thai abbreviations

7/29/2019 Thai Abbreviations

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Thai Abbreviations

. = Gram (g.)

. = Kilogram (kg.)

. = Bangkok

... =

The Narcotics Control Board

. = The Metropolitan Electricity Authority

. = The Electricity Generating Authorityof Thailand

. = Kilometre (km.). = Department of Non-Fornal Education

. = The Communication Authority ofThailand

. = The Bangkok Mass Transit Authority

... = Least Common Multiple ( lcm )

. = The Cabinet (of ministers of state)

.. = Christian Era

. = Province

.. = Letter

. = Hour

. = Centimetre (cm.)

.. = A boy; Master.. = A girl; Miss

. = District

. = Policeman


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.. = Square wah; Four square metres

. = Road

. = The Tourism Authority of Thailand

.. = The Military TV Broadcasting

. = Bank

. = , North, O'clock (of time on the 24-hourbasis)

.. = Weight

. = Pupil

.. = Student

.. = Mrs.

. = Newspaper

. = , Company, Baht

.. = Editor

... = The Transport Co.,Ltd

. = Post office

. = President

.. = Postscript; P.S.

. = Vocational

. = High Vocational

. Air-conditioned bus. = Manager

. = Director

.. = Buddhist Era


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.. = Doctor (female)

... = Police major

... = Police lieutenant colonel

... = Police colonel

... = Income tax

., , University, Secondary, Metre (m.)

. = Milligram (mg.)

. = Milliliter (ml.)

. = Thai Industrial Standards Institute [TISI]. = Rama

.. = School

. = Hospital

. = Litre (l.)

... = Happy New Year Postcard

. = Police station

.. = Member of parliament

.. = Member of seniority

. = Limited partnershipPersonal Pronouns I think personal pronouns was one of the difficulties I had when I first came to teach inThailand. There seemed to be a long list of words I could choose from for both "I" and"you". Although I quickly settled for "phom" and "khun" as a male speaker I noticedthat not many people were actually using them in every day conversation.

For example, the other day I noticed a younger female teacher addressing an olderteacher by using her own name for "I". In return, the older teacher referred to herselfby saying "pee". I have also seen much younger female teachers calling themselves


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"noo" in a conversation. They could say "nong" (which is the opposite of "pee") but itisn't used much. The male teachers would do the same.

Another example is Panrit. I sometimes listen to him chatting on the telephone as it isquite amusing how he changes his words for different people. If he is talking to his

friends he will say "goo" for "I" and "meung" for "you". (It is not a good idea for you touse these words yourself.) When he talks to his mother he uses his nickname "Gor" for"I" and the Thai word for mother "mae" for "you". If he is speaking to someone for thefirst time he would use "phom" for "I". If he is talking to someone older he might callthem "pee". If he is talking to someone older than his father he might call them "loong"which means "uncle". This, however, doesn't mean that they are really his uncle. For afemale older than his mother he would refer to them as "ba".

A very formal form of "I" for both female and male is "kapajao". I first came across itwhen I gave homework to my students to write an introduction about themselves inEnglish and Thai. (You can see these on the internet by clickinghere.) You won't come

across it much but I sometimes here it in assembly when a student is standing up front.

One of the first Thai grammar books I obtained when I arrived was "The Fundamentalsof the Thai Language" by Stuart Campbell and Chuan Shaweevongs. This is an excellentbook though unfortunately now out of print. Below I have printed an extract from theirchapter on Personal Pronouns which I found to be useful. I have made a few changeshere and there and added some extra examples which my students gave me.

There are a great number of pronouns in the Thai language, and though you need notbother about them all, you should have a working knowledge of the more common

ones and be able to recognise them and use them correctly.

You will notice that some words can be classified as 1st person pronouns, but there isno very clear distinction between 2nd and 3rd person pronouns.

U IThis is a word used by both males and females when speaking to intimates,servants or children. You should not use it when speaking to people who aresuperior to you in rank or social status but it is alright amongst friends if you knowthem well. From the above it follows that if you use CHUN you will not normallyuse the polite words KA or KRUP at the end of your sentence.

POM IThis has the same meaning as CHUN but is a more polite word and is generallyused when talking with equals or superiors. This word can only be used by males.

