There are no shortcuts around this. 🥺 Building your vocabulary base is absolutely essential when it comes to learning a language. How else will you be able to learn to speak in Thai if you don’t have the vocabulary to express basic concepts such as your feelings, or describe simple activities? 😭
Instead of blindly memorizing Thai vocabulary, I will share below a cheat code to memorize Thai vocab in a fast and easy way. Read on to find out more! 😎
Structure of Thai Vocab
Most Thai words are formed by combining a root word with another word to create a new vocab word of a similar meaning. For example,
| Root Word | Another Word | Meaning of the Combined Word |
| Heart (Jai / ใจ) | Enter (Khao / เข้า) | Khao Jai (เข้า + ใจ) To enter one’s heart, i.e. to understand |
| Factory / A large room (Rong /โรง) | Study (Rian / เรียน) | Rong Rian (โรง + เรียน) A large room / factory for studying, i.e. a school |
| Person / Professional (Nak / นัก) | Sports (Kiilaa / กีฬา) | Nak (นัก + กีฬา) A professional sports person, i.e. an athlete |
Based on the above structure, knowing one root word will help you build your Thai vocabulary base easily by combining it with other related words to form new vocabulary words. Are you ready to see this in action? 😇
Interested to learn the Thai Language? Here’s what you can explore!
Practice your Thai speaking skills and learn how to use Thai language to express everyday small talk.
A serious Thai learner aiming to master Thai reading and writing? Start off by learning to text in Thai!
Go for regular Thai classes. Use your SkillsFuture credits to offset your Thai Language course fees!
How to Say the Different Rooms in Thai
Room in Thai is hong (ห้อง, falling tone). Similar to the concept above, combining the word hong with many other words will give you a whole easily-remembered Thai vocabulary list. 🥳
| Another Word | Meaning of the Combined Word |
| Sleep (Norn/นอน) | Hong Norn (ห้อง + นอน) Sleeping Room i.e. bedroom |
| Water (Narm/น้ำ) | Hong Narm (ห้อง + น้ำ) Water Room i.e. washroom/toilet |
| Book (Samut/สมุด) | Hong Samut (ห้อง + สมุด) Books Room i.e. library |
| Eat Food (Thaan Aharn/ ทาน + อาหาร) | Hong Thaan Aharn (ห้อง + ทาน + อาหาร) Eating Food Room i.e. dining room |
How to say Different Colours in Thai
Colour in Thai is sii (สี, rising tone). As per the concept above on how Thai vocabulary is structured, combining the word sii with many related words will give you a the complete list of colours in Thai language. 🥳
| Another Word | Meaning of the Combined Word |
| Red (daeng/แดง) | Sii Daeng (สี + แดง) = Red Colour |
| Orange (sorm) *also refers to the fruit orange | Sii Sorm (สี + ม่วง) = Orange Colour |
| Yellow (leuang/เหลือง) | Sii Leuang (สี + เหลือง) = Yellow Colour |
| Green (khiaw/เขียว) *fai / ไฟ = light *fai khiaw fai daeng / ไฟ + เขียว + ไฟ + แดง = green light red light, i.e. traffic light | Sii Khiaw (สี + เขียว) = Green Colour |
| Dark Blue (narm ngern/น้ำเงิน) | Sii Narm Ngern (สี + น้ำเงิน) = Dark Blue Colour |
| Light Blue (faa /ฟ้า) *also means sky | Sii Faa (สี + ฟ้า) = Light Blue Colour |
| Purple (muang/ม่วง) | Sii Muang (สี + ม่วง) = Purple Colour |
| Pink (chompuu/ชมพู) | Sii Chompuu (สี + ชมพู) = Pink Colour |
| Black (dam/ดำ) *jai / ใจ = heart *jai dam / ใจ + ดำ = black heart i.e. callous | Sii Dam (สี + ดำ) = Black Colour |
| White (khaaw/ขาว) | Sii Khaaw (สี + ขาว) = White Colour |
| Gold (thong/ทอง) | Sii Thong (สี + ทอง) = Gold Colour |
| Silver (ngern/เงิน) *also means money | Sii Ngern (สี + เงิน) = Silver Colour |
| Brown (narm taan/น้ำตาล) *also means sugar | Sii Narm Taan (สี + น้ำตาล) = Brown Colour |
You can use this method to pick up Thai vocabulary easily from Thai dramas. Or guess the meaning when watching Thai dramas without subtitles.
Learn how to converse comfortably in Thai today! 🥰
About the author – see the About page for more information
Joanne Tan is an aspiring polyglot and has so far mastered English, Chinese and Thai languages. She first started learning Thai in 2015 before staying in Bangkok for 5 months, and then continued studying Thai up to Advanced Levels at the National University of Singapore. In 2017, Joanne was awarded ‘Advanced Thai Proficiency’ by the Sirindhorn Thai Language Institute of Chulalongkorn University. Today, Joanne freelances as a beginner Thai teacher in Singapore and helps her Thai friends actively promote Thai culture.
