Thai numerals
Thai numerals (Thai: เลขไทย, RTGS: lek thai, pronounced [lêːk tʰāj]) are a set of numerals traditionally used in Thailand, although the Arabic numerals are more common due to extensive westernization of Thailand in the modern Rattanakosin period.
In Thai language, numerals often follow the modified noun and precede a measure word, although variations to this pattern occur.
A count is usually expressed in the form of an uninflected noun followed by a number and a classifier.
Khon "person" is a type of referent noun that is also used as the Thai part of speech called in English a linguistic classifier, or measure word.
In Thai, counting is kannap (การนับ; nap is "to count", kan is a prefix that forms a noun from a verb); the classifier, laksananam (ลักษณนาม from laksana characteristic, form, attribute, quality, pattern, style; and nam name, designation, appellation.
[2] A partial list of Thai words that also classify nouns can be found in Wiktionary category: Thai classifiers Thai sūn (zero) is written as oval 0 (number) when using Arabic numerals, but a small circle ๐ when using traditional numerals, and also means centre in other contexts.
Thai names for N +1 and the regular digits 2 through 9 as shown in the table, below, resemble those in Chinese varieties (e.g., Cantonese and Min Nan) as spoken in Southern China, the homeland of the overseas Chinese living in South East Asia.
Shown above is a comparison between three languages using Cantonese and Minnan characters and pronunciations.
Fractional numbers are formed by placing nai (ใน, in, of) between the numerator and denominator or using [set] x suan y ([เศษ] x ส่วน y, x parts of the whole y) to clearly indicate.
For example, kradat khrueng phaen (กระดาษครึ่งแผ่น) means "half sheet of paper", but kradat nueng phaen khrueng (กระดาษหนึ่งแผ่นครึ่ง) means "one and a half sheets of paper".
They are not considered a special class of numbers, since the numeral still follows a modified noun, which is thi in this case.
[6] Ek (Thai: เอก) is from Pali ḗka, "one" [7] Ek is used for one (quantity); first (rank), more prominent than tho โท second, in tone marks, education degrees and military ranks; and for the lead actor in a role.
It is related to xao (ຊາວ), the word for twenty in the Lao language.
The alternate set of numerals used to name tonal marks (ไม้, mai), educational degrees (ปริญญา, parinya), and military rankings derive from names of Sanskrit numerals.
