Why SO MANY Foreigners Living in Thailand CANNOT Speak Thai? 

As a Thai speaker we love it when foreigners try to learn or speak, even if you make mistakes it’s still appreciated that you show effort ! I’m trying to teach my husband Thai right now and it’s not easy!

Being half thai and having lived most of my life in Denmark I always admired Thai culture. I have visited Thailand many times, but never lived here. Unfortuatly my mother never thaught me Thai (only when she was mad she got verbal in Thai). I've recently moved to Thailand and now have a tutor teaching me how to speak and understand Thai. At the age of 34 it feels like a whole new world has openened up within me. Learning Thai has not only been a way to make my life easier in Thailand, but a way to unfold a culture that runs deep in my veins. Even if I am half-thai I hope to one day be considered full Thai.

Interesting that a few of the interviewees are already proficient in 2 or more languages, so it's not like they're incapable. Ultimately learning a new language as a working adult is tough, especially when you're in a transient job/English speaking company.

I've lived in Thailand 4-5 years and been studying on and off with a tutor in that time. I love the way the Thai language sounds. On the occasions that I leave Thailand I always feel so happy when I return and disembark from the plane into the airport and suddenly hear Thai everywhere- immediately I feel happier. I have so many happy memories of being in Thailand, in beautiful natural environments, surrounded by happy people speaking Thai. Even though I couldn't always understand them, there is a peace in my heart that I associate with all those memories and often when I hear the Thai language that peace of heart and happiness comes toward me. It is a good motivator for me to learn. My main issue is that I don't practice enough spontaneous conversation, other than daily repetitive things like ordering food and stuff like that, mainly because I often get shy and/ or hesitate while I'm trying to remember how to say something in Thai. My experience of Thai people has generally been that they often try to automatically diffuse any awkwardness, so if they know English they'll often switch to English just to make me feel comfortable, or if they don't they'll fill in the gaps in my awkwardness by continuing to talk and offer me a seat or try to find someone to help or giving something to eat or drink LOL Anyway I've finally recently started feeling more comfortable with practicing conversation with a few of my Thai friends. I know a fair amount of vocabulary at this point but I second-guess myself with the pronunciation constantly. Thai people are so encouraging when you try to speak their language, it is very sweet. I've been slacking off studying recently and focused on other things, this video is a good reminder for me to get back to practicing!

15 years living in Thailand, and I feel so blessed that I can speak Thai. I love it! This gives you another level of freedom! It's such a joy to talk in Thai to everyone, make jokes, react to their jokes and then laugh together! I understand why so many expats don't want to learn Thai language, but I think it's such a big wasted opportunity! I wish everyone could try to learn Thai and feel what I feel, what I'm experiencing everyday by talking with Thai people. It's amazing!

Lived in Thailand for 37 years and speak the Thai language fluently. Over the years newbies have asked me how can we fit in better and asimalate into Thai society. I've always advised them to find a Thai teacher and make an effort to learn some Thai and they'll be able to understand Thais and their culture. A lot of the foriegners said I don't need to learn Thai as their wife or girlfriends speak some English.

❤Thai is tricky. It seems easy to those who are at the most basic level and they get stuck in that level forever without realizing it. Tones are hard but tones are NOT the hardest obstacle to speaking fluently: it’s the correct syntax that Thais use plus the extremely large vocabulary in different registers of the language. Many rookies think that Thai is simple because there is no conjugation of verbs or past and future tenses. This fact definitely makes it even harder to correctly situate the time or person in both spoken and written Thai. Written Thai also doesn’t have punctuation, nor question marks, nor spaces between words. This doesn’t make it easier: it increases the level of difficulty. And I haven’t even mentioned the language particles !!!😢 As a fluent Thai speaker that reads and writes advanced Thai, I can tell you that after years of learning endlessly, I still struggle with Thai in a way that I don’t struggle with Mandarin or Icelandic. I learned these languages after 18 and before age 25 and I can say Thai is the most complex one. ❤

I'm Thai and I'm very glad that foreigners are interested in Thai language. I really enjoyed this video. Keep making content like this. สู้ๆครับ เป็นกำลังใจให้ครับผม😀

I've been trying to learn this language for almost 40 years (Jan 84 my first incision into Thailand), so I understand all the frustrations and hardships that many of the folk in this video come up against. I will be trying to learn this language until the day I die!

