Editing Thai language (section)

== Vocabulary ==
{{Main|List of loanwords in Thai|List of Thai language idioms}}
Other than [[compound word]]s and words of foreign origin, most words are [[syllable|monosyllabic]].

Chinese-language influence was strong until the 13th century when the use of Chinese characters was abandoned, and replaced by Sanskrit and Pali scripts. However, the vocabulary of Thai retains many words borrowed from [[Middle Chinese]].<ref>{{cite book |first1=Martin |last1=Haspelmath |first2=Uri |last2=Tadmor |title=Loanwords in the World's Languages: A Comparative Handbook |date=2009 |page=611 |quote=Thai is of special interest to lexical borrowing for various reasons. The copious borrowing of basic vocabulary from Middle Chinese and later from Khmer indicates that, given the right sociolinguistic context, such vocabulary is not at all immune }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |first=Harald |last=Haarmann |title=Language in Ethnicity: A View of Basic Ecological Relations |date=1986 |page=165 |quote=In Thailand, for instance, where the Chinese influence was strong until the Middle Ages, Chinese characters were abandoned in written Thai in the course of the thirteenth century. }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |first=Paul A. |last=Leppert |title=Doing Business With Thailand |date=1992 |page=13 |quote=At an early time the Thais used Chinese characters. But, under the influence of Indian traders and monks, they soon dropped Chinese characters in favor of Sanskrit and Pali scripts. }}</ref>

[[Khmer language|Khmer]] was used as a prestige language in the early days of the Thai kingdoms which are believed to have been bilingual societies proficient in Thai and Khmer. There are over 2,500 Thai words derived from [[Khmer language|Khmer]], surpassing the number of [[Tai languages|Tai]] cognates. These Khmer words span across all semantic fields. Thai scholar Uraisi Varasarin classified them into over 200 sub-categories. As a result, it is impossible for Thais, past and present, to engage in a conversation without incorporating Khmer loanwords in any given topic. The influence is particularly preponderant in regard to royal court terminology.<ref name="Wilaiwan">{{cite journal |last1= Khanittanan |first1= Wilaiwan |date= 2004 |title=Khmero-Thai: The Great Change in the History of the Thai Language of the Chao Phraya Basin|journal= Annual Meeting of the Southeast Asian Linguistics Society |volume= 11 |url=http://sealang.net/sala/archives/pdf4/wilaiwan2004khmero.pdf}}</ref>

Later, most vocabulary was borrowed from [[Sanskrit]] and [[Pāli]]; [[Buddhism|Buddhist]] terminology is particularly indebted to these. Indic words have a more formal register, and may be compared to Latin and [[List of English words of French origin|French borrowings in English]]. Since the beginning of the 20th century, however, the [[English language]] has had the greatest influence, especially for scientific, technical, international, and other modern terms.
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Origin !! Example !! [[International Phonetic Alphabet|IPA]] !! Gloss
|-
| rowspan=4 | [[Tai languages|Native Tai]]
| lang=th | ไฟ
| {{IPA|/fāj/}}
| fire
|-
| lang=th | น้ำ
| {{IPA|/náːm/}}
| water
|-
| lang=th | เมือง
| {{IPA|/mɯ̄aŋ/}}
| town
|-
| lang=th | รุ่งเรือง
| {{IPA|/rûŋ rɯ̄aŋ/}}
| prosperous
|-
| rowspan=4 | Indic sources:<br /> [[Pali language|Pāli]] or [[Sanskrit language|Sanskrit]]
| lang=th | อัคนี (''agni'')
| {{IPA|/ʔàk.kʰáʔ.nīː/}}
| fire
|-
| lang=th | ชล (''jala'')
| {{IPA|/tɕʰōn/}}
| water
|-
| lang=th | ธานี (''dhānī'')
| {{IPA|/tʰāː.nīː/}}
| town
|-
| lang=th | วิโรจน์ (''virocana'')
| {{IPA|/wíʔ.rôːt/}}
| prosperous
|}

