Thai Word of the Day?

Thai language section, ask your language questions here.
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dtaai-maai
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Post by dtaai-maai »

Not, of course, that I can ever imagine needing to say '4 girls' - just a figure of speech, you understand... :oops:
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Spitfire
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Post by Spitfire »

:lach: A quick reverse out of that 'cul de sac' DM, quality.
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Roel
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Post by Roel »

Where to start. I can give zillions of examples. Better have a look at this link:
http://www.wonderfull.com/thai-words-classifiers.htm
and note that at the end the author uses they example
"seven pretty girls"
Good to know you are not alone!
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dtaai-maai
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Post by dtaai-maai »

Fascinating - a linguistic revelation! Thank you, Roel. In my excitement I called in Mrs D-M to demonstrate my new-found knowledge. She said she'd be more impressed when I remembered them all...

Curious why any nationality would need a classifier for 'envelopes'...!

Actually, Mrs D-M is both my saviour and a thorn in my side as far as the language is concerned. Like most people everywhere, she doesn't know enough about the mechanics of her own language to explain what I need to know, and it would be tedious for both of us if she kept correcting me all the time (I doubt we'd have lasted 4+ years!). Consequently, she understands most of what I say in Thai - but nobody else does... :cry:
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Nereus
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Post by Nereus »

lomuamart wrote:I've got another million years of frustration then - to say nothing about how the Thais perceive my attempts at speaking the language :thumb:
Do not despair, Lomu. I get really pissed off with some people`s smug attitude about how well they can speak /read Thai. (not anybody specifically on this thread).

I firmly believe that learning any new language, never mind a tonal one, is something some people have a natural talent for, in the same way that some people have a natural talent for music, as an example. The same reasoning applies to physical dexterity, such as playing sport, or flying a helicopter!

I am sure you have some natural talent that you are good at. (opening bottles / cans not included!). I have seen you mention cooking, so that may be an example. :cheers:
May you be in heaven half an hour before the devil know`s you`re dead!
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PeteC
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Khmer

Post by PeteC »

Just for a second I'm switching to Khmer (Cambodian) to see if any similarities to Thai. I see a few, can you spot them? Pete :cheers:

What is your name?
Nayaak chmooa away?

Where are you from?
Nayaak chun cheeit away?

How old are you?
Nayaak ayoo poonmaan hi?

Where are you coming from?
Mao pee na?

Where are you going?
Dto na?
("dt" is a cross between a "d" and a "t")

How much does it cost?
Tlai poonmaan?

I
Kinyum

you
Nayak

He or She
Go aht

Us
Yoong

They
Poouk Gay

I don't understand what you say
kinyum sadaap aut baan

I understand what you say
kinyum sadaap ban

I don't understand
Kinyum aut jool

I understand
Kinyum jool hi

How much for one beer
Be yair mooey tlai poonmaan

Check please
Ketloy

One
Mooey

Two
Pee

Three
Bay

Four
Booun

Five
Bram

Six
Bram Mooey (same as five one)

Seven
Bram Pee

Eight
Bram Bay

Nine
Bram Booun

Ten
Dawp

Eleven
Dawp Mooey

(numbers from 11 to 19 are pronounced as the word ten, followed by the second number. 16 would be Dawp (10) Bram Mooey (6).

20
Maapay

21
Maapay Mooey

30
Saamsup

40
Sie Sup

50
Haasup

60
Hoke sup

70
Jetsup

80
Bairtsup

90
Gaowsup

100
Mooey Roy

1000
Mooey Pawn

10,000
Mooey Mun

Please
Som

Thank You
Aakoon

One more please
Som mooey teeut

I don't want it
Awt yaw or Awt chung baan

Yes (for a man)
Baat

Yes (for a woman)
Chaa

No
Awt tay

O.K.
O.K.

Stop
Choop sun

Go
Dto

Wait a minute
Cham mooey plet

There is a fly in my soup
Meeun roy kanung soop kinyum

Where is the bathroom?
Bantoop duk no I na?

No problem
Aut bine yaha

How are you?
Saak sabai tay?

I'm fine
Sok sabai

Goodbye
Som leea hi

See you tomorrow
Sa aik chooup kaneea

I want to go to Sihanoukville
Kinyum chung dto Sayhanoo veel

Months


Month
Ki (like the word “hi” but with a “K”)

January
Ki mooey

February
Ki pee

Just add the number of the month onto “Ki”

Year
Chnaam

Day
Ting eye

Week
ahtit

Morning
Pruk

12 O’Clock Noon
Payl ahtreeut

Evening
Lingeeik

Night
Yoop

Your cow is parked in my parking space.
Go robaw nayaak chawt no gawnline kinyum.