I have been in thailand for a week now near Udom Suk. I have struggled trying to learn thai online back at home and I thought I had a good idea how to run a conversation, once you are here you notice the pronounciations are just completely different. Took a hit in my confidence on the first few days but the last 2 days i have been out on my own buying and using my limited thai. Emersing yourself in thai is so much better than learning online. Just make sure you know how to greet, thank, sorry and also have "pom reyan passa thai you khrub" or "chuway phoot chaa chaa dai mai khrub" handy. Thai people are awesome when you try.

"I don't find anything difficult with the Thai language - It's easy". The only reason he doesn't speak it is because his amazing voice makes him sound mean. Wow.

I've just recently moved to northern Thailand and will be here the next couple of years. I wonder if Paddy would find more foreigners who knew the language outside of Bangkok. You cannot get away with only speaking English up here. I've been in Thai class for about a month and I'm excited that I recognized a couple of words when they were speaking Thai. The smallest things feel like such a huge accomplishment. My goal is survival Thai lol 😀

Your enthusiasm is a big help keeping us motivated enough to keep trying to learn more each day. Thanks

I can read, write basic words and speak quite confidently Thai. I'm living here for 2 years, my tones are still not on spot. Thai's really appreciate you're trying and compliment you alot. Did do Thai classes for on an about 1 year

I love your passion in learning Thai language. Your Thai accent now is very very clear and easy to understand. 🌼

as a thai don't be shy/don't worry to speak thai we love all foreigner who try to speak thai we try to understand and help all you guys best we can do if we don't understand yours vocab' at least we try to use social actions/body language you can give it to go ,good luck everyone *** will you guys believe me? if you can speak thai or enough to communicate and even if understand a bit You will receive special services /take cares from us (most Thai people) - Subscribes already Keep making a good content like this most thai people would like to watching content like this bro

Great video Paddy. Really interesting topic. I’m loving your content

Thank you for staying Thai. I’m as a Thai. I’m so impressed that foreigners learn Thai.

Paddy, you should start giving Thai lessons - I would happily sign up for that! 😃

I have lived here for more than 45 years and I have heard every excuse in the book. Adults just aren't willing to do the repetitive work that is necessary. They want to study "about" the language but that is like studying about the piano but never playing one. It takes practice and repetition. Come to think of it, language proficiency even among native speakers seems to be going downhill. People make no effort to speak grammatically correct English and resist any suggestion they could do better. I love the excuse that it makes no difference, as if they know what it is like to speak Thai. I assure you it makes all the difference in the world, living in Thailand, if you can actually talk with people.

Great video as usual Paddy, I am getting back into learning Thai after spending a year away from the place. For me learning the numbers was the best thing I could do, living in a more rural place where people don't speak much English, 'Tao rai' and a good knowledge of the numbers can get you far!

Great content Paddy. People are truly interesting and this encourages language learning. Thank you

great work paddy. glad to see you uploading from beautiful thailand

Thanks for having me on Paddy was a blast !

Thank you for the interesting interviews. I think it is really interesting to hear about their jobs and in which countries they have lived so far. I‘m so envious and I would love to talk with them more in depth to know more about their life and experiences. I wish I would have taken another career path in the past. But honestly even I know more thai than them. Thanks to my love for thai dramas. But at the same time I kind of can understand them. When I worked in brussels for a few months I would get by easily with speaking german and english, because I mostly worked with german corporations. And after work it is hard to sit down to learn a new language that is so hard to learn. But when you live there for a longer period of time, I think it would help a lot to learn the language.

