Shopping and moneyBanknote in Thai
“Banknote” in Thai is แบงก์báeng; you'll also hear ธนบัตรtá-ná-bàt (formal).
banknote noun everyday
- báeng high
- High: start high and go a little higher, a bit tense; don’t let it fall.
Classifier: ใบbai · counting word for hats, bags, cards and leaves
banknote (formal) noun
- tá high
- ná high
- bàt low
- High: start high and go a little higher, a bit tense; don’t let it fall.
- Low: flat and lower than your normal voice, dropping a little at the end.
How to use it
Thais call a note a แบงก์báeng, from English bank, and name it by its value: แบงก์ร้อยbáeng ráwy is a hundred, แบงก์พันbáeng pan a thousand. Notes come in 20, 50, 100, 500 and 1,000 baht, and street vendors, taxi drivers and motorbike taxis often can't change a thousand, so keep some small notes, แบงก์ย่อยbáeng yâwy.
Thai notes carry the King's portrait, so never step on one, even to stop it blowing away.
Other spellings you'll see
There's no single official way to write Thai in English letters. We mark the tone of every syllable; online you'll also find:
- bank
- beng
- thanabat
More shopping and money in Thai
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Written by the Learn Thai For Free team
Audio: AI voices, quality-checked for tones