Thai language

Thai is the national language of Thailand and a tonal Kra–Dai language written in the Thai script. Its standard variety is based on speech from central Thailand.

Thai tones: Pitch patterns that distinguish lexical or grammatical meaning in Thai syllables. Five contrastive tones help distinguish otherwise similar syllables.
Kra–Dai languages: A language family of mainland Southeast Asia and southern China that includes Thai and Lao. Thai belongs to this family, alongside several related regional languages.
Sukhothai period: A period of Thai history conventionally dated from the thirteenth to the fifteenth century. The earliest surviving Thai inscriptions are associated with this historical setting.
Lao language: A tonal Kra–Dai language and the national language of Laos. Lao is Thai’s close relative, with related vocabulary but distinct standards and writing.
Standard Thai: The standardized variety of Thai used in education, government, and national media. It is the principal formal variety used across Thailand.
Thai phonology: The sound system and sound-pattern rules of the Thai language. Its consonants, vowels, and syllable patterns constrain how tones are realized.
Tonal language: A language in which pitch patterns distinguish word or grammatical meaning. Thai uses tone contrasts to distinguish syllables and words.
Ram Khamhaeng inscription: A stone inscription dated to 1292 and traditionally attributed to the Sukhothai ruler Ram Khamhaeng. It is a key early source for the history of written Thai.
Isan language: A group of Tai varieties spoken in northeastern Thailand, closely related to Lao. Isan shows how regional speech can differ from the national standard while remaining closely related.
Royal Thai language: Special vocabulary and forms of address used in Thai speech and writing about royalty. Royal vocabulary illustrates how social hierarchy shapes Thai word choice.

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