Always a pleasure to see Your videos Paddy. Makes me feel good. I would like to go back to Thailand for vacation. Bring on some more videos please.

I love your videos Paddy. It's been nice seeing you doing youtube from Thailand ! I think it's the right way for the channel to grow. Keep up the good work man, cheers 🙏🏻

Such a good video thank you for making it !

I was an exchange student 30 odd years ago and learnt at high school here in Phitsanulok. I couldn't imagine living here and not speaking Thai. I think it was much more necessary back then than it is now though. If you're a business professional based in Bangkok (or Pattaya or Phuket, etc) you probably don't need to speak Thai, but I think being able to speak opens you up to many new opportunities and experiences you might otherwise miss.

Depending on the social bubble you live in, like in Bangkok with all the international people, you will get around with English. Personally, I would find this extremely annoying not to be able to communicate with the Thais in their own language, but it would be possible. The people Paddy interviewed are living proof of that. But once you live outside touristic or international areas, e.g. in rural Thailand, it is much better to speak, read and write Thai. Of course, in the beginning it is quite an effort, and your Thai learning success depends a lot on the quality of the teacher and your own discipline.

Great video mate!

Thank you Paddy. RU-vid read my mind... I've travelled and worked (briefly) in Thailand and recon I know about 100 words and phrases. Determind to learn Thai more fluently so I can respect the local people as I hope to spend more time in their beautiful country when I retire in a couple of years. I love your interview style, Kudos! Do you think the Thais appreciate our efforts to speak their language? My father and son's names are Patrick so you had me there haha. Khob khun mak krap from Brisbane. Cheers, Mark.

Paddy, I can see how much your Thai has improved over the last few months, well done, you pronounce it better and I can see you have picked up a few more words, would love to meet you next year when I get back, wan la kam Paddy.

I have the numbers and basic phrases down but have realised that I need to really study the language to pick it up. Now I have the motivation to do so as I have made a long term commitment to be involved with Thailand.

Been in Thailand for just over a year. Approached the Language casually until recently. Currently, my frustration is that I'm either online with courses that rush through 30 words in 10 minutes (or faster), or learn from a friend, that does not know what the English word for the Thai word they are teaching me. Either way, I get nothing from them. I know I'm bad at languages, and need something even more remedial. ...but at least I'm trying...

Thank you! This was super interesting!

Awesome interviews 👏🏻

Lived in thailand for 3 years and I would say I speak intermediate thai, but I don’t know how to read or write. It was a challenge to learn, but I started off living in rural Thailand and had thai friends so I learned it naturally and was immersed in the language.

It's a very friendly place, but once you start learning the language it's truly even more friendly :) Well worth the effort

Most foreigners only stay in tourist areas and aren't serious about learning Thai culture or language. I advise serious people to live in a local area, figure out the sentences you will be using everyday and master those, then build upon that. It's the difference between being a perpetual tourist or being a true expat.

Awww I love your channel!❤❤

Love the way your channel have the Eng sub and Thai sub. So I can learn the sentence from your video.

Glai = Near = ใกล้ Glai = Far = ไกล การออกเสียง การผันเสียงเป็นอะไรที่ยากสำหรับชาวต่างชาติจริงๆ เป็นกำลังใจให้ผู้ที่กำลังเรียนภาษาไทยทุกคนนะครับ ❤

I feel like it’s easier to find excuses as to why Thai is hard to learn than to try hard everyday. Although I agree that living in the big cities doesn’t help, because it can be discouraging for example when you try to speak thai and the person replies in English. It happens to me a lot in Bangkok but much less when I travel the smaller cities. Also, I feel like the ability to read Thai is overlooked and considered harder than it actually is in my opinion. Once you know how to read a little bit, the world around you is a open dictionary and it opens a giant path to learning new words everyday ! It feels so rewarding and keeps the motivation up.

love this!!!!! My question all the time for long-term expats. Thank you.

