The most commonly spoken non-Thai languages in Thailand are: Lao (Isan/Lao dialects) – By far the most widely spoken. Around 15–20 million people in northeastern Thailand speak Isan, which is closely related to Lao. Many linguists consider it a Lao language variety. Chinese languages – Especially Teochew, Hokkien, Hakka, Cantonese, and Mandarin. Although many Thai Chinese now primarily speak Thai, Mandarin use has grown due to education and business. Malay (Pattani Malay) – Spoken by about 1.5–2 million people in the southern provinces of Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat, and parts of Songkhla. Khmer – Spoken by several hundred thousand people, mainly in provinces bordering Cambodia such as Surin, Sisaket, and Buriram. Burmese (Myanmar languages) – Spoken by many migrant workers from Myanmar, including Burmese, Karen, Shan, and Mon. English – Widely taught as a second language and commonly used in tourism, business, and international education, though relatively few people speak it fluently. Vietnamese – Spoken by a smaller ethnic Vietnamese community, particularly in northeastern Thailand. Karen languages – Spoken by Karen communities along the Thailand–Myanmar border.
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