Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| tailandés | /tailanˈdes/ | masculine |
| thailandés | /tailanˈdes/ | masculine, alternative form |
tailandés is used to refer to the Thai language, people from Thailand or things pertaining to Thailand. You can use it in phrases like El idioma tailandés (the Thai language), La cultura tailandesa (Thai culture) or Un plato tailandés (a Thai dish). Alternatively, you can refer to things as being from Thailand using the construction De Tailandia, such as in Un masaje tradicional de Tailandia (a traditional Thai massage).
Which one should you use?
tailandés refers specifically to the nation of Thailand, whereas tai is used to refer to the broader Tai ethnolinguistic group. thailandés is an alternative spelling of tailandés.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The word changes based on gender and number to match the nouns it modifies. The feminine form is tailandesa, and the plural forms are tailandeses for masculine groups or items and tailandesas for feminine groups or items.
How do you pronounce it?
/tailanˈdes/
Did you know?
- Because tailandés is a nationality, it is never capitalized in Spanish unless it is the very first word of a sentence.
- The suffix -és in tailandés originates from the Latin suffix -ēnsis, which was used to denote origin or belonging.
Examples in context
- Nosotros hablamos tailandés pero birmano no.We speak Thai but not Burmese.This sentence shows how to express speaking Thai.Tatoeba #13672204 by Seael, translation #13672507 by araneo
- El tailandés es la lengua oficial en Tailandia.Thai is the official language in Thailand.This sentence identifies Thai as an official language.Tatoeba #1336630 by marcelostockle, translation #477176 by CK
- El tailandés es la lengua oficial de Tailandia.Thai is the official language of Thailand.This sentence identifies Thai as the official language using a different preposition.Tatoeba #1658477 by marcelostockle, translation #479396 by Swift
- Hoy probé un curry tailandés realmente picante.Today I tried a very spicy Thai curry.
- Mis amigos y yo estamos planeando un viaje a Tailandia el próximo año.My friends and I are planning a trip to Thailand next year.
- ¿Conoces algún restaurante tailandés recomendado en esta ciudad?Do you know any recommended Thai restaurants in this city?
- 4 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are discussing language learning at a cafe.
- María¿Estudias tailandés en la universidad?Do you study Thai at the university?
- AlejandroSí, el tailandés me parece fascinante.Yes, I find Thai fascinating.
- MaríaEs un idioma muy difícil, Alejandro.It is a very difficult language, Alejandro.
- AlejandroLo sé, pero quiero aprenderlo.I know, but I want to learn it.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “thai” translations and entries tailandés, thailandés, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries tailandés, thailandés, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
