Travel and transportSongthaew in Thai
“Songthaew” in Thai is สองแถวsǎwng-tǎew; you'll also hear รถแดงrót-daeng (Chiang Mai's red one).
songthaew, a pickup-truck bus or shared taxi noun
- sǎwng rising
- tǎew rising
- Rising: start low, dip, then rise to the top, like a doubtful “Really?”
Classifier: คันkan · counting word for spoons, forks, cars and umbrellas
red songthaew (Chiang Mai's shared taxi) noun Chiang Mai's red one
- rót high
- daeng mid
- High: start high and go a little higher, a bit tense; don’t let it fall.
Chiang Mai's red pickup trucks with two benches in the back. Wave one down, say where you're going and agree on the price before you get in.
รถแดงrót-daeng is taught in Unit 11 · Lesson 2: How long? Buses, planes and rides of the free course.
Practise it freeHow to use it
A สองแถวsǎwng-tǎew, "two rows", is a pickup truck with a bench down each side of the back. Some run fixed routes like a bus; others work as a shared taxi: tell the driver where you're going and agree on the price before you get in. Press the buzzer when you want to get off, and pay the driver then.
The colour tells you the route or the town. In Chiang Mai the red ones, รถแดงrót-daeng, go anywhere in the city, and in Pattaya they're called baht buses.
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:
- songthaew
- songtaew
- song thaew
- song taew
- rod daeng
More travel and transport in Thai
All travel and transport
Learn this word in Unit 11, free
Unit 11 · Night train north · How long? Buses, planes and rides. Short lessons with audio for every word, speaking practice and spaced review. No sign-up needed.
Written by the Learn Thai For Free team
Audio: AI voices, quality-checked for tones