=== Arabic-origin ===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Arabic words !! Thai rendition !! IPA !! Gloss
|-
| {{lang|ar|الْقُرْآن}} ({{lang|ar-Latn|al-qurʾān}}) or {{lang|ar|قُرْآن}} ({{lang|ar-Latn|qurʾān}})
| {{lang|th|อัลกุรอาน}} or {{lang|th|โกหร่าน}}
| {{IPA|/ʔān kùʔ.ráʔ.ʔāːn/}} or {{IPA|/kōː.ràːn/}}
| [[Quran]]
|-
| {{lang|ar|رجم}} ({{lang|ar-Latn|[[rajm]]}})
| {{lang|th|ระยำ}}
| {{IPA|/ráʔ.jām/}}
| bad, vile (vulgar)
|}

=== Chinese-origin ===
From [[Middle Chinese language|Middle Chinese]] or [[Teochew dialect|Teochew Chinese]].
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! colspan=2 | Chinese words
! Thai rendition !! IPA !! Gloss
|-
| {{wikt-lang|zh|交椅}}
| [[Teochew dialect|Teochew]]: {{lang|nan-Latn|gao<sup>1</sup> in<sup>2</sup>}}
| {{lang|th|เก้าอี้}}
| {{IPA|/kâw.ʔîː/}}
| chair
|-
| {{wikt-lang|zh|粿條}} / {{wikt-lang|zh|粿条}}
| [[Southern Min|Min Nan]]: {{lang|nan-Latn|kóe-tiâu}}
| {{Wikt-lang|th|ก๋วยเตี๋ยว}}
| {{IPA|/kǔaj.tǐaw/}}
| [[rice noodle]]
|-
| {{wikt-lang|zh|姐}}
| [[Hokkien]]: {{lang|nan-Latn|chiá}}/{{lang|nan-Latn|ché}}<br />Teochew: {{lang|nan-Latn|zê<sup>2</sup>/zia<sup>2</sup>}}
| {{lang|th|เจ้}} or {{lang|th|เจ๊}}
| {{IPA|/tɕêː/}} or {{IPA|/tɕéː/}}
| older sister (used in Chinese community in Thailand)
|-
| {{wikt-lang|zh|二}}
| Hokkien: {{lang|nan-Latn|jī}}<br />Teochew: {{lang|nan-Latn|ri<sup>6</sup>}}
| {{lang|th|ยี่}}
| {{IPA|/jîː/}}
| two (archaic, but still used in word {{lang|th|ยี่สิบ}} {{IPA|/jîː sìp/}}; 'twenty')
|-
| {{wikt-lang|zh|豆}}
| [[Middle Chinese]]: {{lang|ltc-Latn|dəu<sup>H</sup>}}
| {{lang|th|ถั่ว}}
| {{IPA|/tʰùa/}}
| bean
|-
| {{wikt-lang|zh|盎}}
| Middle Chinese: {{lang|ltc-Latn|ʔɑŋ<sup>X</sup>}}/{{lang|ltc-Latn|ʔɑŋ<sup>H</sup>}}
| {{lang|th|อ่าง}}
| {{IPA|/ʔàːŋ/}}
| basin
|-
| {{wikt-lang|zh|膠}}
| Middle Chinese: {{lang|ltc-Latn|kˠau}}
| {{lang|th|กาว}}
| {{IPA|/kāːw/}}
| glue
|-
| {{wikt-lang|zh|鯁}}
| Middle Chinese: {{lang|ltc-Latn|kˠæŋ<sup>X</sup>}}
| {{lang|th|ก้าง}}
| {{IPA|/kâːŋ/}}
| fishbone
|-
| {{wikt-lang|zh|坎}}
| Middle Chinese: {{lang|ltc-Latn|kʰʌm<sup>X</sup>}}
| {{lang|th|ขุม}}
| {{IPA|/kʰǔm/}}
| pit
|-
| {{wikt-lang|zh|塗}}
| Middle Chinese: {{lang|ltc-Latn|duo}}/{{lang|ltc-Latn|ɖˠa}}
| {{lang|th|ทา}}
| {{IPA|/tʰāː/}}
| to smear
|-
| {{wikt-lang|zh|退}}
| Middle Chinese: {{lang|ltc-Latn|tʰuʌi<sup>H</sup>}}
| {{lang|th|ถอย}}
| {{IPA|/tʰɔ̌j/}}
| to step back
|}

