Most tourists and ex-pats living in Thailand who would love to communicate effectively with Thai locals often wonder if Thai is hard to learn. Or ‘how difficult is it to learn Thai?’ The difficulty here refers to the efforts required and how long it will take to be able to confidently speak Thai, even in public.
There are lots of variables to consider to determine whether or not it will be difficult to learn Thai. For example, the language(s) you already know, and the resources you have at your disposal could determine the difficulty level of learning Thai.
Compared to other languages, learning Thai is not that difficult. However, there are some aspects you may find challenging and as such we will go through the five things you need to know about learning Thai to know what to expect. Above all, with dedication, determination, and perseverance, learning Thai is possible. Consistent practice is key. Also, making use of apps that teach you how to speak languages could be an easy ticket to effective learning.
5 Things You Need To Know About Learning Thai
The Origin Of The Thai Language
The Tai language family gave birth to Thai which is distributed throughout Southeast Asia, Southern China, and Northeast India, and as a result, there are certain similarities and words between the Thai language and other languages in these regions.
Regional Differences In Thai
There are lots of different cultures throughout the different regions of Thailand because it is a big country. This implies that certain cultures will have their way of speaking and communicating with the Thai language. This can be seen in the Isaan region of Thailand, where certain words are spoken differently with differences in vocabulary. Also, Thai is spoken differently in the southern part of Thailand.
Although the regional varieties in Thai may not be of any significance, they could also make it a bit difficult for beginners to learn Thai. The Thai language spoken in the central part of Thailand is the most common which makes it the ideal type to learn. However, learning phrases from other regions could broaden your understanding of Thai.
The Difference In Pronunciations
To people who speak English the sound combination that makes up words when speaking Thai could be very weird. For newbies, these tones often make pronunciation difficult and may as well be a challenge. The vowel sounds in Thai are not common but can be gotten used to with time.
Unfortunately, an official translation for Thai does not exist, and as such online searches will produce different outputs with different spellings. These outputs are meant to be a guide but could be very useful for beginners.
Talking with a Thai person is for sure one of the best ways to improve pronunciation. Hearing what Thai locals sound like and putting it into practice can help you improve in confidently speaking Thai. Practicing Thai tongue twisters can also help.
The Thai Language Is A Tonal Language
Just like pitches with music, the meaning of words can differ in tones when speaking Thai and this is why it is a tonal language. There are exactly five tones, and every syllable is pronounced with one. For individuals who are new to learning languages with tones, this can be quite confusing and sometimes difficult.
In other languages where tones don’t matter, making a sentence in the wrong tone won’t result in saying something offensive, instead, it will promote mutual understanding and ensure what you meant is intact. It is advisable to be familiar with these tones from the beginning as you learn Thai, rather than learning them after.
The Thai Script Is Exceptional
The Thai language has its script which is unfortunate for beginners because when it boils down to reading and writing, it will be a huge challenge. Similar to the Chinese language script, it is advisable to learn from the beginning of your journey instead of paying attention to it at the last minute.
Characters often represent syllables, however, there are about 44 consonants, with each possessing an inherent vowel. In addition, there are eighteen other vowels to master. Learning Thai script will require you to put in a lot of time and effort as there is no such thing as a quick fix for learning this.