Help me!
Chewy Pawng!

A coconut hit me on the head.
Doang mooey bok kbal kinyum.

Your wife (husband) is very beautiful.
Brawpoon (biday) nayaak sa’at men ten.

Give me three of those.
Yaw bay.

Please lower the price.
Som joe tlai bawntek.

Please lower the price more.
Som joe tlai bawntek teeut.

Too expensive
Tlai Payk

Cheap
Taok

The End.
Choop Hi.
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Please get tourist police

Post by raphoedon »

I hate Bkk, but on occaision have had to endure it , 'cause I've brought a new visitor and u must do the Bkk thing. Grand pal, river trip, undersea world, etc etc. Then comes the, lets see girls.
On our side of the city the closest place to go was Nana Plaza where I'd never been.
It was pants, I told my pal we will get a taxi and go to patpong. In the gogo bars/strip joints we were twice presented with a bill during our first beer. First one 1500bht(two people watch show, one drink free) 750bht each. I paid 350bht and left.
Next one we asked b4 going in about charges and were assured u pay only for drinks, this one two heineken and the mammasan appears looking for 1500bht, same craig as the last one, I refused to pay that much and she refused to settle for less until in English I asked her to get the tourist police to arresst me, then I got my mobile out of my pocket as if to phone said police the she asked me how much will you pay, this time 500 bht, no police no problem/ What is Thai for "Please get tourist Police"
Happy are those who dream dreams that come true.
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bluezephyr
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Post by bluezephyr »

sorry deleted offtopic post.
Mai ow Khup, Pom Ki Neow :)
raphoedon
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Post by raphoedon »

not deleted, last post blue.

Mor fun - Dentist, What could be more fun?

Ban Fang - brush your teeth

Phoneticaly correct?
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Roel
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Post by Roel »

Hi raphoedon. Where you use "fun" and "fang" you are addressing the same Thai word.

Dentist = mor fun (หมอฟัน)

To brush teeth = praeng fun (แปรงฟัน)

"Fun" comes pretty close to the sound of the Thai word if you are a native English speaker although "fan" is a better translitteration. This problem cannot be solved because of the inconsistency between any written vowel in English and the various sounds that it can represent. Therefore every dictionary and learning book has its own system.

Also the reason that I add the Thai spelling. I know from experience that at a certain stage of learning Thai this is extremely helpful. Those not interested can simply ignore it.
I agree with Nereus where he says:
I firmly believe that learning any new language, never mind a tonal one, is something some people have a natural talent for, in the same way that some people have a natural talent for music, as an example. The same reasoning applies to physical dexterity, such as playing sport, or flying a helicopter!
My personal natural talent is very poor and I know that the lack of a musical ear is a handicap in learning Thai. But after I learned to read Thai I still cannot hear the differences and finesses but now I can see them!
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raphoedon
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Post by raphoedon »

Ty Roel, phonetics play a big part. Clear now on "fan", on the other side of the coin 4-5 years ago I had a GF in HH who had a fair command o f our language. At Chritmas she used to sing "Inka bell Inka bell, Inka Inka bell. Thats what she heard phonetically. Jingle bells to you and me.
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Post by raphoedon »

word a day seems to have fallen on its arse.

Keyow yen cab (Krap), cold glass please.

Coowat, bottle.

Jip (sore) Jip na, thats painfull (polite)

All of the above are phonetical, as I heard them.
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Post by lilleOle »

raphoedon wrote:word a day seems to have fallen on its arse.

Keyow yen cab (Krap), cold glass please.

Coowat, bottle.

Jip (sore) Jip na, thats painfull (polite)

All of the above are phonetical, as I heard them.
Hey there.. This looks like a nice forum.
Been living in HH and Thailand for a little over a year now.
Thought maybe I'd contribute a little with the little i know.

Writing thai in roman letters is not really easy, and I see alot of
different books writing the words differently.

Here are my suggestions:

gâeow yèn kraph.
kûat.
jèp. jèp nà.

I see also some people here know how to ready and write a little.
Thats awesome. If some of you who know any good sites or tricks, please let me know :-)
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PeteC
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Post by PeteC »

The thread still lives, great! :D Hopefully we'll get some new contributions and contributors later on today. Pete :cheers:
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Roel
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Post by Roel »

Here you go lilleOle:

http://www.thai-language.com/

http://www.learningthai.com/

Probably to early for a more academical/linguistic approach but the best book on the Thai language ever published (first edition 1956!) is now available on the internet:

The Fundamentals of the Thai Language

Good luck!
We are all living in 'the good old days' of the future.
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