News and societyPrime minister in Thai
“Prime minister” in Thai is นายกรัฐมนตรีnaa-yók-rát-tà-mon-dtrii; you'll also hear นายกnaa-yók (short).
prime minister noun
- naa mid
- yók high
- rát high
- tà low
- mon mid
- dtrii mid
- 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.
prime minister (short); head (of a city or an association) noun
- naa mid
- yók high
- High: start high and go a little higher, a bit tense; don’t let it fall.
How to use it
The head of Thailand's government is the นายกรัฐมนตรีnaa-yók-rát-tà-mon-dtrii, chosen by a vote in parliament. Everyone shortens it to นายกnaa-yók, and headlines write นายกฯnaa-yók, with the mark that shows a word has been cut short.
นายกnaa-yók heads other bodies too: a mayor is a นายกเทศมนตรีnaa-yók têet-sà-mon-dtrii, and an association has its own นายกnaa-yók, its president.
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:
- nayok
- na yok
- nayokratthamontri
- nayok rattamontri
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Written by the Learn Thai For Free team
Audio: AI voices, quality-checked for tones