Thai numerals
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Thai numerals (ตัวเลขไทย) are traditionally used in Thailand, although the Arabic numerals (also known as Western numerals) are more common. Apart from the different symbols used for the numerals, the Thai numeration system is the same as the Hindu-Arabic numeral system used in the rest of the world. In the Thai language, numerals often follow the modified noun and precede a measure word, although variations to this pattern occur. While the digits are from India and the 0 (number) is from Sanskrit śūnya meaning center or zero, the remaining digit names, except "1", are from Chinese.
Main numbersZero to nineThe Thai digit names are from Chinese, except 0 and 1. The corresponding Cantonese characters and pronunciations are also shown below. The Royal Thai General System of Transcription (RTGS) is used for transliteration.
Ten to a millionThese are assembled from the words for the powers of ten. The number one following a power of ten becomes et (Cantonese: 一, yat1). The numbers from twenty to twenty nine begin with yi sip (Cantonese: 二十, yi6sap6). See Alternate numbers.
Numbers above a millionNumbers above a million are constructed by prefixing lan with a multiplier. For example, ten million is sip lan, and a trillion (1012) is lan lan. Decimal and fractional numbersColloquially, decimal numbers are formed by saying จุด (chut, dot) where the decimal separator is located. For example, 1.01 is หนึ่งจุดศูนย์หนึ่ง. Fractional numbers are formed by placing ใน (nai, in, of) between the numerator and denominator. For example, ⅓ is หนึ่งในสาม (neung nai sam). The word ครึ่ง (khrueng) is used for "half". It precedes the measure word if used alone, but it follows the measure word when used with another number. For example, kradat krueng phaen (กระดาษครึ่งแผ่น) means "half sheet of paper", but kradat nueng phaen krueng (กระดาษหนึ่งแผ่นครึ่ง) means "one and a half sheets of paper". Negative numbersNegative numbers are formed by placing ลบ (lop, minus) in front of the number. For example, -11 is ลบสิบเอ็ด (lop sip et). Ordinal numbersOrdinal numbers are formed by placing ที่ (thi, place) in front of the number. They are not considered a special class of numbers, since the numeral still follows a modified noun, which is thi in this case.
Alternate numbersAaiAai (Thai: อ้าย), means first born (son) or Moon 1 Online Royal Institute Dictionary (ORID) YiYi Thai: ยี่ (, Cantonese: 二, yi6)is still used in several places in Thai language for the number 2, apart from สอง (song). For example, Yi is used instead of song to construct 20 (2 tens) and its combinations 21-29. Yi is still used to name the second month of the traditional Thai lunar calendar, and in the Thai northern dialect (TH: ถิ่น–พายัพ) refers to the Year of the tiger, (ORID) YipYip Thai: ยิบ in colloquial Thai is an [elision]] of ยี่สิบ (yi sip) at the beginning of numbers 21 through 29; therefore, one may hear ยิบเอ็ด (yip et), ยิบสอง (yip song), etc. SowSow Thai: ซาว means 20 in the Thai northern dialect (TH: ถิ่น–พายัพ), according to the ORID; it is also frequently heard in Isan in the expression Sow baht for 20 Baht. Tri-Tri- Thai: ไตร- is a prefix meaning three(fold). Tone marks, education degress and military ranksThe alternate set of numerals used to name tonal marks (ไม้, mai), educational degrees (ปริญญา, prinya), and military rankings is derived from the names of Sanskrit numerals.
See alsoExternal links
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