The Complete Guide to Learning Thai

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This guide to learning Thai covers all the topics you need to know to successfully pursue your Thai language learning journey. 

From time required, to difficulty level, to tips to speed up your learning process, you’ll find answers to all the most common questions about learning the Thai language.

Do you need to learn Thai?

If you’re thinking about learning Thai, you’ll have to consider a variety of factors, such as your available time, your budget, and your end goal.

Learning is hard work that reminds us that knowledge cannot be bought. But it’s an investment that learners must pay the price with their time, effort, and endurance. 

Luckily, if you put in the work and stick with it, you will certainly eventually reap the effort you’ve sown, and the rewards sometimes feel endless.

If I am asked, “Is Thai worth the effort to learn?” My answer would be, “Absolutely, yes!,” As we say in Thai, “No pain, No gain. No rain, No flowers. No snow, No fur.” (ไม่เจ็บไม่โต ไม่มีฝนไม่มีดอกไม้ ไม่มีหิมะ ไม่มีเสื้อหนานุ่ม). 

Ultimately, learning is a part of your journey to be wiser. 

Not only that, learning Thai can be a part of your journey to being a better human who is more connected with other humans in the world. 

Technically speaking, you don’t need to speak Thai to travel, or even live in Thailand.

Many expats live in Thailand for years without learning much more than simple hellos and thank yous in Thai.

Most Thai people will automatically speak English to a foreigner, if they can, and very few will actually expect you to speak any Thai.

Especially in tourist-heavy areas like Suhkumvit in Bangkok, or the resort islands, you can get quite far with English and Google translate alone.

But this is where it depends on your definition of “need.” Do you need to speak to the humans around you? Do you need to enjoy and appreciate Thai culture at a deeper level?

Do you need to discover those deeper layers of human connection that have been hiding right in front of you?

Benefits of Learning Thai

If you want to learn Thai, it will certainly be a challenging task that requires hard work and consistent practice. However, it’s one of the most fun and rewarding languages to learn, and the journey has proven worth it for thousands of others before you.

Learning Thai can unlock a world of benefits for travelers exploring Thailand, or expats living here. 

By speaking some basic Thai, you can elevate your travel experience beyond being just another tourist. One major advantage is gaining access to a wider array of delicious local cuisine. 

Mastering the names of local dishes allows you to savor mouthwatering street food and customize your orders like a local, expanding your culinary horizons beyond typical tourist fare like pad thai.

Learning Thai enables you to discover hidden gems that most tourists never stumble upon. 

By speaking a few easy Thai phrases, you can connect with friendly locals who will gladly recommend off-the-beaten-path restaurants and bars, offering unforgettable experiences ranging from Michelin-starred eateries to vibrant live-music speakeasies. 

Additionally, mastering basic Thai phrases for asking directions ensures you never get lost and can navigate confidently even when technology fails, enhancing your overall travel safety and peace of mind.

Difficulty of Learning Thai

Unless you’re learning Thai as a native speaker of Burmese or Laotian, Thai is a relatively hard language to learn. 

The US State Department places Thai at Level 4/5 on its FSI language difficulty ranking (5 being the most difficult).

But I think this placement is a bit misleading and doesn't give you an accurate picture of how hard Thai is to learn. 

For one, Thai is easier to learn than some of the other languages listed at Level 4. For example, Hebrew, Persian, and Vietnamese are also listed at Level 4.

But if you review the experiences of people who have tried to learn these languages, Thai is easier to learn than these three other languages.

I will give you that it's difficult, as I'll detail more later. But I guarantee you it's easier than you think. 

The main thing that separates it from the level 1 and 2 languages for Western language speakers is that you've never made the sounds that you need to make in Thai before, and you’re most likely not all that familiar with tones.

And unlike learning Spanish, French, or Italian, there will be very few words that are the same or sound the same as in English.

Once you start learning and speaking it, you'll realize that it's much simpler than many other languages, and there are many things about the Thai language that make it much easier to speak than many of the other so-called "difficult languages."

Factors that make learning Thai difficult

The Thai alphabet

Learning the Thai language is made an even more demanding task because of the unique challenges the Thai alphabet presents.

One significant reason is its non-Roman script. Unlike languages that use the Latin alphabet, the Thai script consists of 44 consonants, 15 vowel symbols, and four tone markers, making it visually intricate and unfamiliar to learners accustomed to Roman-based languages.

Additionally, the script lacks spaces between words, requiring learners to grasp word boundaries through context and familiarity. The complex pronunciation rules and five different tones further contribute to the difficulty.

Memorizing the various consonant classes and their sounds, as well as distinguishing between the different tones, poses a considerable challenge.

