Classifiers (Numerical Designators)

In the Thai language, It's important to use the correct classifier when enumerating (counting) or quantifying more than one object (noun). Each noun has a specific classifier word which should be appended to a sentence when you're referring to one or more specific items. We use a similar structure in English:

I'll have two loaves of bread.

Here, the word loaves can be considered a classifier for bread; bread comes in loaves. Also as in English, powders, grains and other fluid substances are typically counted by the containers they come in.

He bought twelve sacks of rice.


In Thai we have:
นามนับได้  /naamM napH daiF/ [grammar] n. countable noun
นามนับไม่ได้  /naamM napH maiF daiF/ [grammar] n. uncountable noun

Here are some Thai examples:
a sheaf of paper = กระดาษ 1 มัด
a pile of paper = กระดาษ 1 กอง (หรือตั้ง)
a ream of paper = กระดาษ 1 รีม (formerly 1 ream = 480 pages but, it's 500 pages at present)
a piece of food = อาหาร 1 ชิ้น, อาหาร 1 ก้อน
a cob of corn = ข้าวโพด 1 ซัง
an ear of corn = ข้าวโพด 1 ฝัก
a spear of broccoli = ผักบรอคโคลิ 1 หัว
a head of lettuce = ผักกาดหอม 1 หัว
a leaf of lettuce = ผักกาดหอม 1 กลีบ
a bunch of grapes = องุ่น 1 พวง
a bunch of flowers = ดอกไม้ 1 ช่อ
a cord of wood = ไม้ 1 คอร์ด (1 cord = 4 x 4 x 8 feet)
a bundle of wood = ไม้ 1 มัด
a tube of toothpaste = ยาสีฟัน 1 หลอด
a bar of chocolate = ช็อกโกเลต 1 แท่ง
a herd of elephants = ช้าง 1 โขลง
a flock of sheep = แกะ 1 ฝูง
a carton of milk = นม 1 กล่อง
a bottle of milk = นม 1 ขวด

You can also check out the category, Classifier Example Sentences.

Here is a list of the 227 classifiers currently listed in our online dictionary. If you click to the Thai word to go to the dictionary entry for the classifier, you'll find a list of all the nouns which are enumerated by that classifier.

