If you’re learning Thai and trying to read your first Thai words, you might feel like. “Wow, this looks nothing like English!” 😅

Don’t worry. That’s totally normal! Thai has a very unique writing system, but once you understand how it works, it becomes much easier to read and pronounce words naturally.

Let’s explore the main differences between reading Thai and English and what makes Thai special.

1. Thai Uses Its Own Alphabet -Not Roman Letters

Unlike English, Thai doesn’t use A–Z. Instead, it has 44 consonants (พยัญชนะ phá-yan-chá-ná) and 32 vowels (สระ sà-rà). Each letter represents a sound, but vowels can appear before, after, above, or below the consonant. Sometimes even wrapped around it!

📖 Example:

• มา → maa → to come

• แม่ → mâe → mother
  See how the vowel “แ-” comes before the consonant “ม”?
  In Thai, the position of vowels doesn’t always match the order of pronunciation.

2. Thai Has No Spaces Between Words

When you read Thai, you’ll notice that there are no spaces between individual words. Only between sentences or phrases!
That can feel tricky at first, but your brain will get used to recognizing common word patterns.

📖 Example:

• ฉันรักภาษาไทย
  chăn rák phaa-săa Thai
  I love the Thai language.

Even though it looks like one long word, it’s actually made up of four words: ฉัน (I) + รัก (love) + ภาษา (language) + ไทย (Thai).

3. Thai Is a Tonal Language

Thai has 5 tones! mid, low, falling, high, and rising which change the meaning of a word even if it looks the same. So when reading Thai, it’s important to pay attention to tone marks and consonant classes (high, mid, low).

📖 Example:

• มา (maa – to come)

• ม่า (mâa – grandmother in Chinese context)

• หมา (mǎa – dog)

All three have “ma” sound, but the tones and meanings are completely different!

4. Thai Doesn’t Use Upper or Lower Case

Good news! 🎉 There’s no capital letter in Thai. No need to worry about when to use uppercase or lowercase. Every letter looks the same in every position, which makes it simpler once you recognize the shapes.

📖 For example:

• “ไทย” (Thai) is always written the same way no matter if it’s at the start of a sentence or in the middle.

5. Thai Has Its Own Numerals

Thailand also has a traditional set of numbers, which are often seen on signs, price tags, and official documents. It’s useful to know both Thai and Arabic numerals!

0 ๐ sǔun zero

1 ๑ nèung one

2 ๒ sŏng two

3 ๓ săam three

4 ๔ sìi four

5 ๕ hâa five

6. Thai Reading Relies on Sound Memory

Since Thai words aren’t spaced out, Thai readers rely a lot on familiar word sounds and context. When you see a long Thai sentence, locals can “hear” the words in their head even before finishing the sentence.

📖 Example:

• วันนี้อากาศดีมากเลย
  wan-níi aa-gàat dii mâak loei
  The weather is so nice today.

Even though it’s written together, Thai readers instantly recognize “วันนี้ (today),” “อากาศ (weather),” and “ดีมากเลย (very nice).”

7. Thai Reading Feels Like a Puzzle - But It’s a Fun One!

Once you learn how to break down each syllable (consonant + vowel + tone), reading Thai becomes super logical.
It’s like putting together Lego pieces. Each sound block builds meaning.

📖 Example Word Breakdown:

• ภาษา (phaa-săa) = language

  • พ (ph) + า (aa) → พา (phaa)

  • ส (s) + า (aa) → สา (săa)
    Combine → ภาษา (phaa-săa)

Reading Thai is different from reading English in almost every way. The alphabet, tones, spacing, and structure. But once you understand the system, you’ll realize Thai is logical, rhythmic, and full of patterns that make sense.

Be patient and keep practicing a few words every day. Soon, you’ll be reading street signs, menus, and messages in Thai with confidence! 💪🇹🇭

Ready to bring these Thai phrases to life? 💬

Join me for a fun and friendly conversation practice session, where you can try using these expressions naturally and confidently with guidance and real feedback.