Thailand is a lovely country with welcoming locals and amazing attractions that have drawn hundreds of millions of foreigners. But the Thai language is the official language of the country; hence, language could be a barrier if you are traveling to Thailand. In view of this, you may want to know if you can speak English to the locals without offending them.
No, speaking English to Thai people is not considered to be a bit offensive, especially if you are a foreigner. Lots of people noted that they have spoken English to many Thais without having any issues. Therefore, if you speak the English language to Thai people, they will be more than willing to respond and even help you when necessary.
However, you should understand that lots of Thai people don’t speak English fluently. As a result of this, they are usually shy to communicate in the little English language that they understand; hence, you may not get a satisfactory response when talking to some people with English. Nonetheless, they are not offended because you are speaking English to them.
Why are Thai people not offended when speaking English to them?
Typically, Thai people are highly respectful and don’t easily get offended. As a consequence of this, they are always ready to help foreigners and other locals in different capacities. Therefore, if you are speaking English to them, they will not feel offended and will respond appropriately.
Nonetheless, since many Thais don’t speak good English, they may not understand what you are saying. As such, they may not be able to respond to you. This is why many people may feel that Thai people are offended because they are speaking English.
However, there is a caveat to this. If you are a Thai and choose to speak the English language to a Thai who apparently doesn’t understand the foreign language, the person may feel offended. It will be considered rude. In many cases, such a Thai person may also be seen as a snob who is trying to show off their English language skills.
In addition, Thais who mix both English and Thai languages may also be considered to be rude. Nevertheless, it should be noted that this doesn’t extend to non-Thais. So, if you are a foreigner in Thailand, you should feel free to speak the English language to Thais as long as it is the only way you can use to communicate.
How widely spoken is the English language in Thailand?
In Thailand, only a handful of the locals can speak English. According to Wikipedia, about 27% of Thai people can speak English to an extent. Therefore, you should only expect a quarter of the whole Thai population to be able to communicate with you in the English language. Some other people don’t speak the language but will understand most of the things you are saying in the English language. But there are also numerous Thais that do not understand English at all. This means that the levels of fluency of the English speakers in the country vary greatly.
In general, the English language is usually taught in many mid-level and high-level schools in the country. Also, the majority of Thais that have schooled abroad have a great understanding of the English language. Therefore, the majority of well-to-do people in Thailand can speak English fluently. However, apart from them, most other speakers only understand the basic level of the English language.
Generally, the English language is not commonly spoken in Thailand. Even those that were taught in school don’t usually practice the language at home, work, and other places. Consequently, they don’t have a good grasp of the language. In rural communities, most people have never been taught the English language. So, you shouldn’t expect them to communicate in the English language at all.
Big Thai cities have the majority of English speakers in the country
As you can infer from above, the majority of the English speakers in Thailand are found in the big cities. As stated by How Widely Spoken, these are the cities to find most English speakers:
- Bangkok
As the capital city with lots of educated individuals, it is not surprising that Bangkok has most of the English speakers in Thailand. If you are in Bangkok, you should be able to carry out daily activities as long as you speak the English language.
The majority of street vendors, taxi drivers, hotel staff, shop owners, etc. can speak basic English. Also, many shops and restaurants have information written in the English language. Therefore, you can buy their products or use their services without much hassle.
Overall, English proficiency in Bangkok is low but higher than in other places in the country.
- Phuket
English proficiency in Phuket is poor, but lots of people understand basic English words. As a consequence, they can communicate sparingly with foreigners that don’t understand the Thai language. Also, lots of people in the tourist centers speak English enough to communicate effectively.
- Chiang Ma
Since digital nomads and tourists usually visit Chiang Ma, many people can speak some common English words. So, some Thais should be able to communicate with you in broken English. In many cases, only expats in Chiang Ma speak English fluently.
- Pattaya
Pattaya is another place where you can find the majority of English speakers in Thailand. This is especially true if you go to tourist and central areas of the city. Lots of the locals also can communicate in broken English. The supermarkets, road signs, restaurants, stores, etc. have some information written in the English language.
Learn some basic Thai words and phrases
As shown above, English proficiency is generally low in Thailand. So, you cannot be confident that you will find proficient English speakers in most parts of the country. To make life easier and more enjoyable for you in Thailand, you should learn some basic Thai words and phrases. Focus on Thai words and phrases that can help you to greet people, buy products and services, take a taxi, etc.
Finally, Thai people are not offended when people are speaking the English language to them. However, most Thais don’t speak English fluently; hence, they may struggle with responding.
