee Liang Seconds Raigaan Muay Boxing program Ram Muay Boxing dance, part of the pre-fight ritual Run Weight category Saai Left, to the left Sanam Muay Boxing stadium Sawing Swing, the word comes from the English "swing" Sawk Elbow Sangwien Ring Ropes Sawk Chieng Diagonal Elbow Sawk Hug Levering Elbow Sawk Klab Reverse Elbow Sawk Ku Double Elbow Sawk Sob Chopping Elbow Sawk Tad Jab Elbow Sawk Tong Smashing Down Elbow Taitai Nap, a vital point Tao Foot Teep Push or thrust with the underside of the foot Teep Dan Lang Foot thrust to the rear Teep Duen Son Heel push Teep Drong Straight forward foot push Ting Throw Tong Stomach Tong Noi Lower stomach, a vital point Uppercut Uppercut, borrowed from English Wai Kroo Obeisance to the teacher, part of the pre-fight ritual. Wehtee The ring, a stage Wong Band Wong Muay The orchestra that plays during matches Yaeb Jab, borrowed from English Yaek Break, used by referee in the ring to separate fighters. Yang gan fan Mouth guard Yang Sam Kung Three step dance, part of the Ram Muay Yok Round Yud Stop, used by referee Commonly Used Phrases Sa wadee Hello La kon Goodbye Aroon sa wadee Good morning Sayan sa wadee   Good evening Ra tree sa wadee Goo d night Chan shue    My name is Khob chai mark Thanks, very much Khob ton rub tharn   You are welcome Tharn sa bi dee rhuee You are welcome Chan mai khao chai I don't understand Shuay chan noi doi ma? Can you help me? Chan ma chark saha rat I am from the U.S. Tharn wa yarng rai? How do you say? We la tao r ai? What time is it? Chan ma chark saha rat I can't speak Thai Chan pood dai tae pasa Anglish I speak English Prode pood hai sah kwa nee Please speak more slowly Basic Numbers 1 through 10 Nueng One Sorng Two Sarm Three Se e Four Ha  Five Hok Six Ched Seven Paed    Eight Kao Nine Sib   Ten Learn more  the language of Muay Thai with the following Glossary and Terminology terms: Aenken – Anklet, protecting instep and shin. Andap – Ratings Baak – Mouth Bangkok – Capital of Thailand Bat – Block Chaikrong – Floating ribs Champ – Champion Chiang Mai – Provincial capital in the North, second largest city in Thailand Chok – Fight Choraked faad haang – Turn kick, literally the crocodile thrashes its tail Dadsin – To judge, to decide Daihuachai – Region under the heart, a vital point Dermpan – A form of betting Dontree Muay – The music played during a match Dtaa – Eyes Dtaai – To die Dtae – To kick Dtae Kao – Knee kick Dtae Tao – Kick with foot Dtae Wiang – Round kick Dtai – Kidneys, vital point Dtai Kao – Knee kick from side Dtee – To hit Dtee Mat – To hit with the fist Dtee Sawk – To hit with the elbow Dtoi – To box, boxing Dtoi Lom – Shadow boxing, literally to box with the wind or air Faad – To thrash, wipe, swipe Faidaeng – The red corner Fainamnerng – The blue corner Gamagan – Referee Gaan Dadsin – Judging Gangkeng Muay – Boxer’s trunks Gawn Welaa – Literally before time, “gawn welaa” bouts are held before the actual programme starts and reserved for novices. Grajab – Groin guard Grammom Srisa – Top of head, a vital point Grasawb – Bag, punching bag Hua – Head Huajai – Heart Hook – Hook, the word is borrowed from English Jad – Promote Jamook – Nose Kaa – Leg Kaen – Arm Kai – Camp Kai Muay – Boxing camp Kagangai – Jawbone, a vital point Kamab – Temples, vital points Kao – Knee Kao Kong – Over-arm knee kick Kao Loy – Jumping knee kick Kao Drong – Frontal knee kick Khuen Kru – The ceremony during which a teacher accepts a new student Ku Ek – Main bout on a card, literally the “number one pair” Kradot – Jump Kradot Dtae – Jump kick Kruang Rang – Bands worn around biceps Kru Muay – Boxing teacher Kwaa – Right, to the right Lang Tao – Instep Limpee – Solar Plexus, a vital point Lop To duck Luk Anta – Testicles Luk Gradueak – Adam’s apple, a vital point Luk Kang – Chin, a vital point Mat – Fist Mat At – Uppercut Mat Drong – Straight punch Mao Mat – “Punch drunk” Mongkon – The headband worn during pre-fight ceremony Muay Acheep – Professional boxing Muay Thai – Thai Boxing, or Thai-style boxing Muay Sakon – International-style boxing Na Kaeng – Shin Nak Muay – Boxer Namnak – Weight Na Paag – Forehead Nuam – Gloves Pang-nga – To dodge, evade Paa Pan Mue – Bandages worn under gloves Pee Liang – Seconds Raigaan Muay – Boxing programme Ram Muay – Boxing dance, part of the pre-fight ritual Run – Weight category Saai – Left, to the left Sanam Muay – Boxing stadium Sangwien – Ring