กฎ	gohtL	[numerical classifier for laws]
กรง	grohngM	[numerical classifier for cage]
กรอบ	graawpL	[numerical classifier for frame]
กระดาน	graL daanM	[numerical classifier for games]
กระทง	graL thohngM	[classifier]
กระบอก	graL baawkL	[numerical classifier for rifles and long, tubular objects]
กระป๋อง	graL bpaawngR	[numerical classifier for tin can, cans of soda or beverage]
กล่อง	glaawngL	[numerical classifier for boxed items such as detergent]
กล่องข้าว	glaawngL khaaoF	[numerical classifier for sticky rice in Isan region]
กลัก	glakL	[numerical classifier for small boxes]
กลีบ	gleepL	[numerical classifier for a garlic clove, petal, leaf-like object, pleat]
กลุ่ม	gloomL	[numerical classifier for committees, groups, bundles, clusters, packets]
กอ	gaawM	[numerical classifier for clumps of vegetation]
กอง	gaawngM	[numerical classifier for a troop, force, band, company, or brigade of people; classifier for piles or heaps]
ก้อน	gaawnF	[numerical classifier for lumps, clouds, butter, charcoal, packages of cheese, deodorant]
กะติ๊บ	gaL dtipH	[numerical classifier for sticky rice in Northern Thailand]
ก้าน	gaanF	[numerical classifier for stalk-like objects such as a match]
กิ่ง	gingL	[numerical classifier for the branch of a tree]
แก้ว	gaaeoF	[numerical classifier for beverages when served in a glass]
ขนาน	khaL naanR	[numerical classifier for drugs and medicines]
ขบวน	khaL buaanM	[numerical classifier for trains]
ขวด	khuaatL	[numerical classifier for bottles]
ขวบ	khuaapL	[numerical classifier for year of age, used particularly in counting a child's age]
ข้อ	khaawF	[numerical classifier for a questionnaire, condition, joint, answer, equation, knuckle, knot, node]
ขั้น	khanF	[numerical classifier for stairs, process, and Thai government official position ranking]
ข้าง	khaangF	[numerical classifier for parts of the human body, shoe, side]
ขีด	kheetL	[numerical classifier for lines]
เข็ด	khetL	[numerical classifier for a length of yarn or thread, especially wool and silk, wound on a reel or swift preparatory for use in manufacturing or anything wound in or resembling such a coil] skein
คณะ	khaH naH	[numerical classifier for faculty]
คน	khohnM	[numerical classifier for persons/occupations]
ครั้ง	khrangH	[numerical classifier for events]
คราบ	khraapF	[numerical classifier for stains]
คะแนน	khaH naaenM	[numerical classifier for grade, point, score, mark]
คัน	khanM	[numerical classifier for vehicles, cars, umbrellas, etc.]
คำ	khahmM	[numerical classifier for a word, an answer to a question, a spoonful of food]
คู	khuuM	[numerical classifier for ditch]
คู่	khuuF	[numerical classifier for pairs, games]
คูหา	khuuM haaR	[numerical classifier for booths]
เครื่อง	khreuuangF	[numerical classifier for machines]
โครงการ	khrohngM gaanM	[numerical classifier for projects]
งาน	ngaanM	[numerical classifier for a piece of writing]
จังหวัด	jangM watL	[numerical classifier for provinces]
จาน	jaanM	[numerical classifier for dishes (including satellite)]
จำนวน	jahmM nuaanM	[numerical classifier for sums]
จุด	jootL	[numerical classifier for points, periods, decimal points]
เจ้า	jaoF	[numercial classifier for goods suppliers, merchants, sellers, tradesmen, brokers, (business) dealers, purveyors, retailers, salespersons, shopkeepers, traders, traffickers, vendors, wholesalers]
ฉบับ	chaL bapL	[numerical classifier for periodicals, documents, legal documents, newspapers, essays, e-mail, mail, letters, contracts]
ชนิด	chaH nitH	[numerical classifier for pills, and small pea-sized objects]
ช่อ	chaawF	[numerical classifier for bunches (e.g. of flowers)]
ช่อง	chaawngF	[numerical classifier for aperatures, gaps, holes, windows, tv programs]
ช้อน	chaawnH	[numerical classifier for spoonful]
ชั้น	chanH	[numerical classifier for storey of a building, shelf, drawer]
ชั่วโมง	chuaaF mohngM	[numerical classifier for an hour]
ชิ้น	chinH	[numerical classifier for pieces of food; for a piece of writing]