เก่งมากๆเลยค่ะ ภาษาไทยอาจจะยากและซับซ้อน แต่คุณพูดได้ดีมากๆค่ะ ปรบมือ

Some of these foreigners probably complain why they are not treated like a local, when they themselves don't make any effort to be a local. Yes, Thai tones are hard for some, but even if you speak with foreign accent you will still get by and will receive lots of compliments and appreciation from Thais. Give it a go! P.S. please ... it's not Kap Kun Kap ... but Khob Khun Krub. That Khob sounds just like "a COB of corn".

That was a really Interesting video. I have experienced it myself. In the big cities u can get by just fine without Thai but the more u get into the village the more u might need it. I didn't study it but I just picked it up little by little when I listen to other people speak. Then I also watched lots of RU-vid videos. Then one day it just clicked. Once u get over that first bump it just makes sense. When you learn a language u learn more of the culture too. It's so interesting

great programs ❤

Dai is so good, 12 days with that good thai. I'm so impressed

Great video! I watched your other video, "Why I speak Thai (My Story)" And impressed that you learned through such extreme immersion. I would love to see a video (from anyone) comparing curriculum/effectiveness of different Thai Language schools in Thailand. I have checked out several and attended a couple and they definitely vary greatly in quality. I have come to a learning block at reading/writing. Can anyone reading this comment, recommend a school in BKK whose curriculum focuses on reading/writing?

im a thai speaking/reading/writing foreigner and i love the connection i have with the country and ppl that opens up after you can speak, read, etc. i heard once that as well as Korean, Thai is a language for "babies" as it's easy for kids to learn (monosyllabic, no conjugation, etc) and i agree with that

Excellent mate.

In a relationship for 15 years and been learning just on my own by writing down words and over time I got quite Ok. I can communicate in most situations with my relatives and when I go out to town, taxi, shops, restaurant. I can discuss easy subjects. Sometimes I look up in google translate which improved in quality over these years. If all else goes wrong it's possible to translate there and show the translation to the preson one is speaking with and that works actually quite well. Your skills are impressive and although they say I am maybe at 70%. However you speek more fluently than me. Really impressive and what I like is that you enjoy the country and the peopla as much as I do. It's a great movivation. I am somewhere around what your buddy Dai manages to spea, maybe a bit better.

No way, I met Daylis at the gym a couple weeks ago! Great guy. Love the videos, Paddy!

That is interesting. I lived in Thailand for just a year in 1997 and the level of Thai among people who lived there was quite decent. Maybe the level of English spoken in Bangkok has increased so much since then that the need to speak Thai has got less.

As a Thai, it would be a good idea to have free Thai language classes and be taught by Thai volunteers all over the Bangkok area. If so, I would welcome to teach foreigners. 😅 Another thing is about app. I would want someone making a Thai language pronuciation app like when you saying a Thai word, it would correct your sound. You would just need to imitate the sound and get some score on how close your Thai pronunciation is.

Very interesting, though I did find myself cringing at a lot of their attempts 😅 The guy who has only been in Thailand for 12 days was amazing!

Welcome to Thailand. ยินดีต้อนรับ

Ive spent a total of 7 weeks in Thailand over the last 5 years and will be heading there with my wife and kids for 3 weeks in April as we are intending on moving over for 12 months in 2024. I know the basics.. Introduce myself, Hello, thank you, goodbye, how much?, yes, no, delicious, and I can count from 1-30 haha. Trying to put in alot more effort lately, as are my kids. Its not an easy language but neither is English. Hopefully by the time we move up there we can form basic sentences and understand the tones and the various meanings to certain words. Love ya work Paddy!!

Great video Paddy could you suggest any online resources for inter to upper inter levels?

I know work and lack of time can definitely be an issue, but I really believe that anyone living in a foreign country for an extended period of time should atleast try to learn the local language - it just helps you understand the culture and makes things so much easier for both you and locals you interact with.

Thanks for the Thai subtitles. I'd like to see them also on the Thai bits.