IU - IThis is the female counterpart of POM and is used in the same circumstances. It isoften abbreviated to CHUN. This word can only be used by females.
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PO -- IThis is a very formal word which may be used by either males or females but isseldom met with except in writing. You will mostly come across it in officialdocuments.

IThis is a rather insulting word which you should never use. It is mentioned herebecause a Thai can and often does use it to a really intimate friend as a veryinformal and friendly word.

OO YuThis corresponds to POM and DICHUN and can be used by either males orfemales. It is generally used amongst intimates and is a good polite word to useto superiors. It is the pronoun most commonly heard in any conversation can beused in either the 2nd. or 3rd. person. As it indicates considerable personalrespect, you should not use it to inferiors such as servants or taxi drivers.

T YuThis word can be used as a 2nd. or 3rd. person pronoun by either males orfemales. Actually it is a polite word and would be used in conversation by a Thaionly when speaking to someone of high rank. In the written language however itis the ordinary word to use for you. It shows respect for rank rather thanpersonal respect.

TER YuThis is a very familiar form of address used mainly by women talking to eachother, a man talking to his wife or girl friend or when talking to small children. It is

also used a 3rd. person pronoun under the same conditions. MuseThis is often used as a pet name when talking to or about small children or girlfriends and corresponds roughly to little one as used in English in similarcircumstances. Can also be used to waitresses and young servants.

MEU YuThis is another very low word which you should never use although you willsometimes hear Thai people use it to very intimate friends.

O e, Se, Tey.

This is the 3rd. person pronoun singular or plural and may be used by either sexreferring to anyone. Just as in English however it is more polite to refer to peopleas NAI or KOON Mr. or KOON Mrs. or Miss rather than just KOW He, Sheetc.

Yu, e, Se, Tey.This is a 2nd. or 3rd. person pronoun. Used as a 2nd. person pronoun it soundsrather rough and you had better avoid it but you can use it as a 3rd. person


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pronoun when referring to servants or people of inferior status. A Thai willsometimes use it as a 3rd. person pronoun referring to his friends.

MU ItThis is sometimes used for animals and things and for the impersonal it in such

sentences as if you like this, it will be a good thing. You should not try to use ituntil you get more familiar with the language.

RO e, Tey.This can be used in all cases for we or they and if necessary as a 2nd. personpronoun.

POO-AK ROW d- eThis is a variation of the above which you may come across in reading and means

Our group or Our sort of people.

OOO -

This is really an appellation for a person with the rank or PRAYAH and may beused in the 2nd. or 3rd. person. Although there is no equivalence in rank, its useis similar to the use of the word Sir in English when talking to or about someonewho has been knighted except that you can use JOWKOON as a pronoun withoutadding the name after it.

OOYI - This is a respectful form of address used when speaking to or about the wife ofPRAYAH, a princess below the rank of MOM JOW or a commoner who has hadcertain high decorations conferred on her.

Special rules for silent letters

There is a special symbol " which is used to make the consonant it is above silent. Itis mainly used in foreign words and it helps to keep the original spelling.

or example John is ".

Sometimes you will see an English word without this cancellation symbol.

For example golf was written and also "

These are some examples:

- took sorrow, misery

- sa-tang satang (1-100th tical)

- rot-yon car


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- sup vocabulary, words

- goom-paa-pun February

- pim to print

- bor-ri-boon to be complete- sut animal

- sut honesty

- sup property

- paet doctor

- wan-ar-tit Sunday

- wan-sook Friday

- wan-sao Saturday- sup-daa week

- wong race, family, stock

- bporn pound

Sometimes the last two letters are silent even though only one has the cancellationsymbol:

For example:

- wan-jun Monday

- raat realm

- saat branch or field of knowledge

- poom-mi-saat geography

If the cancellation symbol is placed over a consonant with a superscript or subscriptvowel, then both are silent. You will see this more often with and ".

For example:

- sit rights, privileges

- bor-ri-soot pure

- wut-po Wat Pho

- pun kind, breed, species


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Sometimes the final cosonant is silent even though there is no cancellation symbol. Thisletter is usually .

For example:

- kreaung-jug machine- sa-mug to apply, to volunteer

- pet diamond

- boot son

- but card

- mit friend

- ma-haa-sa-moot ocean

The cancellation symbol is usually only used at the end of words. However, there aresome words where a letter in the middle is silent and it isn't marked. These are often " but not always.