ชีวิต	cheeM witH	[numerical classifier for lives]
ชื่อ	cheuuF	[numerical classifier for names]
ชุด	chootH	[numerical classifier for certain collections or sets (e.g. bathing suit, calendar, coffee table)]
เชือก	cheuuakF	[numerical classifier for domesticated elephants]
ซอง	saawngM	[numerical classifier for packs, or packages of things]
ซอย	saawyM	[numerical classifier for small street or alleys]
ซี่	seeF	[numerical classifier for rib, spoke, prong, tine, bar, teeth]
ซีก	seekF	[numerical classifier for sections]
เซ็ท	setH	[numerical classifier for sets in ball games (ping pong, tennis, etc.)]
ไซเกิล	saiM geernM	[tranliterally, "cycle"]
ดวง	duaangM	[numerical classifier for automobile lights, light bulbs, spherical objects, stamp, the Sun, the Moon, the mind, stain, speck]
ดอก	daawkL	[numerical classifier for flowers and scented things, patterns, treads]
ด้าม	daamF	[numerical classifier for broom, brush]
ดีกรี	deekL reeM	[Thai transcription of the foreign loanword, "degree"]
เดซิเมตร	daehM siH maeht[r]F	decimeter
ตน	dtohnM	[numerical classifier for angel, demon]
ต้น	dtohnF	[numerical classifier for plants]
ตรอก	dtraawkL	[numerical classifier for alley, lane, narrow path]
ตลับ	dtaL lapL	[numerical classifier for small round cases or boxes]
ต่อม	dtaawmL	[numerical classifier for glands]
ตั้ง	dtangF	[numerical classifier for stacks or piles of objects]
ตับ	dtapL	[numerical classifier for liver]
ตัว	dtuaaM	[numerical classifier for digits, bodies, shirts, pants, suits, animals, fish, germs, chairs, tables, desks, software title]
ตาราง	dtaaM raangM	[numerical classifier for square]
ตู้	dtuuF	[numerical classifier for mailboxes or post office boxes, jukeboxes, showcases, closets, refrigerators]
เต้า	dtaoF	[numerical classifier for breasts, electric stoves]
เตียง	dtiiangM	[numerical classifier for beds]
แต้ม	dtaaemF	[numerical classifier for score or mark]
โต๊ะ	dtoH	[numerical classifier for counter, bar]
ถ้วย	thuayF	[numerical classifier for cups of liquid or beverage]
ถัง	thangR	[numerical classifier for filled bucket, filled pail]
ถุง	thoongR	[numerical classifier for condoms, cysts, bags, pouches]
เถา	thaoR	[numerical classifier for vines or creeping plants and ปิ่นโต (food-carrier)]
แถบ	thaaepL	[numerical classifier for strips (of something)]
แถว	thaaeoR	[numerical classifier for series, column, file, row, line]
โถ	thohR	[numerical classifier for pots]
ท่อ	thaawF	[numerical classifier for ditch]
ท่อน	thaawnF	[numerical classifier for bone or log]
ทะลาย	thaH laayM	[numerical classifier for bunches of coconuts]
ทะลาย	thaH laayM	to tumble or fall down or be ruined; to collapse; become disillusioned or shattered
ทาง	thaangM	[numerical classifier for sidewalks, trails, footpaths]
ท่าน	thanF	[numerical classifier for a respected person, civil person, judge, monk, master] [formal]
ทำ	thahmM	to do; perform; cause; effect; make; produce; or implement
ที่	theeF	[numerical classifier for a location; a place, altar, armed forces, ashtray, beach, bridge, brothel, bruise, burn on skin, insect bites, breakfast cereals] [formal classifier for meals]
แท่ง	thaaengF	[numerical classifier for chalk, candles, thin cylindrical objects]
น่อง	naawngF	[numerical classifier for leg]
นาง	naangM	[numerical classifier for women]
นาย	naayM	[numerical classifier for male persons, male officials]
น้ำ	naahmH	[special classifier of boats used for a few years]
น้ำ	naahmH	[special classifier of washing or boiling with water]
นิ้ว	niuH	[numerical classifier for finger]
บท	bohtL	[drama, show, film, book] episode
บท	bohtL	[numerical classifier for articles in books, textbooks, magazines, newspapers; songs, poems, stanzas]
บริษัท	bawL riH satL	[numerical classifier for company or business]
บ่อ	baawL	[numerical classifier for wells]
บาท	baatL	[numerical classifier for amounts of money]
บาท	baatL	[numerical classifier for a foot of a poem]
บาน	baanM	[numerical classifier for windows, mirrors, and other glass panels]