=== English-origin ===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! English words !! Thai rendition !! IPA !! Remark
|-
| apple
| {{lang|th|แอปเปิล}}
| {{IPA|/ʔɛ́p.pɤ̂n/}}
|
|-
| bank
| {{lang|th|แบงก์}}
| {{IPA|/bɛ́ŋ/}}
| means 'bank' or 'banknote'
|-
| bill
| {{lang|th|บิล}}
| {{IPA|/bīn/}} or {{IPA|/bīw/}}
|
|-
| cake
| {{lang|th|เค้ก}}
| {{IPA|/kʰéːk/}}
|
|-
| captain
| {{lang|th|กัปตัน}}
| {{IPA|/kàp.tān/}}
|
|-
| cartoon
| {{lang|th|การ์ตูน}}
| {{IPA|/kāː.tūːn/}}
|
|-
| clinic
| {{lang|th|คลินิก}}
| {{IPA|/kʰlíʔ.nìk/}}
|
|-
| computer
| {{lang|th|คอมพิวเตอร์}}
| {{IPA|/kʰɔ̄m.pʰíw.tɤ̂ː/}}
| colloquially shortened to {{lang|th|คอม}} {{IPA|/kʰɔ̄m/}}
|-
| corruption
| {{lang|th|คอร์รัปชัน}}
| {{IPA|/kʰɔ̄ː.ráp.tɕʰân/}}
|
|-
| countdown
| {{lang|th|เคานต์ดาวน์}}
| {{IPA|/kʰáw.dāːw/}}
|
|-
| dinosaur
| {{lang|th|ไดโนเสาร์}}
| {{IPA|/dāj.nōː.sǎw/}}
|
|-
| duel
| {{lang|th|ดวล}}
| {{IPA|/dūan/}}
|
|-
| e-mail
| {{lang|th|อีเมล}}
| {{IPA|/ʔīː mēːw/}}
|
|-
| fashion
| {{lang|th|แฟชั่น}}
| {{IPA|/fɛ̄ː.tɕʰân/}}
|
|-
| golf
| {{lang|th|กอล์ฟ}}
| {{IPA|/kɔ́p/}}
|
|-
| shampoo
| {{lang|th|แชมพู}}
| {{IPA|/tɕʰɛ̄m.pʰūː/}}
|
|-
| slip
| {{lang|th|สลิป}}
| {{IPA|/sàʔ.líp/}}
|
|-
| taxi
| {{lang|th|แท็กซี่}}
| {{IPA|/tʰɛ́k.sîː/}}
|
|-
| technology
| {{lang|th|เทคโนโลยี}}
| {{IPA|/tʰék.nōː.lōː.jīː, -jîː/}}
|
|-
| valve
| {{lang|th|วาล์ว}}
| {{IPA|/wāːw/}}
|
|-
| visa
| {{lang|th|วีซ่า}}
| {{IPA|/wīː.sâː/}}
|
|-
| wreath
| {{lang|th|(พวง)หรีด}}
| {{IPA|/rìːt/}}
|
|}

=== French-origin ===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! French words !! Thai rendition !! IPA !! English translation
|-
| {{wikt-lang|fr|buffet}}
| {{lang|th|บุฟเฟต์}}
| {{IPA|/búp.fêː/}}
|
|-
| rowspan="2" | {{wikt-lang|fr|café}}
| {{lang|th|กาแฟ}}
| {{IPA|/kāː.fɛ̄ː/}}
| coffee
|-
| {{wikt-lang|th|คาเฟ่}}
| {{IPA|/kʰāː.fêː/}}
| coffee shop, restaurant serving alcoholic drinks and providing entertainment (dated)
|-
| {{wikt-lang|fr|caféine}}
| {{lang|th|กาเฟอีน}}
| {{IPA|/kāː.fēː.ʔīːn/}}
| caffeine
|-
| {{wikt-lang|fr|chauffeur}}
| {{lang|th|โชเฟอร์}}
| {{IPA|/tɕʰōː.fɤ̂ː/}}
|
|-
| {{wikt-lang|fr|consul}}
| {{lang|th|กงสุล}}
| {{IPA|/kōŋ.sǔn/}}
|
|-
| {{wikt-lang|fr|coupon}}
| {{lang|th|คูปอง}}
| {{IPA|/kʰūː.pɔ̄ŋ/}}
|
|-
| {{wikt-lang|fr|croissant}}
| {{lang|th|ครัวซ็อง}}
| {{IPA|/kʰrūa.sɔ̄ŋ/}}
|
|-
| {{wikt-lang|fr|gramme}}
| {{lang|th|กรัม}}
| {{IPA|/krām/}}
|
|-
| {{wikt-lang|fr|litre}}
| {{lang|th|ลิตร}}
| {{IPA|/lít/}}
|
|-
| {{wikt-lang|fr|mètre}}
| {{lang|th|เมตร}}
| {{IPA|/méːt/}}
| metre
|-
| {{wikt-lang|fr|parquet}}
| {{lang|th|ปาร์เกต์}}
| {{IPA|/pāː.kêː/}}
|
|-
| {{wikt-lang|fr|pétanque}}
| {{lang|th|เปตอง}}
| {{IPA|/pēː.tɔ̄ːŋ/}}
|
|}