For example:

- saa-maat to be able, can

- bpraat-tha-naa to desire, to wish

- giat-dti-yot honor

- see-sa head

- praam Brahman

- pet-cha-kaat executioner

Sometimes there is a final consonant where only the superscript or subscript vowel issilent. These are usually and , but also , and "

For example:


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- het reason, cause

- taat element

- chaat nationality

- yaat relative

- giat honor

- a-noo-mut permission

- bpra-wut history, record

- som-moot to suppose

- jug-ga-put emperor

- gort ten million

- aoon-na-ha-poom temperature

Thai Dictionary Order

The Thai dictionary is sorted by consonants first and then vowels:

Order of Consonants

Order of Vowels


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Thai Alphabet

Thai Consonants

There are 44 consonants in the Thai language which are grouped into three different

classes. Blue is low, green is middle and brown is high. It is important to rememberwhich class each consonant belongs to as that will determine which tone to use.However, don't make the mistake in thinking that consonants in the low class have onlylow tones.

Each letter is named after something. For example, Gor Gai. "Gor" is the sound thatletter makes and "Gai" is a chicken. You will see that a lot of letters have the samesound so in the end you will only have to learn 21 sounds. However, some letterschange their sound when they come at the end of a word. In total there are only eightfinal sounds. There are also some letters which we do not use much.

Low Class|Middle Class|High Class

Click on the letter to hear the sound that letter makes.

Gor Gai Kor Kai Khor khuad Kor kwaai Kor Khon Kor ra-kung

Ngor ngoo Jor jaan Chor ching Chor Chaang Sor so Chor cher

Yor ying Dor cha-daa Tor pa-tuk Thor Tharn Thor mon-tho Thor phoo thao
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Nor nayn Dor dek Tor tao Thor thoong Tor thaharn Thor thohng

Nor nhoo Bor bai mai Por plaa Phor pheung Fhor fhaa Phor phaan

For fun Phor samphao Mor maa Yor yuk Ror rua Lor ling

Wor whaen Sor saalaa Sor reu-see Sor sua Hor heep Lor chulaa

Or aang Hor nok hoog

Low Class Consonants

There are 24 low class consonants. All five tones are possible and two of thetonemarks(mai eakand mai toh) can be used.

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Korkwaai Kor Khon

Kor ra-kung

Ngorngoo

Chorchaang Sor so

Chor cher Yor yingThor

mon-tho

Thor phoo

thaoNor nayn

Tor

thaharn

Thorthohng

Nor nhooPhor

phaanFor fun

Phorsamphao

Mor maa

Yor yuk Ror rua Lor ling

Wor

whaen Lor chulaa

Hor nok

hoog

Middle Class Consonants

There are nine middle class consonants. All five tones are possible and all four tonemarkscan be used.


Gor gai Jor jaanDor cha-

daaTor pa-

tukDor dek Tor tao
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Bor baimai Por plaa Or aang

High Class Consonants

There are 11 high class consonants. Three tones are possible (low, falling and rising)and two of thetone marks(mai eakand mai toh) can be used.


Kor KaiKhor

khuadChorching

ThorTharn

Thorthoong

Phorpheung

Fhor fhaa Sorsaalaa

Sor reu-see

Sor sua Hor heep

Special rules for "" (hor heep)

There are 8 low class consonants which are changed to high class when a

silent " " is put in front of them. These consonant are:

These are some examples of them:

- ngorg gray hair
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- ngoi to wither; to be depressed

- ngeauk gum

- yaa grass- ying female

- nug heavy

- naa thick

- nee debt

- mug to ferment, to leaven (dough, beer, wort)

- maa dog

- mee bear

- yig to pinch

- yib to pick, to take

- yoot to stop

- reed wreath

- roo to turn down

- reu or

- lub sleep

- laai several

- leau to remain, to be left

- wut cold

- wit to come near, to be near (defeat)


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- vote vote

Sonorant Finals

The five consonants below are the main Sonorant Finals and represent ng, n, m, yand w in Roman letters. They are called Sonorant Finals because they are voiced. Ifyou touch your Adam's apple (larynx) while you say Thai syllables with theseconsonants at the end you will feel a vibration. and

Ngor

ngoo Nor nhoo Mor maa Yor yuk

Wor

whaen

The following are all the Sonorant Finals:

is represented by a "o" when it comes at the end. is represented by a "ng" when it comes at the end., , , , , are represented by a "n" when they come at the end. is represented by a "m" when it comes at the end., are represented by a "i" when they come at the end.