Moreover, the absence of direct phonetic correlations between Thai and other languages makes it harder to rely on previous language skills when learning Thai.

Nonetheless, learning the Thai alphabet is crucial if you really want to learn the language, and also incredibly helpful. Any Thai language student will tell you there's a night and day difference between when they were trying to pronounce Thai words with Romanized spellings and when they learned the Thai alphabet. 

So while it might be a tough challenge, it's one eventually you'll have to overcome. 

The tonal language system and its impact on speaking and listening

Thai is a tonal language with 5 tones, which can knock learners down if they don’t have enough patience to keep learning when they get stuck trying to pronounce a word. 

This problem can be found with all beginners who want to learn to speak Thai because of a lack of knowledge and understanding of the correct Thai pronunciation rules. 

Thai grammar structure, verb tenses, and sentence construction

For starters, the Thai language does not use tenses in past, present, and future forms. 

So if you’re coming from a language like English that relies heavily on the use of tenses, this adjustment could be a bit difficult for you.

Thai sentence structure is also different from English in some cases. For instance:

Another difficulty is the Thai language doesn’t use the articles a, an, and the, so they will be removed from Thai sentences when the words are replaced with Thai meanings; therefore, English and Latin-style articles mean nothing.

Learning Time Requirement

One of the challenges of learning the language is just how long it takes to learn Thai.

The standard amount of time it takes to learn Thai is around 1,100 hours of study (44 weeks) to be proficient in general conversation.

But you need to note that the speed of how long it takes to learn Thai is different for each person and depends on many factors.

You’ll need to consider: 

1. How close Thai is to your native language

2. The age you start learning it

3. Your learning environment

4. The time investment you’re willing to make 

5. Your motivation

6. Your learning style and speed

You also need to keep in mind your goals. Do you need the Thai alphabet? Do you only need some basic Thai? Do you want to understand Thai songs and watch Thai TV shows? 

Every learner's goal will be different and affect how long it will take you to reach it.

How long to speak at a Beginner level

At the beginner level, learners will have to start by learning the Thai alphabet. The Thai script is Romanized as "Akson Thai", and it includes 44 letters in total: 23 consonants and 21 vowels.

The goal for beginners in traditional Thai courses is usually to read and write Thai at the basic level. 

Additionally, students try to learn to be able to write short sentences about their daily life situations. Examples of topics you may learn as a beginner include:

• greeting in various situations

• introducing yourself

• telling time

• talking about the weather

• using numbers

• asking for directions

A diligent student can reach basic conversational proficiency in Thai in as little as 30 hours in total.

Reaching the Intermediate level

In the intermediate level of Thai, learners can understand sentences that are more complicated than the beginning level and can communicate more properly. 

They can read and understand Thai texts in general topics such as Thai newspapers or magazines. 

Apart from that, you should now be able to give your opinion and start to use Thai in your workplace as well. You can now express your ideas using more complex Thai grammatical structures and talk and write about more complex topics. 

Examples of topics you may learn at an intermediate level include prepositions in Thai, making reservations in Thai, conjunctions in Thai, verb phrases in Thai, etc.  

Reaching intermediate conversational proficiency in Thai can take up to 1,100 hours of study (or 44 weeks).

How long to achieve Fluency

At the fluency level learners can understand both academic and non-academic texts on various kinds of topics. 

They can also use Thai idioms, proverbs, and vocabulary that are not used often in daily life. They can understand native Thai speakers speak at normal speed and communicate fluently with them. 

Thai learners at this level can use all Thai vocabulary and grammar correctly, including slang and idioms at almost the same level as native speakers. 

Reaching advanced conversational proficiency in Thai can take more than 2,500 hours.

Learning Methods

Language Schools

There are many Thai language schools in Thailand you can choose from. Here are a few of the most popular:

Duke Language School in Bangkok is one of the most well-known and most-reviewed language schools in Thailand. They offer a wide variety of in-person course options and have a reputation for high quality. 

Because of this reputation, they are a bit pricier than other schools and usually have a long waiting list, so make sure you inquire about signing up for a course in advance of when you want to take it.

AAA Thai Language School is also a popular option, especially among students who want to study using a Thai education visa. 

I’ve personally had friends who studied here and quite enjoyed their experience, so I can recommend their quality.

Banana Thai is an online Thai language school offering video courses, one-to-one private lessons, and group courses. 

If you want to study from your home anywhere in the world, Banana Thai has some of the best online options available.

Online tutors

Banana Thai as I just mentioned provides one-to-one tutoring options for students looking to speed up their Thai learning. 

Their hourly rates are a bit higher than what you’ll find from tutoring-only platforms, but this is because they pay their teachers higher wages.

