The Thai numerals

Created 2005-02-01T13:13:24.210Z, last edited 2006-05-06T10:40:43.747Z

Thai numbers are written in base ten and left to right (i.e. the same way that western numbers are written), it's just the glyphs that are different. Most of the time you will see western numerals even where everything else is in Thai.

  • ศูนย์
  • Zero
  • Suun – soon

The initial ‘S’ sound is halfway to a ‘Z’ sound.

  • หนึ่ง
  • One
  • Nung

  • สอง
  • Two
  • Sawng – song

This leads to ‘Bier sing song cup’ (two Singha Beers please).

  • สาม
  • Three
  • Saam – psalm

This is ‘psalm’ with a silent ‘P’.

  • สี่
  • Four
  • Sii – see

  • ห้า
  • Five
  • Haa – ha (ha)

It’s a long ‘ha’, like ‘h-ahh’.

  • หก
  • Six
  • Hok – hock

  • เจ็ด
  • Seven
  • Chet – jet

  • แปด
  • Eight
  • Paet

The ‘P’ is very nearly a ‘B’ sound. Imagine saying the first half of ‘better’.

  • เก้า
  • Nine
  • Kao – gow

Like the word ‘gown’ without the ‘N’.