You will also need to learn theStop Finals.

Stop Finals

The three consonants below are the main Stop Finals and represent k, t and p inRoman letters. They are called Stop Finals because they are unvoiced when they comeat the end of a syllable. Notice how the consonants change their sound.

Gor Gai Dor dek Bor bai-mai

The following are all the Stop Finals:
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, , , are represented by a "k" when they come at the end., , , , , , , , , , , , , , are represented by a "t" when they come atthe end., , , , are represented by a "p" when they come at the end.

Tones Marks

There are four tones marks in the Thai language. These are not used for every word.When they are used you will see them above the initial consonant of the syllable. Ifthere is a vowel above the consonant then the tone mark will appear above it. It mayseem confusing that there are five tones but only four tone marks. This is becausethere are other factors which determine which tone to use. These include the class ofthe initial and final consonants (low,middleandhigh) and the vowel sound (shortorlong).

mai eak(low)

mai toh(falling)

mai dtree(high)

mai juttawa(rising)

Special rules for "" (aor aang)

There are four words where the low class consonant " " is changed to a middle class

consonant by putting a silent " " in front of it. We had to learn these at school.

yaa do not

yoo to live, to stay

yang kind, sort of

yaak to want

Two of the above are homonyms (sound the same) and are used with the silent " ".

yaa divorce

yaak (yai) cobwebs
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21 Initial Sounds

If you have already studied theThai alphabet, you may have noticed that many of thesounds are quite similar. In fact, out of 44 consonants there are only 21 initial sounds.

Sound Letters

Gor

Kor

Ngor

Jor

Chor

Sor

Dor

Dtor

Tor

Nor

Bor

Bpor

Por

For

Mor

Yor

Ror

Lor
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Wor

Or

Hor

8 Final Sounds

ou may already know, that in theThai alphabetthere are 44 consonants. Out of thesethere are21 initial soundsand amazingly only 8 final sounds.

Sound Letters

Gor

Dor

Bor

Ngor

Nor

Mor

Yor

Wor

Special rules for "" (ror rua)

Usually, the letter " " (ror rua) is pronounced " r " at the start and " n " at

the end. However, there are some special rules that changes this.

(1) When a single " " follows another consonant and is the last letter in thesyllable, it is pronounced " orn " instead of " n ".
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For example:

- porn blessing(s)

- auk-sorn letter of the alphabet

- na-korn city- la-korn play, drama

- sa-mo-sorn club, association

- thaa-worn to be permanent, enduring

(2) In the following examples, " " is not pronounced:

For example:

- jing true; yes

- sut-thaa belief, faith

- see fine, good; glory

- set-thee rich man

- sow sad

- soi necklace

- sa pond; to wash

- sang to lessen, subside

- sang to build

- set done; to end

- serm to supplement

(3) When " " follows " ", the letters " " change to an " " (sor so)with the " s " sound:

For examples:

- cha-choeng-sao Chachoengsao Province

- suang breast, chest

- suad-song shape, form

- sub property


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- sarb to know

- sarm inferior; deteriorating

- sai sand

- soot-sorm run down, worm out- saek to insert

- sai banyan tree

- put-saa name of Thai fruit

- in-see fish name

- in-see organic

(4) The double " " is changed to an " an " sound when there is no finalconsonant. When there is a final consonant, " " is changed to an " a "sound.

For examples:

- gan-chiang oar

- ban-job to meet

- san to choose

- han-saa to delight

- gam Karma; action

- dtag logic

- pan kind, type

- sab every, entire

- aat text

Special Marks and Symbols

The following are special marks and symbols used together with the Thaialphabet.