There are many online tutoring platforms that offer students low rates like $5/hour for private lessons. 

One thing you have to keep in mind with these services though, is that while it’s great for you to learn a language at the lowest cost possible, that means the teachers might not be getting fair compensation.

You can use platforms like iTalki or Preply to find online tutors for just about any language, but also consider having a look on LinkedIn for an independent tutor, that way every penny you pay will go directly to your tutor.

Self-study

Learning Thai via the self-study method, as with any language, comes with its notable challenges.

When you’re studying a language on your own, there’s no one to keep you accountable, so your motivation has to be exceptionally high. Further, there’s no one there to correct your mistakes, and it can be challenging to verify you’re pronouncing words correctly.

But the challenge I’ve seen most learners face when going the self-study route is finding a way to turn language exposure into real language learning.

Everybody can watch YouTube videos, read books, or watch movies in your target language on Netflix.

But all of that is just language exposure. To really learn a language like Thai, you’ll need to memorize the words and structures you learn and be able to recall them when you need them.

So how do you do that?

The best way is to use a tool like Learning Paths from the Weaver School.

Learning paths allow you to input a language learning topic you want to learn, such as “how to do introductions in Thai” and then get a personalized list of words and phrases you need to learn to speak about that topic, along with easy to understand explanations.

You’ll also get a set of flashcards with images and audio examples, so you can practice not only remembering your Thai vocabulary, but also pronouncing the words correctly.

Each day you’ll get a reminder to study the words that are due in your path for that day, based on our spaced repetition algorithm.

You can use this as a complement to your other self-study methods by uploading any files, such as wordlist pdf, or an image of words you screenshotted with your phone, and then creating flashcards from that file.

This product helps you bridge the gap between all the things you’re doing to expose yourself to Thai, and truly learning the Thai language so you can use it effectively. 

Learning Thai with Apps

One of the most convenient available ways of studying is by using an app to learn Thai. 

You don’t have to sync your schedule with a tutor or attend a class, and you can take your lessons with you anywhere you go.

Most people’s worry about learning Thai with an app would be whether or not they’re effective. 

But considering the low cost in terms of money and time investment required, it’s safe to say almost everyone can benefit from including an app in their learning routines.

When it comes to choosing the best app to learn Thai, the most common options are:

1. Ling

2. Pimsleur

Both of these apps can be valuable to Thai learners even though they use two different methods.

Ling takes the gamification route. They provide easy-to-follow bite-sized lessons that get you learning Thai and enjoying the experience immediately. 

The way they’ve invested in the lesson content and the user experience makes for a premium learning experience that has led to them being one of the highest-reviewed apps in the app store. 

Half the battle for language learning is showing up to do the lessons, and Ling has made this part much easier by making the app so fun.

The Pimsleur experience is a bit drier and will take a bit more focus on your part, especially in the beginning or if you lack motivation. 

Sometimes you’ll hit that 20-minute mark of a lesson and that last 10 minutes can really feel like work. However, if you do Pimsleur lessons consistently, especially if you do them daily as they recommend, you will absolutely improve your speaking and listening skills quickly.

In as little as 15, 30-minute lessons, you can order in Thai, ask for prices, ask simple questions, and more. 

I’ve used both of these apps for my personal Thai learning journey, so I recommend them both with confidence.

Learning Thai Tones

Thai is a tonal language with 5 tones, which can knock learners down if they don’t have enough patience to keep learning when they get stuck trying to pronounce a word. 

This problem can be found with all beginners who want to learn to speak Thai because of a lack of knowledge and understanding of the correct Thai pronunciation rules. 

Learning the Thai Alphabet

The Thai script, also known as "อักษรไทย" (ak-sorn Thai) in Thai, is an abugida – a writing system that combines consonant symbols with diacritic marks for vowels. 

That means when you see a Thai character, it typically represents a consonant sound, and the vowel sounds are indicated by different marks attached to that consonant.

Thai script is very different from the Latin alphabet and can be a real challenge for new learners. It consists of four units starting with consonants, vowels, final consonants, and tones. 

They all are put together and become a word to be pronounced in single or many syllables.

Thai Consonants

The Thai alphabet consists of 44 consonant characters. Each is a unique symbol representing a specific sound in the Thai language. 

It may seem a bit overwhelming at first, but trust me, with a bit of practice, you'll start recognizing them like a pro.

Thai Vowels

There are 24 vowels in the Thai alphabet, and they come in different forms. Some are short vowels, while others are long vowels. 

Don't let the number scare you; they follow patterns, and once you get the hang of it, it becomes much easier.

Learning Thai without Learning the Alphabet

As I will mention in many places in this guide, starting with learning the alphabet is considered "best-practice" when you want to start learning any language, especially one with the number of different sounds you encounter like Thai.

