Thai Language

Fast functional use of Thai language is not easy - but it is quite possible to quickly learn some simple phrases and words that you will enjoy using - and your hosts will also enjoy.

I recommend that in any language - on any vacation - at the very least you should learn how to say - using polite terminology:

Hello / Good bye

Thank you,

You're welcome

No problem

Very good

I want/don't want

Delicious

Excuse me

I'm sorry

You'll find Thais amazingly tolerant of your efforts and quite pleased that you made the effort.

All of the following links have audio - so you can hear Thai as it is actually spoken - and most are oriented for beginning level learners.

http://www.learningthai.com

http://www.seasite.niu.edu/Thai

http://www.thaisouth.com/learn_thai.php

http://www.sriwittayapaknam.ac.th/thailanguage/

http://sunsite.au.ac.th/education

http://www.travlang.com/languages

http://thaiarc.tu.ac.th/thai/introth.htm

http://www.into-asia.com/thai_language
 

As Thai is a tonal language - you might find it useful to listen to tapes or CDs to help you get the pronunciation right. Certainly the audio on the links above will give you a good start.