King in Thai

“King” in Thai is ในหลวงnai-lǔang; you'll also hear พระมหากษัตริย์prá-má-hǎa-gà-sàt (formal) and กษัตริย์gà-sàt (a king).

ในหลวง nai-lǔang

the King (respectful everyday word) noun

nai mid
lǔang rising

Rising: start low, dip, then rise to the top, like a doubtful “Really?”

พระมหากษัตริย์ prá-má-hǎa-gà-sàt

the King, the monarch (formal) noun

prá high
má high
hǎa rising
gà low
sàt low

High: start high and go a little higher, a bit tense; don’t let it fall.
Rising: start low, dip, then rise to the top, like a doubtful “Really?”

กษัตริย์ gà-sàt

king (in general: in history and stories) noun

gà low
sàt low

Low: flat and lower than your normal voice, dropping a little at the end.

How to use it

Thais call their king ในหลวงnai-lǔang, a respectful everyday word; the formal word is พระมหากษัตริย์prá-má-hǎa-gà-sàt, and กษัตริย์gà-sàt is any king, in history or a fairy tale. Kings are also known by their reign, รัชกาลrát-chá-gaan: the present monarch, King Maha Vajiralongkorn, is Rama X, รัชกาลที่สิบrát-chá-gaan tîi sìp. Royalty has its own vocabulary, ราชาศัพท์raa-chaa-sàp, and the Queen is พระราชินีprá-raa-chí-nii. The monarchy is deeply revered and protected by law, so always speak about it respectfully; our page on Thai etiquette explains more.