When traveling to Thailand or interacting with Thai-speaking individuals, it’s always helpful to know how to say basic words, including “money.” In this guide, we’ll provide you with various ways to express “money” in Thai, including both formal and informal terms. Additionally, we’ll incorporate some tips, examples, and showcase any relevant regional variations. So, let’s dive right in!
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Formal Ways to Say “Money” in Thai
Using formal terms to refer to money is essential in professional or official settings. Here are some widely accepted formal expressions:
1. เงิน (ngoen)
เงิน (ngoen) is the standard word for “money” in Thai, which can be used in most situations. It is widely recognized across the country and understood by all Thai speakers, regardless of their regional dialects.
Example sentences:
- เงินทุนในธุรกิจต้องใช้ให้เหมาะสม (ngoen than nai thurakit tong chai hai maosom) – Money capital in business needs to be used appropriately.
- ฉันต้องการเงินเพิ่มเพื่อลงทุน (chan tongkan ngoen phoem peua long thun) – I need more money for investment.
2. เงินตรา (ngoen tra)
If you want to specify “currency” when talking about money, you can use เงินตรา (ngoen tra) in formal situations.
Example sentence:
- ฉันต้องการแลกเงินตราจากดองเมืองสู่ดองที่นี่ (chan tongkan laek ngoen tra jak dong muang su dong ti ni) – I want to exchange currency from the city branch to this branch.
Informal Ways to Say “Money” in Thai
When conversing with friends, family, or acquaintances, it’s common to use more casual terms to refer to money. Here are some informal expressions:
1. เงินสด (ngoen sot)
เงินสด (ngoen sot) is a widely used colloquial term for “cash” or “money.” It can be used in everyday conversations, especially when referring to physical money rather than digital transactions.
Example sentences:
- ให้ฉันยืมเงินสดได้ไหมคะ (hai chan yuem ngoen sot dai mai kha) – Can I borrow some cash from you, please?
- เขากำลังมีปัญหาเรื่องเงินสด (khao gamlang mi panha reuang ngoen sot) – He is facing issues regarding cash.
2. เงินโอน (ngoen on)
If you want to specifically refer to “money transfer” or “wired money,” เงินโอน (ngoen on) is a suitable term to use.
Example sentence:
- คุณส่งเงินโอนให้ฉันได้ไหม (khun song ngoen on hai chan dai mai) – Can you send me money via transfer?
Additional Tips and Examples
Here are some more tips and examples to enhance your understanding of “money” in Thai:
Tips:
- Always remember to remain polite and respectful when discussing money matters, regardless of the context.
- Thai currency is called “บาท (baht).” So, if you want to refer specifically to Thai money, you can say “เงินบาท (ngoen baht).”
- If you’re unsure about the appropriate term to use, it’s generally safe to stick with “เงิน (ngoen).”
Examples:
ฉันต้องการเงินสดเพื่อซื้อของในตลาด (chan tongkan ngoen sot phoem suea khong nai talat) – I need cash to buy things at the market.
เขามีเงินตราต่างประเทศหลายสกุล (khao mi ngoen tra tang prathet lai sakun) – He has various foreign currencies.
Now that you have familiarized yourself with both formal and informal ways to say “money” in Thai, you’ll have no trouble discussing financial matters or engaging in day-to-day conversations involving money. Enjoy your time in Thailand!
