People & Society

With thousands of years of migratory movements and social collision running through Thailand’s blood, defining a “Thai” remains a difficult task. Of the nation’s 65 million people, 75% are considered Thai, while Chinese (11%), Malay (3.5%) and 30-some Mon, Khmer, Phuan and Karen minorities round out the country’s face.

The main Thai group can be divided into the central Siamese, northern Lao, northeast Isan Lao and southern peninsular Chao Pak Thai, who are mostly united by language, religion (95% Buddhist) and centuries of social cohesion. There are also the Phuthai of Korat, the north-western Shan and the Lue in the far north. Principle hill tribes include the Mon along the peninsular border with Myanmar and the Karen farther north. The Kui and Kaleung live more to the east, and around 20 other minorities, including the Akha, Kamuk, Lawa, Meo, Musso So and Tin move around in the northern mountains.

Thailand’s main ethnic minority, the Chinese, tend to engage in commerce throughout the country, while the mostly Muslim Malay tend to remain in the south. The Khmer represent about 1% of the population and cling to the Cambodian border, while a small number of Vietnamese inhabit the southeast coast. Urban areas house communities of Indians, Europeans, Americans and Africans to add a cosmopolitan flair.

Language
The Thai language has evolved over centuries by absorbing words from Khmer, Mon, Chinese and Malay, and borrowing elements from Sanskrit and Pali. King Ramkamhaeng introduced the Thai alphabet in 1283, modelled on an Indian alphabet with Khmer characters.

The modern Thai alphabet has 44 consonants, 24 vowels and four diacritical tone markers. It is written from left to right, and words are strung together with only occasional breaks. There is no punctuation, upper or lower case lettering, prefixes or suffixes, noun genders, plurals, or verb conjugations. The language is tonal, with a change in pitch or accent capable of completely altering the meaning of a word.

Standard Thai is spoken in Bangkok and the central plains, though there are three dialects – Northern Thai, North-eastern (Isan) Thai and Southern Thai – which, although they may have many words in common words, sound quite different. English is widely understood, particularly in Bangkok, where it is the major commercial language.

Speaking Thai
Hello                   Sawat dee
How are you?     Sabai dee mai?
I am fine,            Sabai dee

How much?         Tao rai?
Thank you           Khop khun, khop (Male) Khop khun, ka (Female)
Excuse me           Khaw tawt
Toilet                   Hawng nam
Yes                      Chai
No                       Mai chai

Religion
Over 95% of Thais are Theravada Buddhists, with approximately 4% Muslims (mainly in the south), 1% Christians plus a few others.

The kingdom’s Buddhist temples display the classic Thai-style glittering roofs with pointed ends, while the religious influence on sculptures and paintings can best be seen inside. Buddha images in various postures feature strongly in both temples and in nature, while Muslim, Chinese and Hindu places of worship and shrines add to the country’s religious texture.

Murals often appear in ordination and assembly halls, serving as an education and entertainment source. Examples range from the Grand Palace’s Ramakien Epic to paintings inside ancient wooden Lanna structures. In the past, Buddhism was taught through paintings, and these skills have been passed down over generations.