This is spoken or understood by nearly 75 million people, making it a significant Asian language that enjoys a well developed media including translated work, dubbed movies, television, radio, music, books, instruction manuals, software and children's material.

The language is part of the Thai-Kadai family, which covers languages spoken in a large swath of central Southeast Asia including the Northern reaches of Burma, Laos and Vietnam, and parts of Southern China. However, today only Lao is at all similar, the mother tongue for most Thais living in the Northeast (Isaan). Within Thailand there are four recognized dialects including Northern, Northeast, Central and Southern, but as a result of the Ayuthaya domination in the 18th century, the Central dialect became widely used and is now taught in schools and used on television. Mostly there are vocabulary or pronunciation differences between the dialects.

The main characteristic of Thai language is its use of tones, which turn an otherwise small group of sounds into a large vocabulary. This can be the most challenging aspect for a foreign learner, but it isn’t dissimilar to the use of syllable emphasis in English-you simply have to get used to each different sound. On the other hand, its simplified grammar and basic word use make it easier to get started.

The Thai language also uses its own unique characters, with no spacing between words. Making it difficult to read. But taking the time to memorize the characters greatly helps to decipher critical signs and open up the reading aspect of your learning. Although most Thais in tourist areas speak basic English, they greatly admire and appreciate those who’ve taken the trouble to learn even a few basic greetings.