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Mai Ayk(tone mark)

Mai Toh (tone mark)

Mai Dtree (tone mark)

Mai Judtawah (tone mark)

Mai Dtaikhu (shortens the vowel attached to the initial consonant)

Mai Than-dta-khat (silences the letter over which it is placed)

Paiyan Noi (abbreviation symbol)

Paiyan Yai (an etcetera sign)

Mai Yamok(duplication sign)

Fongman (marks start of paragraph/sentence or poem stanza)

Angkhandeaw (marks end of sentence or poem stanza)


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Angkhankhu (marks end of chapter or episode)

Khomut (marks end of story)

Yamakkhan (used to mark clusters in Sanskrit)

Pinthu (used to mark clusters in Sanskrit)

Nikhahit (used as Sanskrit/Pali inherited consonant)

Consonant Cluster Groups

In some words, you need to pronounce the first two letters together. Really, there areonly 5 letters/sounds that can be followed by a second letter to make a cluster.

/ / gor kor dtor bpor por

The second consonant can only be one of the following consonants.

ror lor wor

These are some examples of clusters:

- grorng to filter

- graab to prostrate down on the floor


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- grong cage

- gloung hollow, empty- glua to be afraid

- glaa to dare

- gwaang dear (animal)

- gwaad to sweep

- gwaa more than

- kruem to look solemn, to be stern

- kroo-kra rough, not smooth

- jao-krua rich man

- klaad cowardly

- klooy flute

- klong herd (of elephants)

- kwaa right

- kwaang to block, get in the way

- kwaan axe


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- kreaung instrumentation

- krung times

- krua kitchen

- klub club

- klaan crawl

- klai to resemble

- kwan smoke

- kwai buffalo

- kwam to turn over

- dtruat to check

- dtrung Trang Province

- dtrong straight

- bpra-dtoo door

- bpraeng brush

- bpreaw sour

- bplaa fish


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- bploog to grow

- bplian to change

- plug to push

- plud delay; to change

- plae wound

- proong-nee tomorrow

- prae Prae Province

- prig chilli

- plaam to babble

- plua a spade, a shovel

- ploy precious stoneetc.

Live and Dead Syllables

Live ( ) and Dead () Syllables:

A syllable that ends with along vowelor asonorant final consonantis called alive syllable.

A syllable that ends with ashort vowelor astop final consonantis called a deadsyllable.

LIVE SYLLABLES:

Tone SoundsLow Class

ConsonantsMiddle ClassConsonants

High ClassConsonants

Middle
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Low

Falling

High

Rising

The basic tones for each class are: low and middle classes (middle tone) andhigh class (rising tone).

* A slight complication is in the Low Class group. When any consonant in this

group is at the start of a live syllable and it has a low tone mark (mai aek), it ispronounced with a falling tone (siang toh). With a falling tone mark (mai toh), itis pronounced with a high tone (siang dtree).

DEAD SYLLABLES:

Tone SoundsLow Class

Consonants

Middle ClassConsonants

High ClassConsonants

Middle

Low

Falling

High

Rising

Information for this page was mainly taken from "Thai for English Speaking Learners"by Tipawan Thampusana-Abold. Published by DK Editions. There were a few typingerrors in the book which have been corrected on this page.

http://www.learningthai.com/thai-alphabet/live-and-dead-syllables.html

Romanization of Thai Script

Just about every book on learning Thai seems to have their own method for romanizingThai script so that it is readable by Westerners. No-one can agree about the best way ofdoing this. Even in Thailand you will sometimes see roadsigns using different methods.The disadvantage for you the learner is that when you move from one language courseto another you have to first learn their method of transliterating the Thai letters. To methat is like having to learn two different languages at the same time. I really do suggestthat you make an effort to learn how to read Thai. It is not as difficult as it looks. Try my
http://www.learningthai.com/thai-alphabet/live-and-dead-syllables.htmlhttp://www.learningthai.com/thai-alphabet/live-and-dead-syllables.htmlhttp://www.learningthai.com/thai-alphabet/live-and-dead-syllables.html


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freeReading Thailessons on this web site. If you insist on learning how to readromanized Thai script then I offer you the following guide produced by the RoyalInstitute in Bangkok.

