Thai Numbers 1-100: Counting System & Pronunciation
Thai counting follows a logical base-10 pattern with no irregular words like "eleven" or "twelve." Learn 10 digits and 3 special rules, and you can count to 100 and beyond.
Thai numbers follow a simple pattern: digit + สิบ (sìp, "ten") for teens, digit + สิบ (sìp) for tens. For example, 15 = sìp-hâa (ten-five), 50 = hâa-sìp (five-ten). Three exceptions to remember: 11 uses èt (not nùeng) for 1, 20 uses yîi (not sǎawng) for 2, and any number ending in 1 uses èt as the unit.
Two Number Systems
Thailand uses both Thai numerals and Arabic numerals. You will see Arabic digits (0-9) on price tags, menus, and phones. Thai numerals appear on currency, government forms, and temple inscriptions.
Numbers 0-10: The Foundation
Memorize these 11 words. Every number from 11 to 99 is built by combining them.
| # | Thai Numeral | Thai Word | Pronunciation | Tip |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | ๐ | ศูนย์ | sǔun | Rising tone. Like "soon" with a rising pitch. |
| 1 | ๑ | หนึ่ง | nùeng | Falling tone. Rhymes with "lung" but nasalized. |
| 2 | ๒ | สอง | sǎawng | Rising tone. Like "song" but longer, rising pitch. |
| 3 | ๓ | สาม | sǎam | Rising tone. Like "sahm" with rising pitch. |
| 4 | ๔ | สี่ | sìi | Falling tone. Like "see" but pitch drops. |
| 5 | ๕ | ห้า | hâa | Falling tone. Like "hah" with falling pitch. |
| 6 | ๖ | หก | hòk | Low tone. Like "hock" with low pitch. |
| 7 | ๗ | เจ็ด | jèt | Low tone. Like "jet" with low pitch. |
| 8 | ๘ | แปด | bpàet | Low tone. Like "bpet" (unaspirated p). |
| 9 | ๙ | เก้า | gâo | Falling tone. Like "gow" with falling pitch. |
| 10 | ๑๐ | สิบ | sìp | Low tone. Like "sip" with low pitch. |
Numbers 11-100: The Pattern
Thai builds numbers the same way you would build them with math. No memorization needed beyond 0-10.
Teens (11-19): 10 + unit
Example: 15 = สิบ (10) + ห้า (5) = สิบห้า (sìp-hâa)
Tens (20-100): multiplier x 10
Example: 50 = ห้า (5) × สิบ (10) = ห้าสิบ (hâa-sìp)
Compound Numbers (21-99)
Combine tens + units. Apply the special rules for 1 and 2:
The 3 Thai Number Quirks
Thai numbers are almost perfectly regular. These are the only three exceptions, and they all follow the same logic: digits 1 and 2 change form when they appear inside a larger number.
11 uses เอ็ด (èt), not หนึ่ง (nùeng)
When 1 appears as the unit digit of a larger number, it becomes èt (เอ็ด). This applies to 11, 21, 31, 41 -- any number ending in 1. When 1 stands alone ("one coffee") or leads a number (100, 1000), it stays nùeng (หนึ่ง).
20 uses ยี่ (yîi), not สอง (sǎawng)
When 2 multiplies ten (20, 200,000), it becomes yîi (ยี่). But 2 as a unit digit stays normal: 22 = yîi-sìp-sǎawng (ยี่สิบสอง) -- first 2 changes to yîi, second 2 stays sǎawng.
21, 31, 41... all use èt for the final 1
This is Rule 1 extended: 21 combines Rule 2 (yîi for 20) and Rule 1 (èt for the unit 1). The same pattern continues: 31 = sǎam-sìp-èt, 41 = sìi-sìp-èt, 51 = hâa-sìp-èt, all the way to 91 = gâo-sìp-èt.
Memory Shortcut
Think of it this way: when 1 or 2 are helping build a larger number (not standing alone), they take a different form. 1 as a helper = èt. 2 as a multiplier of ten = yîi. That covers all three rules.
Using Numbers for Prices
The most common real-world use for Thai numbers: asking and understanding prices. The pattern is simple: number + บาท (bàat, "baht").
"How much?" = เท่าไหร่ (tâo-rài) or เท่าไร (tâo-rai)
Useful Phrases for Shopping
More shopping phrases in our complete market phrases guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Thai number system hard to learn?
Thai numbers are actually easier than English in many ways. The system is purely logical and base-10: once you learn 0-10, you can construct any number up to 99 by combining them. There are no irregular words like 'eleven' or 'twelve' -- 11 is simply 'ten-one' (sìp-èt). The only tricky parts are three special rules for 1 (as a unit digit), 2 (as a tens multiplier), and 21/31/etc.
What are Thai numerals vs Thai number words?
Thai has two number systems: Thai numerals (๐ ๑ ๒ ๓ ๔ ๕ ๖ ๗ ๘ ๙) which are written symbols like Arabic numerals (0-9), and Thai number words (หนึ่ง สอง สาม...) which are the spoken/written-out forms. In daily life, you will see Arabic numerals (0-9) most often, but Thai numerals appear on currency, official documents, and traditional contexts.
How do you say prices in Thai?
State the number followed by บาท (bàat, 'baht'). For example, 50 baht = hâa-sìp bàat (ห้าสิบบาท). For amounts with satang (cents), add the satang amount after: 25.50 baht = yîi-sìp-hâa bàat hâa-sìp sà-dtaang. In practice, satang amounts are rare -- most prices are whole baht.
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