ropes Sawing – Swing, the word comes from the English “swing” Sawk – Elbow Taitoi – Nape, a vital point Tao – Foot Teep – Push or thrust with the underside of the foot Teep Dan Lang – Foot thrust to the rear Teep Dueh Son – Heel push Teep Drong – Straight forward foot push Ting – Throw Tong – Stomach Tong Noi – Lower stomach, a vital point Uppercut – Uppercut, borrowed from English Wai Kru – Obedience to the teacher, part of the pre-fight ritual. Wehtee – The ring, a stage Wong – Band (musical) Wong Muay – The orchestra that plays during matches Yaeb – Jab, borrowed from English Yaek – Break, used by referee in the ring to separate fighters Yang gan fan – Mouth guard Yok – Round Yud – Stop, used by referee   Richly diverse in origin, the Thai language in use today is the end-result of a centuries-long maturation. Early Thai settlers in the late Dvaravati period gradually enlarged their own Chinese-influenced, tonal, monosyllabic language by borrowing and adapting certain Mon and Khmer words. Later, the Thais absorbed polysyllabic Sanskrit (the classical language of Hindu India) and Pali words as Brahmanism and Theravada Buddhism asserted their shaping influences. Foreign traders and Chinese immigrants made minor additions in later centuries. Today, standard Thai is spoken nationwide with regional dialects differing widely from north to south and east to west. King Ramakamhaeng of Sukhothai created the first Thai alphabet in 1283, basing it on Mon and Khmer scripts which, in turn, were derived from a South Indian script. With minor modifications - particularly individual character evolution into more refined shapes - Ramkamhaenge's alphabet survived in tact through the centuries so that the modern Thai can read 13th century inscriptions as easily as could his ancestors. Importantly, Ramkamhaeng's achievement afforded the Thais a vital sense of unity and lent impetus to a distinctive Thai cultural identity. Indeed, several major literary worlds, mainly Buddish is character, were written during the following century. The spoken Thai language lends itself to alliteration. Similar sounding words create pleasing rhythmic patterns and form a poetic language which is commonly used in everyday conversation. Indeed, poetry is a major Thai art, and until 1850 all Thai literary works were in verse form. Spoken and written similes are especially popular and parables are commonly employed, particularly for training children. A gregarious race that loves to joke and laugh, the Thais greatly appreciate puns and double-enterdres which, besides enlivening everyday vernacular, spice and propel outrageous dialogue in popular art forms such as folk theatre. The written Thai language, read horizontally from left to right, as in English, consists of 44 consonants and 32 vowels that combine to formulate sysllabic sounds. The sounds are combined with five different tones-even, high, low, rising and falling-to produce a melodious, lyrical language. Generally speaking, spoken grammar is simple. The basic structure of Thai sentences is subject/verb/object with adjectives following nouns. In many case, verbs can be changed into nouns with the use of a prefix, e.g. khit (think) with the prefix kwam becomes kwam khit (thought). Each Thai word is complete inasmuch as there are no Thai suffixes, genders, articles, declensions or plurals. Tenses are indicated by standard auxiliaries, e.g. pai (go) with the auxiliary ja becomes ja pai (will go); with the auxiliary kamlang becomes kamlang pai (am going); and with the auxiliary laew becomes pai laew (go already (went)). Different pronouns (at least 47, including some 17 I's and 19 you's) and different qualifying nouns and verbs are used by different class - royalty, ecclesiastics and lay people. Because Thai's pronominal structure illustrates rank and intimacy, there are, in effect, four different languages - a royal language, an ecclesiastic language, a polite everyday vernacular and an earthy, pungent slang. Illustrative of this wide range of variations is the verb to 'eat'. In royal language, the word is sawuy; in ecclesiastic Thai, chan; rappratan is a formal word used on engraved invitations and its shortened from, tan is everyday polite usage. Kin is a colloquial form used between friends; to use it with a new acquaintance would be viewed as presumptuous and perhaps rude. Even father down are several vulgarisms which are