Being able to tell time is important in any language. In Thai, telling time is a little bit confusing, so let's take a walk around the clock.

Important words:

O'Clock - (โมง) "MONG"

Minute - (นาท) "ีNA-THEE"

I. Daytime

The time classifier used from 6 a.m. to 11 a.m. is (เช้า) "CHAO"

When it's at the top of the hour, the time is said in this order:

Hour + MONG + CHAO

6 a.m. = หกโมง เช้า, HOK MONG CHAO

…

11 a.m. = สิบเอ็ดโมง เช้า, SIB-ET MONG CHAO

When it is not of the hour, the time is spoken in this order:

Hour + MONG + minutes + NA-THEE

6:15 a.m. = หกโมงสิบห้า (นาที), HOK MONG SIB-HA NA-THEE

From 12 p.m. to 12:59 p.m., (เที่ยง) "THIANG" is used instead of the number 12, and MONG is not used.

12 p.m. = เที่ยง, THIANG

12:20 p.m. = เที่ยงยี่สิบ นาที, THIANG YEE-SIB NA-THEE

The time classifier used from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. is (โมง) "BAI"

When it's at the top of the hour, the time is said in this order:

BAI + HOUR + MONG

1 p.m. = บ่ายหนึ่ง โมง, BAI NEUNG MONG

…

3 p.m. = บ่ายสาม โมง, BAI SAM MONG

When it's not the top of the hour, the time is said in this order:

BAI + Hour + MONG + Minutes + NA-THEE

2:20 p.m. = บ่ายสอง โมง ยี่สิบ นาที, BAI SONG MONG YEE-SIB NA-THEE

The time classifier used from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. is (ย็น) "YEN"

When it's at the top of the hour, the time is said in this order:

Hour + MONG + YEN

4 p.m. = สี่โมงเย็น, SEE MONG YEN

…

6 p.m. = หกโมงเย็น, HOK MONG YEN

When it is not at the top of the hour, the time is spoken in this order:

Hour + MONG + Minutes + NA-THEE

6:50 p.m. = หกโมงห้าสิบ นาที, HOK MONG HA-SIB NA-THEE

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II. Nighttime

"THOOM" is used for the period from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. However, the numbers used in this time period are different.

For example, for 7 p.m., it is regarded as the first "THOOM" of the night. Therefore, it's called NEUNG THOOM, 8 p.m. is SONG THOOM, etc… Also, MONG is not used.

7 p.m. = หนึ่งทุ่ม, NEUNG THOOM

…

11 p.m. = ห้าทุ่ม, HA THOOM

When it is not at the top of the hour, the time is said in this order:

Number + THOOM + Minutes + NA-THEE

9:15 p.m. = สามทุ่มสิบห้า นาที SAM THOOM SIB-HA NA-THEE

From 12 a.m. to 12:59 a.m., (เที่ยงคืน) "THIANG KEUN " is used instead of the number 12 and MONG is not used.

12 p.m. = เที่ยง, THIANG KEUN

12:20 p.m. = เที่ยงยี่สิบ นาที, THIANG KEUN YEE-SIB NA-THEE

The time classifier used from 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. is (ตี) "TEE"

When it's at the top of the hour, the time is said in this order:

TEE + HOUR

1 a.m. = ตีหนึ่ง, TEE NEUNG

…

5 a.m. = ตีห้า, TEE HA

When it is not at the top of the hour, the time is said in this order:

TEE + Hour + Minutes + NA-THEE

2:20 a.m. = ต สอง ยี่สิบ นาที, TEE SONG YEE-SIB NA-THEE

Next month we will continue learning about how to tell time using dialogues.