How Many Thai Words Do You Know?

[westybrook]

I was just wondering how many Thai words you know? Also how long has it taken for you to remember all these?

Do you have any tips for people learning the language, which are the main words to learn first, things like that.

P.S I heard from some (Michael Thomas) A world famous language teacher that we only use say 300 or less words daily, not even that. A big newspaper in the New York area counted and had just under 300 words in the paper.

Hope you liked that

[Braccobaldo]

..I think speaking a basic Thai is not so difficult...but in my opinion is almost always better not speak too much

[Chickenlegs]

I was just wondering how many Thai words you know?  Also how long has it taken for you to remember all these?

Do you have any tips for people learning the language, which are the main words to learn first, things like that.

P.S  I heard from some (Michael Thomas)  A world famous language teacher that we only use say 300 or less words daily, not even that.  A big newspaper in the New York area counted and had just under 300 words in the paper.

Hope you liked that

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I just speak a few Thai phrases, not particularly well. I think I must be tone deaf as I can't even hear the difference between the tones. However, this 300 word theory sounds interesting.

I would very much like to know the Thai for "please do not iron creases into the front of my shorts/jeans".

[Kathe]

I was just wondering how many Thai words you know?  Also how long has it taken for you to remember all these?

Do you have any tips for people learning the language, which are the main words to learn first, things like that.

P.S  I heard from some (Michael Thomas)  A world famous language teacher that we only use say 300 or less words daily, not even that.  A big newspaper in the New York area counted and had just under 300 words in the paper.

Hope you liked that

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I just speak a few Thai phrases, not particularly well. I think I must be tone deaf as I can't even hear the difference between the tones. However, this 300 word theory sounds interesting.

I would very much like to know the Thai for "please do not iron creases into the front of my shorts/jeans".

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

กรุณา อย่ารีดกรีบกางเกง หรือ ไม่ต้องรีดกรีบกางเกง ทั้งขาสั้นและกางเกงยีนส์ ( Karu naa yaah reed greeb garnggheng or Mai Tong Reed Greeb Garnggheng thang kaasan lae Garnggheng jeans )

Hope it works kha.

[the scouser]

I would very much like to know the Thai for "please do not iron creases into the front of my shorts/jeans".

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

เวลาคุฌรีดกางเกงกรุฌาอย่าจับกลีบ - wae-laa khun reet gang-geng ga- roo-na ya jap gleet

Scouse.

[sadman]

I try really hard, I take Thai lessons in the UK, I do my homework and I remember a reasonable amount - BUT - when I speak it, I sound like a knob. I know I do because when I speak to Thais they stare at me quizzically, at which point I repeat it (not shouting, though) with the hand signals. They then understand and repeat what I thought I'd said, but clearly hadn't.

May I make this apology now: to each and every Thai to whom I speak, and who thinks I am a total knob - sorry! I'm doing my best, and I know it's not at all good. Perhaps when I'm over full time, I will get a better grip. Or not.

[Davey]

I wouldn't say I'm fluent by any means, although I can communicate. It took me about two/three weeks to learn the Thai alphabet. I've never took any lessons and it'll probably show . I wouldn't like to say how many words I know, as I couldn't even estimate. The hardest part for me is learning the grammar and tenses. I have been practising my Thai for about 6 months or so now and there is PLENTY of room for improvement.

I think perseverance is the key to learning any leanguage, especially Thai. Good luck to anyone learning the language

[Chickenlegs]

I was just wondering how many Thai words you know?  Also how long has it taken for you to remember all these?

Do you have any tips for people learning the language, which are the main words to learn first, things like that.

P.S  I heard from some (Michael Thomas)  A world famous language teacher that we only use say 300 or less words daily, not even that.  A big newspaper in the New York area counted and had just under 300 words in the paper.

Hope you liked that

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I just speak a few Thai phrases, not particularly well. I think I must be tone deaf as I can't even hear the difference between the tones. However, this 300 word theory sounds interesting.

I would very much like to know the Thai for "please do not iron creases into the front of my shorts/jeans".

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

กรุณา อย่ารีดกรีบกางเกง หรือ ไม่ต้องรีดกรีบกางเกง ทั้งขาสั้นและกางเกงยีนส์ ( Karu naa yaah reed greeb garnggheng or Mai Tong Reed Greeb Garnggheng thang kaasan lae Garnggheng jeans )

Hope it works kha.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I would very much like to know the Thai for "please do not iron creases into the front of my shorts/jeans".

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

เวลาคุฌรีดกางเกงกรุฌาอย่าจับกลีบ - wae-laa khun reet gang-geng ga- roo-na ya jap gleet

Scouse.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thanks Saothai and Scouse,

I trust that these phrases will be acceptable at the laundry and I will not be offering to marry someone's grandmother !! - or worse.

