LangMedia

Thai in Thailand


Time

Transportation schedules and business appointments are often designated using the 24-hour clock. 13.00, for example, is equivalent to 1:00 p.m. For informal social engagements people will tend to use the 12-hour clock designations along with a different terms indicating the time of day. Most commonly used are terms for early morning, late morning, noon, afternoon, evening and late evening. A traditional Thai method of telling time treats 7:00 a.m. as 1 o'clock the morning, 8:00 a.m. as 2 o'clock, etc. This traditional time system is used primarily in the morning hours. A similar system is sometimes used again for the evening hours beginning at 7:00 p.m. For business appointments or formal engagements, people should arrive on time. For informal social occasions, it is polite to arrive anytime after the designated hour; promptness is not expected.

Audio

Click on the text to hear the spoken phrase.
  • "What time is it?"

    Follow this link to hear this phrase in Thai
  • "early morning"

    Follow this link to hear this phrase in Thai
  • "late morning"

    Follow this link to hear this phrase in Thai
  • "noon"

    Follow this link to hear this phrase in Thai
  • "afternoon"

    Follow this link to hear this phrase in Thai
  • "evening"

    Follow this link to hear this phrase in Thai
  • "late evening"

    Follow this link to hear this phrase in Thai
  • "8:00 a.m."
    (formal)
    Follow this link to hear this phrase in Thai
  • "8:00 a.m."
    (informal)
    Follow this link to hear this phrase in Thai
  • "8:00 a.m."
    (informal, based on traditional Thai system of time)
    Follow this link to hear this phrase in Thai
  • "2:00 p.m."
    (formal)
    Follow this link to hear this phrase in Thai
  • "2:00 p.m."
    (informal)
    Follow this link to hear this phrase in Thai
  • "5:00 p.m."
    (formal)
    Follow this link to hear this phrase in Thai
  • "5:00 p.m."
    (informal)
    Follow this link to hear this phrase in Thai
  • "7:00 p.m."
    (formal)
    Follow this link to hear this phrase in Thai
  • "7:00 p.m."
    (informal, based on traditional Thai system of time)
    Follow this link to hear this phrase in Thai
  • "12:00 a.m."
    (midnight, formal)
    Follow this link to hear this phrase in Thai
  • "12:00 a.m."
    (midnight, informal)
    Follow this link to hear this phrase in Thai
  • "4:00 a.m."
    (formal)
    Follow this link to hear this phrase in Thai
  • "4:00 a.m."
    (informal)
    Follow this link to hear this phrase in Thai
  • "10:30 a.m."
    (formal)
    Follow this link to hear this phrase in Thai
  • "2:15 p.m."
    (formal)
    Follow this link to hear this phrase in Thai
  • "5:45 p.m."
    (formal)
    Follow this link to hear this phrase in Thai