Thai person
A native Thai recording for this word is on the way. Please check back soon.
- 1 Thai person、Thai people、Thai national
This is the most common, natural word for a Thai person or Thai people. It refers to someone as Thai by nationality, origin, or cultural background.
Thai person、Thai people、Thai national
A regular noun used for either one Thai person or Thai people in general, depending on context.
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เขาเป็นคนไทย khǎw pen khon thay He/She is Thai. เขาเป็นคนไทย details
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ฉันมีเพื่อนคนไทย chǎn mii phʉ̂an khon thay I have a Thai friend. ฉันมีเพื่อนคนไทย details
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คนไทยหลายคนพูดภาษาอังกฤษได้ khon thay lǎay khon phûut phaasǎa aŋkrìt dâay Many Thai people can speak English. คนไทยหลายคนพูดภาษาอังกฤษได้ details
Learning notes
Explanation
คนไทย is made from คน “person” and ไทย “Thai,” so its basic idea is “a Thai person.” Thai nouns do not change form for singular or plural, so คนไทย can mean one Thai person or Thai people in general. It can also follow another person noun, as in เพื่อนคนไทย “Thai friend” or นักเรียนคนไทย “Thai student.”
Usage
Use this word when introducing nationality or background, talking about Thai friends or coworkers, or making general statements about Thai people, culture, or customs. It is neutral and common in both speech and writing.
Caution
This word refers to people, not the language or the country. “Thai language” is ภาษาไทย, and “Thailand” is ประเทศไทย. To make the number clear, add a number or quantity expression, such as คนไทยหนึ่งคน “one Thai person” or คนไทยหลายคน “many Thai people.”
Differences from similar words
1 Thai person synonyms
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ชาวไทย also means Thai people, but it sounds a little more formal or written and often refers to Thai people collectively. In everyday conversation, คนไทย is the natural choice for saying someone is Thai.