[mrbojangles]

May I make this apology now: to each and every Thai to whom I speak, and who thinks I am a total knob - sorry! I'm doing my best, and I know it's not at all good.

Excellent

[westybrook]

Im sure many SADMAN sound bad, when we speak to Thais

Always good to see a comment from you Scouser!

[Boo]

When I speak thai & feel embarassed, I always think of how the majority of thais speak english & think, well, if they can balls up my language that much they can handle my crap accent & pronounciation as well Seriously though, hubby & I have discussed whats gonna happen in the future when (if) we move back full time to LOS & we have checked out KK uni for courses for foreigners & are going to set aside a year for me to learn "proper" thai (& not the crap my mates think is hysterical to teach me which is usually quite rude)

[westybrook]

Yeah BOO Im scared sometimes when people give me advice, Im thinking ah yeah

But I need to learn it, as my wife is Thai, and I wish to live out in LOS soon, so its a must that I learn it but its so hard

But we will all get there Im sure!

[Boo]

I know enough to order food/drinks, shop, chat with the kids & sign & talk with the mother in law but when hubby & his mates get going, I find it hard to keep up, only about 30% understanding, so if we are ever going to get back there then I really want to just take a year out & go back to school.

I have tried all the self learning aids but can't motivate myself to do it & if he trys to teach me, we end up arguing So a classrom enviroment is the only option for me I think.

The only thing I found remotely useful was the fundementals of thai language, I have a downloadable link at work, so I'll post it tomorrow. It's been out of print for years but is one of the best learning aids I have ever found to learn to read & write as well as learn phonetically.

[westybrook]

Cheers BOO

So Boo your a women yes? Also are you Thai or Western, and are you married to a Thai Man?

Cheers

[slimdog]

Whilst I never have a problem communicating with my wife, I find my kids never seem to understand me when the subject is clean you room, have a shower, go to bed, is your homework finished etc, it doesn't matter how careful I am with my pronounciation, or whether I speak Thai or English.

Of course when I say "I have repaired your computer(again), and you can now play Sims2 they never seem to have a problem regardless of how badly I say it.

[Boo]

English women married to thai man, spent 7 years in thailand but only progressed so far with the language (too easy in samui not to speak thai!) and learnt more thai in 3 months in issan than I did in all my years down south.

[TRIPxCORE]

Chan phud Thai mai keng

Farang loo mak mai dee!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[AmeriThai]

Here's a story about my adventures in learning to speak Thai. This was a long time ago.

I've known Thais many, many years so I already know a little bit of Thai, but I had one Thai friend who was a professor take me under his wing and really help me learn the language. After a while, he felt I was pretty well ready to put my skills to the test.

I was invited to speak to a group of students at Chulalongkorn University and had a number of good Thai friends that I planned to meet while I was there. I had most of the basics down pretty well so I figured I could get by in a pinch, and if things got bad, I could always pull out my trusty old translation dictionary for help.

One good friend (she's now my wife of many years) I met and I took a bus from BKK where I was staying up to her home village in Saraburi province. She didn't know any English, so to commuicate I was going to be forced to speak Thai. As it was, communication seemed to be working out pretty well, though admittedly, far from perfect.

On the way to Saraburi, we passed a field fairly close to the exit that heads to Ayuttaya. Looking out the window I saw a small herd of water buffalo out in the field. If figured asking questions is always a good thing to do. So I asked her if those were "kway'. Everyone on the bus started roaring with laughter when I said that. I was gently informed that those were "kwai". Seeing that I was a bit confused I was gently informed that the word I used was sort of a slang word for "testicles". I had a pretty good laugh out of that myself.

But what I also discovered was that everyone on the bus was very interested that I had bothered to try to learn the language at all, and everyone I came across have always tried to be helpful. Of course, they'd all heap loads of preaise like "Ohhh! You can speak Thai language like an expert." LOL

There's little question that I could masterfully butcher the Thai language each time I tried, but family and friends would help correct me to say it right. As bad as it was, they could pretty well grasp what I meant from the context.

Overall I've been able to laugh at my own mistakes and the Thais understand that I wasn't perfect because it wasn't my native language but were still willing to help me learn and understand. I've never felt like giving up trying.

I also have been able to turn the tables around that has been positive for me. When Thai people come to the USA, even if they speak English pretty well, most of the ones I've met still make plenty of mistakes. And yet, in spite of the imperfections, I can still understand most of what they're talking about.

These days, I do pretty well. But like Boo, when some of the people start talking rapidly, I can catch a few things, and get the gist of some of it, but a lot goes right over my head. For me, learning the language has been a lot of fun. I'm still learning. I'll never learn it as well as the Thais but I still have a good time trying.

