I realize this is a Thai language forum, but thought you guys would have good insight into a good Thai-English dictionary. My Thai is non-existent, I went into a bookstore and was clueless. Anyway, any recommendations appreciated. It is for my girlfriend and I just wanted to get her something good as opposed to a piece of crap. Oh, and her English is pretty good if that makes a difference.

Thanks.

Get the application "Talking Thai" on AppStore or Andriod, it's the best thing I've ever bought. Trust me, you won't get dissapointed. Even if you have to buy an iPad or iPhone just for that sake, it's still worth it!

If you have access to Internet, I would recommend using online dictionaries. Among those features paper dictionary would never provide you with:

• If you mistype a word, you would be suggested with "perhaps, you meant..."
  
• You type a word, get meanings, and you instantly get synonyms: กิน -> [to] eat -> กินอาหาร or the words having yours included: รุ้งกินน้ำ ("rainbow)
  
• By typing on a keyboard, you will get familiar with Thai keys layout (which is more important than writing by hand I think)
  

There are plenty of dictionaries available; I prefer thai-language and thai2english, but YMMV, of course.

You asked for Thai to English -not English to Thai

Given that then all 'talking dictionaries will be of little use. The good ones only speak Thai. Suspect that she is familiar with Thai Language already. Some claim to speak English -but even I struggle to understand them.

That said Thai can be inputted with electronic dictionaries and it supplies English equivalent. Bear in mind that they are Essentially English- Thai not Thai -English. The big market is of course is the former.

The problem that she will face is that a single English word can often be translated into a phrase in Thai. For example the English word 'Towel' becomes , 'Cloth Wipe Body 'when the Thai is translated back to English .

I would suggest that you visit a good book shop –preferably run by a Thai family business and

Ask them for advice .Ask them how the aforementioned 'phrase' issue is covered

I bought a Paiboon publishing dictionary a few years ago and still find use for it. It has Thai-English, English-Thai and an English-Thai transliteration. Its a pocket book so not comprehensive but I think its good. I also have SE-ED's Modern English-Thai, Thai-English dictionary which is much more comprehensive.

If you have access to Internet, I would recommend using online dictionaries. Among those features paper dictionary would never provide you with:

• If you mistype a word, you would be suggested with "perhaps, you meant..."
  
• You type a word, get meanings, and you instantly get synonyms: กิน -> [to] eat -> กินอาหาร or the words having yours included: รุ้งกินน้ำ ("rainbow)
  
• By typing on a keyboard, you will get familiar with Thai keys layout (which is more important than writing by hand I think)
  

There are plenty of dictionaries available; I prefer thai-language and thai2english, but YMMV, of course.

I like thai2english... the fuzzy logic is fairly good which means that you can go down some avenues you hadn't thought of, and as a bye process learn some things you didn't intend to.

I bought a Paiboon publishing dictionary a few years ago and still find use for it. It has Thai-English, English-Thai and an English-Thai transliteration. Its a pocket book so not comprehensive but I think its good. I also have SE-ED's Modern English-Thai, Thai-English dictionary which is much more comprehensive.

Thanks everybody.

I ended up getting a SE-ED Modern dictionary. It seems to be pretty good. Thanks again.