=== Japanese-origin ===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Japanese words !! Thai rendition !! IPA !! Gloss
|-
| {{wikt-lang|ja|カラオケ}} ({{IPA|[kaɾaoke]}})
| {{lang|th|คาราโอเกะ}}
| {{IPA|/kʰāː.rāː.ʔōː.kèʔ/}}
| karaoke
|-
| {{wikt-lang|ja|忍者}} ({{IPA|[ɲiꜜɲd͡ʑa]}})
| {{lang|th|นินจา}}
| {{IPA|/nīn.tɕāː/}}
| ninja
|-
| {{wikt-lang|ja|寿司}} ({{IPA|[sɯɕiꜜ]}})
| {{lang|th|ซูชิ}}
| {{IPA|/sūː.tɕʰíʔ/}}
| sushi
|}

=== Khmer-origin ===
From [[Old Khmer]]
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Khmer words !! Thai rendition !! IPA !! Gloss
|-
| {{lang|okz-Khmr|ក្រុង}} (/kroŋ/)
| {{lang|th|กรุง}}
| {{IPA|/krūŋ/}}
| capital city
|-
| {{lang|okz-Khmr|ខ្ទើយ}} (/kʰtəːj/)
| {{lang|th|กะเทย}}
| {{IPA|/kàʔ.tʰɤ̄ːj/}}
| [[kathoey]]
|-
| {{lang|okz-Khmr|ខ្មួយ}} (/kʰmuəj/)
| {{lang|th|ขโมย}}
| {{IPA|/kʰàʔ.mōːj/}}
| to steal, thief
|-
| {{lang|okz-Khmr|ច្រមុះ}} (/crɑː.moh/)
| {{lang|th|จมูก}}
| {{IPA|/tɕàʔ.mùːk/}}
| nose
|-
| {{lang|okz-Khmr|ច្រើន}} (/craən/)
| {{lang|th|เจริญ}}
| {{IPA|/tɕàʔ.rɤ̄ːn/}}
| prosperous
|-
| {{lang|okz-Khmr|ឆ្លាត}} or {{lang|okz-Khmr|ឆ្លាស}}<br />(/cʰlaːt/ or /cʰlaːh/)
| {{lang|th|ฉลาด}}
| {{IPA|/tɕʰàʔ.làːt/}}
| smart
|-
| {{lang|okz-Khmr|ថ្នល់}} (/tʰnɑl/)
| {{lang|th|ถนน}}
| {{IPA|/tʰàʔ.nǒn/}}
| road
|-
| {{lang|okz-Khmr|ភ្លើង}} (/pʰləːŋ/)
| {{lang|th|เพลิง}}
| {{IPA|/pʰlɤ̄ːŋ/}}
| fire
|-
| {{lang|okz-Khmr|ទន្លេ}} (/tɔn.leː/)
| {{lang|th|ทะเล}}
| {{IPA|/tʰáʔ.lēː/}}
| sea
|}

=== Malay-origin ===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Malay words !! Thai rendition !! IPA !! Gloss
|-
| {{wikt-lang|ms|kelasi}}
| {{lang|th|กะลาสี}}
| {{IPA|/kàʔ.lāː.sǐː/}}
| sailor, seaman
|-
| {{wikt-lang|ms|sagu}}
| {{lang|th|สาคู}}
| {{IPA|/sǎː.kʰūː/}}
| [[sago]]
|-
| {{wikt-lang|ms|surau}}
| {{lang|th|สุเหร่า}}
| {{IPA|/sùʔ.ràw/}}
| small mosque
|}