But we also have to be practical. Many people only plan to be in Thailand for a short time, so investing the time required in learning the Thai alphabet doesn't fit their personal return on investment calculation for the work involved.

Fortunately for those people, Romanized versions of non-latin alphabets can come in quite handy.

Thai has several available versions of a Romanized alphabet. This makes it easier for you to learn the key phrases and vocabulary you need to start speaking Thai quickly.

By using a Romanized version of the Thai alphabet, you can learn to communicate effectively in simple situations without learning to read and write Thai.

While not recommended for intermediate or advanced learners, it can be a great method to choose when you're just a beginner.

For example, in our Learning Paths product, we provide the Romanized version of every word and phrase, along with their examples. That way you can listen to the words, speak them, and see them, to help you memorize them better.

Let's take the word "coffee" for instance, which in Thai would be pronounced "gāfæ." 

This is an easy word to memorize, and probably one of the words you'll use frequently in Thailand. But if you had to rely only on reading it, you'd never learn it.

By giving you the romanized version, you're able to identify and memorize the Thai word more quickly and start building up your vocabulary.

We also provided this romanized version on all of your flashcards as an optional setting, that way if you're an advanced learner who doesn't want to see them, then you can turn it off.

Best Books for Learning Thai

If you’re interested in learning Thai from a book, then you’re most likely interested in learning properly, and for more than just speaking. 

To learn Thai properly, Almost any Thai teacher will recommend you start with learning the alphabet and how to write it. 

The reason for this is because by learning the alphabet you learn all the sounds and tones. Once you know the sounds and tones, speaking words and sentences become much easier.

This is the case for any language, however, with Thai it’s one of the most true.

One of the best books for learning Thai is “Read Thai in 10 Days.” But don’t let the name fool you, it’s a lot of work. 

Once you read the book you’ll see that the requirement is 3 hours of study per day for 10 days. This results in a total of 30 hours, which is the typical amount of hours for one level of a course at a language school.

Don’t get me wrong though, if you do the work, you will be able to read Thai in 10 days. 

All I’m saying is that it’s a bit of clever marketing to get you to think you’re taking a shortcut, when really you’re putting in the normal amount of effort.

Another popular choice for beginners is Essential Thai. This book takes a step-by-step approach to teaching you the basics you need for living or traveling in Thailand. 

What readers like most is they make the content easy to learn with beginner-friendly helpful phonetic spelling and tone markers. It also includes downloadable MP3 files for pronunciation examples, and an English-Thai dictionary.

For more advanced learners, you might be better suited by Thai Reference Grammar, this is looked at by many students as almost “the Bible of Thai language learning”. 

Designed as a practical description of spoken Thai, both informal and formal, it covers over 500 separate topics, providing 2000+ sample sentences, in typical spoken Thai, for each topic.

Learning Thai in Thailand

It’s quite easy to study Thai in Thailand. The country has 6-month education visas available for foreigners who want to live in Thailand temporarily to learn Thai, and accommodation prices in Thailand are one of the best values in the world.

Whether you want to study in vibrant Bangkok or relax on a scenic island getaway, Thailand has hundreds of language schools you can choose from to have one of the richest cultural experiences of your life.

Tricks for Learning Thai Faster

If you want to learn Thai faster, try making sure your learning sessions are more frequent. By studying more often, you’ll memorize words faster and correct your mistakes more quickly.

One of the most important things you can do is to forget about your native language. What I mean is, stop trying to fit everything new you learn into patterns you already know. 

The sounds in Thai aren’t like the sounds in your language. You need to focus on learning, mimicking, and producing these new sounds, not matching them to the sounds you can make in your native language.

This always results in people thinking they’re saying a word because they’re saying it how it sounds in their language, but if you stick with that, a Thai person will never be able to understand you.

We all misunderstand when people try to speak our language if they mess up one letter. Think about the difference between “waiter” and “water.” If someone in a restaurant asked for one of those two things but wanted the other, we’d never be able to understand what they meant.

It’s the same when you’re learning Thai. One little sound or tone difference can change the entire meaning of a word. Quit thinking you can say a word the way it sounds in your native language and it will be “close enough.” Close enough means nothing in foreign languages.

Focus instead on mimicking everything you hear exactly how you hear it. Your primary focus should be making the sounds, not saying the words.

It’s like learning to crawl before you can walk. You have to be able to make sounds correctly before you can pronounce words correctly.

This is why Thai teachers always recommend to learn the alphabet first. 

But if you don’t learn the alphabet, just pay extra attention to the sounds in words rather than the words themselves, and you’ll progress much faster.