แบบ	baaepL	[numerical classifier for a festival, merchandise]
ใบ	baiM	[numerical classifier for bottles, drinking glasses, backpacks, money, leaves, sheets, cards and other flat objects]; [colloquial classifier for eggs]
ประการ	bpraL gaanM	[numerical classifier for items, types, kinds]
ประตู	bpraL dtuuM	[numerical classifier for goal (football, soccer)]
ประโยค	bpraL yohkL	[numerical classifier for sentences]
ปลอก	bplaawkL	[numerical classifier for pillowcase]
ปอนด์	bpaawn[d]M	[numerical classifier for a loaves of bread, cakes]
ปาก	bpaakL	[numerical classifier for cast-net, fishing net, fish net; seine, purse net, purse seine, ring net; oral evidence]
ป้าย	bpaayF	[numerical classifier for bus stop]
ปี	bpeeM	[numerical classifier for year of age, used particularly in counting an adult's age]
ปื้น	bpeuunF	[numerical classifier for handsaws]
เปลือก	bpleuuakL	[numerical classifier for bark, rind, husk, shell, skin, peel]
เป้า	bpaoF	[numerical classifier for targets]
โปรแกรม	bprohM graaemM	[numerical classifier for computer program]
ผล	phohnR	[numerical classifier for fruit]
ผืน	pheuunR	[numerical classifier for towels, sheets, linens, mat]
เผ่า	phaoL	[numerical classifier for tribes]
แผ่น	phaenL	[numerical classifier for paper, CD, vinyl and some thin or flat objects]
แผนก	phaL naaekL	[numerical classifier for department]
ฝัก	fakL	[numerical classifier for hull, pod, sheath, case, nutshell, ear of corn]
ฝั่ง	fangL	[numerical classifier for coast, shore, river bank, bank, side]
ฝา	faaR	[numerical classifier for cover, top, cap]
ฝ่าย	faayL	[numerical classifier for factions]
ฝูง	fuungR	[numerical classifier for herds of animals]
พยางค์	phaH yaang[k]M	[numerical classifier for a syllable]
พระองค์	phraH ohng[k]M	[numerical classifier for kings, queens and royal family members]
พวก	phuaakF	[numerical classifier for group]
พวง	phuaangM	[numerical classifier for round wreath-shaped objects such as steering wheels, bunches of grapes, etc.]
พันธุ์	phan[t]M	[numerical classifier for animal and plant species]
เพลง	phlaehngM	[numerical classifier for songs]
ฟอง	faawngM	[numerical classifier for spheroid objects such as eggs]
เฟรม	fraehmM	[numerical classifier for "frames" of billiards or bowling]
ภาษา	phaaM saaR	[numerical classifier for languages]
มวน	muaanM	[numerical classifier for cigarettes and other rolled items]
ม้วน	muaanH	[numerical classifier for rolls of things (film, tape, bandages)]
มื้อ	meuuH	[numerical classifier for a meal]
มุม	moomM	[numerical classifier for corner]
เม็ด	metH	[numerical classifier for small, round things like shirt buttons, pills or tablets, seeds, beads, etc.]
เมือง	meuuangM	[numerical classifier for city, town]
แมตช์	maaet[ch]F	[Thai transcription of the foreign loanword, "match"] [classifier for badminton, soccer, or tennis games]
ไม้	maaiH	[numerical classifier for wooden objects, including sports racquets]
ไมโครกรัม	maiM khrohM gramM	microgram
รอย	raawyM	[numerical classifier for track, stain, impression, footprint, fingerprint]
ระบบ	raH bohpL	[numerical classifier for systems]
ระเบียบ	raH biiapL	[numerical classifier for systems]
รัง	rangM	[numerical classifier for mosquito nets]
รัฐ	ratH	[numerical classifier for State]
รั้ว	ruaaH	[numerical classifier for fence]
ราก	raakF	[numerical classifier for roots]
รางวัล	raangM wanM	[numerical classifier for award, prize]
ร้าน	raanH	[numerical classifier for commercial establishments]
รายการ	raayM gaanM	[numerical classifier for a radio or television program]
ร้าว	raaoH	[numerical classifier for crack, fissure]
รู	ruuM	[numerical classifier for tiny holes]
รูป	ruupF	[numerical classifier for Buddhist priests, photographs]
เรื่อง	reuuangF	[numerical classifier for dreams, stories, narratives]
เรือน	reuuanM	[numerical classifier for watches and clocks]
โรง	rohngM	[numerical classifier for buildings or structures]
ฤดู	reuH duuM	[numerical classifier for season]