Very interesting video! Keep it up with your content! This might be very trivial but instead of saying "อาศัยมาอยู่ใน", it's better to say "มาอาศัยอยู่ใน". I love the way you speak Thai by the way :)

I don't live in Thailand but learned to read/write/speak/understand Thai to help me explore Thai cuisine during my visits.

You can talk thai pretty good man I’m Thai and I’m impressed with your experience in our language

I love Thai and want to learn it. Everytime I go there I pick up some Thai. It's hard not to learn it when you're there. You need it to get around more easily and Thai's are so friendly they're very happy to correct you if you want to speak it and will not make fun of you.

Greetings from Kent UK. Brilliant vlogging Paddy 🤣 Thank you so much 🙏

This video is cool. We are new AMWF content creator. I'm from Bangkok, Thailand my gf's from Scotland. Have a nice day/evening everyone! 🇹🇭🇬🇧 😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊

G'day Paddy, I think your thai language is cleaner. Compared to last year. Cause I've been subscribed to you for many years. I'm thai in australia who are leaning english as well. ✌️✌️✌️

คอนเทนท์ดีมากค่ะ ทำมาอีกนะคะ

Great video legend

I recently moved to Thailand from Malaysia and I admit the language barrier can be an issue sometimes especially towards the south like Songkhla and Pattani etc where not many tourists come compared to Bangkok or Pattaya so the locals dont really speak English well. But lucky me that there are a number of people here that speak a Malay dialect (kechek nayu as they call it) and being a Malaysian I speak fluent Malay and can converse with them. My wife is Thai so I usually get her to read menus and stuff on Grab food. I speak 4 languages (Malay,English,Tamil,Malayalam) so my tongue doesnt seem to catch on certain pronunciations of Thai words especially the letters R and L and S which really confuse me. But thank God for google translate. 1 in 30 people probably speak English here so if im lucky I come across a few.

Nice as usual Paddy. Hope every farang can speak Thai like you or Tangmo.

I'm Cambodian I love the sounds when Thai people talk. It has a warm soft tone and pleasant to it. Unlike example like Chinese or Vietnamese language everytime I hear them talk the tone sounds aggressive not at all pleasant to hear. I would love to learn Thai language(I don't live in Thailand) For me I think I can pick it up pretty quick.

Wow I went to Thailand just for a month just now got back and I literally learned all the numbers, and 50 words and phrases, before my trip. While in Thailand I noticed a lot of foreigners asking “how much?” In English. It blew my mind that people coming on vacation didn’t even bother to learn the Thai phrase for that question.

We have been here 3 weeks and have learned a lot of THAI .. I agree a lot of people wont’ even try. I enjoy learning new languages and Thai people are very helpful to help you correct. They were also learning English so like to talk

Good interviews.

I've been retired and living in Bangkok for almost 6 years now. I have tried to learn the language. I've been to language school and had private lessons. I practice vocabulary on my flashcard app. I follow RU-vid Thai language videos. I have a Thai wife who is not much help. She is a terrible teacher. I can get buy in transactional situations but I am not conversational. I can read but not write. Languages (French, German) didn't come easy to me in my 20's but I've learned a lot more Thai in my 60’s. l like studying the language. It provides some intellectual stimulation. Soon I will be moving to a Thai village in Isaan. That will be a more immersive environment and will provide some additional motivation and opportunity to improve. I don't know that Thai is particularly difficult apart from there being a different alphabet. Learning Thai has revealed to me how difficult English is as language and the ambiguities of any language.

What an interesting video! I couldn't agree more that Thai is hard (even for me who is Thai😂). There are lots of Thai words that have the same pronunciation but the spellings and meanings are totally different (ex. ข้า ค่า ฆ่า). So, as a native Thai speaker, I admire and appreciate all Thai learners for learning Thai language😊 By the way, Dai's Thai is really impressive!👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

I think Thai is well suited to learning with a lot of input. I've purposely avoided a lot of books/classes/websites and learned largely through watching Thai tv shows and occasionally looking up something I'm interested in. I bootstrapped my early learning, especially the writing, with the Drops app. By watching TV during my spare time in my master's (which I didn't have much of) and with no speaking partner, I speak about at the level of the interviewee who learned Thai before he came and had been there 12 days. When i move to Thailand i plan to study more intensively and to avoid English in every day interaction.