offensive except when used between ma le intimates in informal situations. (In the written language it is important to understand that words within sentences are not separated, punctuation is rare and grammar can be complicated.) The most unusual of Thailand's "four languages" is the royal language, rachasap. Royalty uses special words for common actions and for parts of the body. This special, formal language is a mixture of words of Khmer, Pali and Sanskrit origin  complemented by specially-coined Thai words. The Khmer-derived words are the same as those commonly begin spoken throughout Cambodia today. Rachasap is usually reserved for formal and state occasions, most royalty making use of standard Thai, slightly modified, for everyday conversation among themselves. In conventional spoken Thai, two or more words are often combined to form literal descriptions of common objects. Thus, 'ice' is nam khaeng (solid water) and 'match' is mai keet fai (stick/strike/fire). Although satisfactory for common objects, this system is inadequate for coining new Thai words that can accurately convey Western concepts or recent scientific terms. Accordingly, the Royal Institute, a government body responsible for publishing the T hai encyclopedia, employs its commitee of language experts to coin equivalent Thai words by drawing upon Pali and Sanskrit sources. As a consequence, Thailand keeps pace with international trends and scientific developments, proof that, in one important respect, Thai is still a growing language.   Standard Thai, also known as Central Thai or Siamese, is the official language of Thailand, spoken by about 65 million people (1990) including speakers of Bangkok Thai (although the latter is sometimes considered as a separate dialect). Korat Thai is spoken by about 400,000 (1984) in Nakhon Ratchasima; it occupies a linguistic position somewhere between Central Thai and Issan on a dialect continuum, and may be considered a variant or dialect of either. In addition to Standard Thai, Thailand is home to other related Tai languages, including: Isan (Northeastern Thai), the language of the Isan region of Thailand, considered by some to be a dialect of the Lao language, which it very closely resembles (although it is written in the Thai alphabet). It is spoken by about 15 million people (1983). Nyaw language, spoken mostly in Nakhon Phanom province, Sakhon Nakhon province, Udon Thani province of Northeast Thailand. Galung language, spoken in Nakhon Phanom province of Northeast Thailand. Lü (Tai Lue, Dai), spoken by about 78,000 (1993) in northern Thailand. Northern Thai (Lanna, Kam Meuang, or Thai Yuan), spoken by about 6 million (1983) in the formerly independent kingdom of Lanna (Chiang Mai). Phuan, spoken by an unknown number of people in central Thailand and Isan. Phu Thai, spoken by about 156,000 around Nakhon Phanom province (1993). Shan (Thai Luang, Tai Long, Thai Yai), spoken by about 56,000 in north-west Thailand along the border with the Shan States of Burma (1993). Song, spoken by about 20,000 to 30,000 in central and northern Thailand (1982). Southern Thai (Pak Dtai), spoken about 5 million (1990). Thai Dam, spoken by about 20,000 (1991) in Isan and Saraburi province. Statistics are from Ethnologies 2003-10-4. Many of these languages are spoken by larger numbers outside of Thailand. Most speakers of dialects and minority languages speak Central Thai as well, since it is the language used in schools and universities all across the kingdom. Numerous languages not related to Thai are spoken within Thailand by ethnic minority hill tribes people. These languages include Hmong-Mien (Yao), Karen, Lisu, and others. Standard Thai is composed of several distinct registers, forms for different social contexts: Street Thai (ภาษาพูด, spoken Thai): informal, without polite terms of address, as used between close relatives and friends. Elegant Thai (ภาษาเขียน, written Thai): official and written version, includes respectful terms of address; used in simplified form in newspapers. Rhetorical Thai: used for public speaking. Religious Thai: (heavily influenced by Sanskrit and Pāli) used when discussing Buddhism or addressing monks. Royal Thai (ราชาศัพท์): (influenced by Khmer) used when addressing members of the royal family or describing their activities. Many Thais can speak at only the first and second levels, though they will understand the others