Edited August 22, 2005 by AmeriThai

[Boo]

http://www.thai-info2004.com/the_language_thailand.htm

heres the link I promised, go to bottom of the page & the free ebook section then download, you must have thai script installed on your pc though. If you plan to print this in one go, be warned, it is a massive book.

[simon43]

I'm lucky enough to have a hard-copy of 'Fundamentals of the Thai Language' - it's an excellent book!

[sbk]

I made a conscious decision to learn the local dialect. I visit bangkok once a year or so. All my husband's family speak southern Thai, all my neighbors. Speaking central everyone would understand me but then I wouldn't understand what they say to each other. Something to think about when considering learning Thai.

I learned my Thai by just picking it up, it helped that my husband's 4 year old nephew lived next door. That said, my vocabulary is not huge but my accent is down pat, my tones are good. The key to speaking Thai is to not use your natural speaking voice. I look at it like acting, I have a "Thai" voice and my normal voice.

I am fluent in the local conversations, fishing (my husband is an avid fisherman) kids, weather, business, animals, gardening (my passion) but not politics (people here don't discuss it) and not too many health related words. How many words do I know? Not a clue. Lots.

[IvanLaw]

Thanks for the Link Boo

My Wife is Thai and will soon be in the UK,

She has promised to help me learn more,

With Thai being very “Tonal” maybe I will speak like lady boy

I have tried various Tapes, Books etc

No Thai's or Classes where I live so I am finding it impossible to lean,

Tried speaking and recording my voice but when played to my wife on telephone just makes her laugh.

Very frustrating but at least it is keeping her entertained

Regards

Ivan

http://www.thai-info2004.com/the_language_thailand.htm

heres the link I promised, go to bottom of the page & the free ebook section then download, you must have thai script installed on your pc though. If you plan to print this in one go, be warned, it is a massive book.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

[Boo]

There was an interesting article I read about King Rama 5 who said that the tones shouldn't be important for a learner as children do not speak with tones until 7+ years old & people can understand them. The different words with tones, he said, should also be understood without using the correct tone as the context of the conversation should be enough to know what word someone is trying to use. I have found that in tourist areas, many thai people like to make out they don't understand you when they clearly do, whether this is their way of letting you know that you are saying it wrong or whether it is just to be pedantic I don't know but it is very frustrating when my 2 neices of 5 & 12 can understand every thai word I say.

[BambinA]

phood Thai mai bpen

Bambi

[Boo]

oh & my husband says that when someone shouts they can't do tones & will still be understood.

[mrbojangles]

I don't know how many Thai words i have in my vocabulary but i'm learning more every day, as well as improving my reading and writing. However, thanks to the Totster, i got into trouble with the latest word that i have learned. One of Tots posts yesterday, had the word "LAMOK", so i spoke to the wife today and asked her what it meant, as it wasn't in the dictionary. "Yek, yek, who teach you this, yek, yek, it not nice word, yek, yek" etc. I told her i see the word on the internet (ThaiVisa) now she thinks i spend all my time on a Porn Website. Cheers Tots, in future can you add a warning to your Thai words, mate

[loong]

phood Thai mai bpen   

Bambi

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Mai samaht poot pas -sa -thai dai khrup

LAMOK ???

Blae wah arai Khrup?

[Simbo]

I would very much like to know the Thai for "please do not iron creases into the front of my shorts/jeans".

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

เวลาคุฌรีดกางเกงกรุฌาอย่าจับกลีบ - wae-laa khun reet gang-geng ga- roo-na ya jap gleet

Scouse.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

well said, with a scouse accent. wotch it, lah, yer purrin a creece in me keks

[IvanLaw]

oh & my husband says that when someone shouts they can't do tones & will still be understood.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thanks for the advise but

Don’t think I will try shouting at my wife.

(She has various belts in Martial arts up to Black 2nd Dan)

Me? Black belt in Origami

(I have hidden all the knives ready)

Regards

Ivan

[mike_l]

The different words with tones, he said, should also be understood without using the correct tone as the context of the conversation should be enough to know what word someone is trying to use.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I think that's true, after all that's basically what happens when singing in Thai and no Thai people have a problem understanding Thai songs. If someone spoke Thai otherwise flawlessly but with imperfect tones, then I don't think they would have much trouble being understood at all.

But I think it's hard for Thais to understand foreigners speaking sometimes because we make other mistakes on top of the tones - getting the vowel lengths wrong (eg ใน vs นาย), struggle with the ง 'ng' sound, ด vs ต , ป vs บ, some of the vowel combinations like เอย and เอือย etc....