=== Persian-origin ===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Persian words !! Thai rendition !! IPA !! Gloss
|-
| {{wikt-lang|fa|گلاب‎}} ({{lang|fa-Latn|golâb}})
| {{lang|th|กุหลาบ}}
| {{IPA|/kùʔ.làːp/}}
| [[rose]]
|-
| {{wikt-lang|fa|کمربند‎}} ({{lang|fa-Latn|kamarband}})
| {{lang|th|ขาวม้า}}
| {{IPA|/kʰǎːw máː/}}
| loincloth
|-
| {{wikt-lang|fa|ترازو}} ({{lang|fa-Latn|tarâzu}})
| {{lang|th|ตราชู}}
| {{IPA|/trāː tɕʰūː/}}
| [[weighing scale|balance scale]]
|-
| {{wikt-lang|fa|سقرلات}} ({{lang|fa-Latn|saqerlât}})
| {{lang|th|สักหลาด}}
| {{IPA|/sàk.kàʔ.làːt/}}
| [[felt]]
|-
| {{wikt-lang|fa|آلت}} ({{lang|fa-Latn|âlat}})
| {{lang|th|อะไหล่}}
| {{IPA|/ʔàʔ.làj/}}
| spare part
|}

=== Portuguese-origin ===
The Portuguese were the first Western nation to arrive in what is modern-day Thailand in the 16th century during the [[Ayutthaya Kingdom|Ayutthaya period]]. Their influence in trade, especially weaponry, allowed them to establish a community just outside the capital and practise their faith, as well as exposing and converting the locals to [[Christianity]]. Thus, Portuguese words involving trade and religion were introduced and used by the locals.
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Portuguese words !! Thai rendition !! IPA !! Gloss
|-
| {{wikt-lang|pt|carta}} / {{wikt-lang|pt|cartaz}}
| {{lang|th|กระดาษ}}
| {{IPA|/kràʔ.dàːt/}}
| paper
|-
| {{wikt-lang|pt|garça}}
| {{lang|th|(นก)กระสา}}
| {{IPA|/kràʔ.sǎː/}}
| [[heron]]
|-
| {{wikt-lang|pt|leilão}}
| {{lang|th|เลหลัง}}
| {{IPA|/lēː.lǎŋ/}}
| auction, low-priced
|-
| {{wikt-lang|pt|padre}}
| {{lang|th|บาท(หลวง)}}
| {{IPA|/bàːt.lǔaŋ/}}
| (Christian) priest<ref>{{cite web |url=http://siamportuguesestudy.blogspot.com/2010/06/blog-post_05.html |script-title=th:สยาม-โปรตุเกสศึกษา: คำเรียก "ชา กาแฟ" ใครลอกใคร ไทย หรือ โปรตุเกส |title=S̄yām-portukes̄ ṣ̄ụks̄ʹā: Khả reīyk "chā kāfæ" khır lxk khır thịy h̄rụ̄x portukes̄ |year=2010|trans-title=Siam-Portuguese Studies: The term 'tea, coffee'. Who copied someone, Thai or Portuguese? }}</ref>
|-
| {{wikt-lang|pt|pão}}
| {{lang|th|(ขนม)ปัง}}
| {{IPA|/pāŋ/}}
| bread
|-
| {{wikt-lang|pt|real}}
| {{lang|th|เหรียญ}}
| {{IPA|/rǐan/}}
| coin
|-
| {{wikt-lang|pt|sabão}}
| {{lang|th|สบู่}}
| {{IPA|/sàʔ.bùː/}}
| soap
|}

=== Tamil-origin ===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Tamil words !! Thai rendition !! IPA !! Gloss
|-
| {{wikt-lang|ta|கறி‎}} ({{lang|ta-Latn|kaṟi}})
| {{lang|th|กะหรี่}}
| {{IPA|/kàʔ.rìː/}}
| curry, curry powder
|-
| {{wikt-lang|ta|கிராம்பு‎}} ({{lang|ta-Latn|kirāmpu}})
| {{lang|th|กานพลู}}
| {{IPA|/kāːn.pʰlūː/}}
| [[clove]]
|-
| {{wikt-lang|ta|நெய்}} ({{lang|ta-Latn|ney}})
| {{lang|th|เนย}}
| {{IPA|/nɤ̄ːj/}}
| butter
|}