TABLE 1 - VOWELS

Thai Vowels Examples

a - saphan - lanta - bang - samut

am - lam

i - sing - buri

ue - satuek - phuet - borabue

u - buri - phu

e

-

panare -

phen -

khen

ae - sae - sakae

o

- phato - lop - samko - ko

- bo

oe - soe - amphoe - noen

ia - phia - thian
http://www.learningthai.com/thai-alphabet/index.phphttp://www.learningthai.com/thai-alphabet/index.phphttp://www.learningthai.com/thai-alphabet/index.phphttp://www.learningthai.com/thai-alphabet/index.php


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uea - kuea - mueang

ua - phua - bua - khuan

ai - yai - phai - chai - thai - pai

ao - chao - khao

ui

-

kui

oi - doi - doi

iu - ngiu

eo - reo - leo

oei - loei

uai - duai - huai

aeo - maeo

ieo - khieo

1 The single hyphen indicates the absence of any associated vowel-sign. Such aconsonant is to be transcribed with an aorofollowing it, according to pronunciation.

TABLE 2 - CONSONANTS


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Initial Final Thai consonant

k- -k

kh- -k

ng- -ng

ch- -t

ch- -t

y- -n

d- -t *

t- -t

th- -t *

n- -n

b- -p

p- -p

ph- -p

f- -p


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m- -m

y- -

r- -n

l- -n

w- - **

s- -t

h- -

- - * This character may be pronounced thordwhen it is in initial position.

** See Table 2, where appears in combination with vowels. It serves as the diphthong,ua, when placed between two consonants.

CLASSIFIER NOUNS -

Language tips by Ajarn Richard (English teacher,Sriwittayapaknam School)

My Thai students have a hard time when it comes to learning English. The mostcommon complaint are the words that have to be modified for different situations. Forexample, plural words. "Man" to "men" and "mouse" to "mice". The good news forlearners of Thai is that the nouns are not changed when they become plural. However,the bad news is that you have to learn a long list of classifier nouns.

For example:

three students = - nak rian sam khon- literally means "student threeperson".

three buses = - rot meh Sam khan- literally means "bus three vehicle".
http://www.sriwittayapaknam.ac.th/http://www.sriwittayapaknam.ac.th/http://www.sriwittayapaknam.ac.th/http://www.sriwittayapaknam.ac.th/


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Another observation from my English lessons is the habit of the students to forget towrite "a", "an", "the", "some" and "any". Sometimes it was like hitting my head against awall. They continually forgot. It wasn't until I started to learn Thai that I realised thatthere wasn't really a Thai equivalent.

For example:I see a cat = - chan hen maeo neung tua- literally means "I see catone animal".

On this page I will give you some of the more useful classifiers. This list comes from"Thai for Travellers" by Suraphong Kanchananaga. This and other Thai/English bookscan be bought online at buythaibooks.com.

un for small objects, things (in general)

1

cha-bub for letters, newspapers

1 = 1 letter

chaw for bunches of flowers

= a bunch of flowers

baan for windows, doors, picture frames, mirrors

1

bai for round hollow objects , leaves

1

dork for flowers

duang for stars, postage stamps = This evening there are many stars

fong for poultry eggs

1
http://www.buythaibooks.com/http://www.buythaibooks.com/http://www.buythaibooks.com/


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hor for bundles, parcels

1

gaew

for drinking glasses, tumblers

6

cum for words, mouthfull of food

cun for vehicles, umbrellas,cars

1

kon for a person, a child, human beings 1

koo for pairs of articles, forks and spoons

1

gluk for matchboxes

1

gon for lumps of sugar, stones

grabawk for guns, cannon

gong for piles or heaps of stones, sand

2

lum for boats, ships, aeroplanes

1

lung for houses, mosquito nets


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1

lem for books, candles, scissors

met for smaller things, fruit pits, pills

1

muan for cigarettes

1

ong for holy personages, kings, also for monk

1

phaen for sheets of paper, pieces of planks

pon for fruits

1

phuen for blankets, carpets, mats 1

reuan for clocks, watches

1

roob for monks and novices,pictures

sai for roads, waterways, belts, necklaces

song for envelopes

1


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sen for hairs of the head, lines drawn in ink

see

for teeth, ribs

thuay for ceramic cups

1

dton for trees, plants, posts

dtua for animals, insects, fish, tables and chairs, shirts, pants, coats,other living creatures

1

whee for a bunch of bananas

1

wong for rings, bracelets, a circle

3

If you don't need to specify the number you can skip the classifier.

For example:

I want some Coke = - chun ow coke.

I will finish with some good news. For every day use, you can get away with speakingbroken Thai. In the above example, most Thai people will just say "ow coke".

thai abbreviations

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