My wife is Korean and does not speak Thai. I do to some degree, but when we are together, people usually look to her for clarification. And many continue to do that, even after she says she is not Thai. A barrier. I often get this reaction throughout Asia. She doesn't speak Mandarin either, which I do to some degree. Pisses me off sometimes, but that's not going to change things, so onwards and upwards.

This content is very good.

I thought you were in Thailand for just 1 month, can't leave ey...good on you x

I watched a lot of your videos and one phrase that I want you to change is "มาอาศัยอยู่" not "อาศัยมาอยู่". but anyway, I love your videos and been watching you for like 6-7 months Keep doing your thang man :)

Nice content🎉

This is a good content 🎉❤

Like learning any language, it's down to the individual if he/she wants or feels the need. For me I enjoy other languages & so I'm wanting to learn, but it seems many people don't. Indeed I know a few Westerners who have been living in Thailand for many years, who speak zero Thai & have had no interest in learning. Each to their own but for me it greatly enhances my time in said country if I'm actively willing & wanting to learn. If I could speak Thai like Paddy I'd be over the moon.

I like to know it Thank you for the good video ขอบคุณมากค่ะ 🇹🇭🌹🙏😊

Kudos to 12-day guy😊👍. You really got me impressed.

Wow, seeing these foreigners in the comment section living in Thailand and trying to learn or understand our culture makes me so happy. You know, Thai is way harder for foreigners than the other way around. So keep it up, you are all doing great. If anyone interested, I would love to help you with Thai and maybe we can make good friends. I also get to practice English in return.

I always work for international companies so I've been observing that the reason foreigners can't speak Thai (especially the ones who live in Bankok) because they feel like they don't need to. Since most of the people in their daily lives can communicate well in English with them. At work / where they live (city center) so they feel comfortable enough not to learn it and only know a few basic important words. You would see the ones who speak Thai are the ones who live outside of Bangkok.

I have learned a fair bit and make an effort when in Thailand to speak Thai even if it’s not the best, Thai people are very kind. It is easier for me to communicate in broken Thai than speak English with Thais in my Scottish accent 555 😂

I just stumbled upon your channel and subscribed after watching a couple of your videos. I lived in Bangkok for 18 months during the Vietnam War while serving in the U.S. army. I was the translator/interpreter for my unit by the time I left. I retired to Thailand in 2010 and remained there until 2019 when I, along with thousands of others were forced to leave due to major changes in Thai immigration policy. At the time I left, I spoke Thai rather well and could read some. I live in the Philippines now, but I want to retain and even improve my Thai language skills because I hope to return there if and when the government welcomes foreigners again for long-term stays. I find your Thai narration along with English subtitles to be a big help. THANKS FOR ALL YOU DO!!

Sawaddeekub🙏🙏🙏welcome to learning and enjoy for my Thai languages👍✌❤🇹🇭😊

Woww..... your Thai accent is really good.

Once I learned to read and write I realized almost everything I though I knew how to say was wrong, or heavy accent with wrong tone. So in tourist area they can make it out, outside of tourist area, they dont know what I say. But now I am on the right track.

One of the first things i did when i moved here was find a teacher... took five years but glad i did it

That just show how much Thailand and Thai people showing their kindness to foreigners. You can live here just fine without learning Thai language while you can't do that in most country which you can travel there but can't live there.

Thai is my third language. As of now I speak about 30 percent and understand a little more. I holiday here in Thailand 2 months a year. I do have friends retired here and don't speak a lick of thai. Personally I think it's lack of wanting to learn or being lazy for short. It's a beautiful country, language and the people here are very amazing.