ลัง	langM	[numerical classifier for boxes]
ลาย	laayM	[numerical classifier for signatures]
ลำ	lahmM	[numerical classifier for long curved objects such as ships, airplanes, bamboo, etc.]
ลิฟต์	lif[d]H	[Thai transcription of the foreign loanword, "lift"] elevator
ลูก	luukF	[numerical classifier for children, round fruit and midsized hard round objects]
เล็บ	lepH	[numerical classifier for fingernail]
เล่ม	lehmF	[numerical classifier for books and things with handles, such as carts, sharp metal objects such as scissors and knives, oars, candles]
โลง	lohngM	[numerical classifier for coffin]
วง	wohngM	[numerical classifier for circles, musical group, orchestra, bracelet]
วรรค	wakH	[numerical classifier for a space or section of a book]
วลี	waH leeM	[numerical classifier for a phrase or portion of a sentence]
วิชา	wiH chaaM	[numerical classifier for subjects (of study)]
โวลต์	wohn[d]M	[numerical classifier for volt]
ศตวรรษ	sohtL watH	[numerical classifier for centuries]
ศพ	sohpL	[numerical classifier for corpse]
ศาสนา	saatL saL naaR	[numerical classifier for religions]
ศีล	seenR	[numerical classifier for precept or religious commandments]
สมาคม	saL maaM khohmM	[numerical classifier for association]
สระ	saL	[numerical classifier for ponds]
สลึง	saL leungR	[numerical classifier for small amounts of money]
ส่วน	suaanL	[numerical classifier for organs of the body]
สาย	saayR	[numerical classifier for roads, strings, wires, rivers, and other stringy things]
สำนวน	sahmR nuaanM	[numerical classifier for idioms or figurative styles, version of translated books]
สำรับ	sahmR rapH	[numerical classifier for deck of cards or complete sets]
เส้น	sehnF	[numerical classifier for hair, thread, string, rope, filaments, etc.]
หน่วย	nuayL	[numerical classifier for government agency]
หน่อ	naawL	[numerical classifier for bamboo shoot]
หน้า	naaF	[numerical classifier for page (e.g., of a fax transmission)]
หม้อ	maawF	[numerical classifier for battery]
หลอด	laawtL	[numerical classifier for tubelike objects]
หลัง	langR	[numerical classifier for pianos, houses, buildings]
หลุ่ม	loomL	[numerical classifier for pits or holes in the ground]
หวี	weeR	[numerical classifier for bunches of things (e.g. bananas)]
ห่อ	haawL	[numerical classifier for parcels and loaves of bread]
ห้อง	haawngF	[numerical classifier for rooms of a building]
หัว	huaaR	[numerical classifier for head-like objects]
หิ้ง	hingF	[numerical classifier for shelf]
หีบ	heepL	[numerical classifier for wooden boxes]
หุ้น	hoonF	[numerical classifier for stock]
เหรียญ	riianR	[numerical classifier for medals, coins, dollars and medallions]
เหล่า	laoL	[numerical classifier for groups of items]
เหลี่ยม	liiamL	[numerical classifier for side, edge, angle]
แห่ง	haengL	[numerical classifier for locations]
องค์	ohng[k]M	[numerical classifier for Buddhist monks, priests from other religions, pagodas, Buddha images, kings, royal property]
องค์กร	ohng[k]M gaawnM	organization; unit; body; organ
อย่าง	yaangL	[numerical classifier for kinds, varieties, patterns, types, sorts]
ออนซ์	aawn[s]M	[Thai transcription of the foreign loanword, "ounce"]
อัตรา	atL raaM	[numerical classifier for rates, government official position openings]
อัน	anM	[numerical classifier for small things]
อ่าง	aangL	[numerical classifier for sinks, basins, bathtubs]
อาชีพ	aaM cheepF	[numerical classifier for profession, occupation, career]
เอเคอร์	aehM khuuhrM	[Thai transcription of the foreign loanword, "acre"]
โอ่ง	ohngL	[numerical classifier for large jars]
โอห์ม	oh[h]mM	[Thai transcription of the foreign loanword, "ohm"] a measure of electrical resistance
เฮกโตกรัม	haehkF dtohM gramM	[Thai transcription of the foreign loanword, "hectogram"]
เฮิรตซ์	heert[s]F	[Thai transcription of the foreign loanword, "hertz," a measure of frequency or periodicity]

Copyright © 2008 thai-language.com. Portions copyright © by original authors, rights reserved, used by permission; Portions 17 USC §107.