Thai time is flexibele as bamboo

on
Travel Tips Thailand by Traveling 2 Thailand

I assume you know already that in Thailand we are living 543 years ahead of the western year. But there is an another misunderstanding  between Thai and Western people, the telling the time to each other. Most western people use a 24-hours system or an AM/PM system. Well of course in Thailand it goes a little bit different and it took me a few years to understand it.

Some people in Thailand will use the Western system but the most Thai will use a system where the 24-hours of a day are divided in 5 parts. But in Thailand there are actually 2 different systems as there is also a system where the 24-hours of a day are divided in 3 parts. And some Thai people use a mix of both systems.

There are After midnight, Morning, Midday, Afternoon and Evening. To say "6 pm" you say "6 in the afternoon" but to say "7 pm" you say "1 in the evening". And to make it more confusing some people start every part (or some parts) with counting at 1 again. So "9 am" could be called "3 in the morning". That makes it even more confusing! 

And the of course you will have to be able to understand the Thai words, have a look at Telling Thai Time.

And for the people who understand a little bit of Thai here an add-on from a friend :
  • 1-5 am # ตี 1-5 # dtii 1-5 ( I would say After Midnight)
  • 6-11 am # 6-11 โมง(เช้า) # 6-11 moong (cháao) (I would say Morning)
  • 12 pm (noon) # เที่ยง # tîiang
  • 1-4 pm # บ่าย 1-4 (โมง) # bàai-1-4 (moong)  (I would say Afternoon)
  • 5-6 pm # 5-6 โมงเย็น # 5-6 moong-yen (I would say Evening)
  • 7 pm # ทุ่ม (หนึ่ง) # tûm (nʉ̀ng) 
  • 8-11 pm # 2-5 ทุ่ม # 2-5 tûm (I would say Night)
  • 12 am (midnight) # เที่ยงคืน # tîiang-kʉʉn
** The (I would say ...) is my add-on to the add-on

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About this travelogue

The Little Elephant Traveling in Thailand is since 2009 a travelogue to inspire traveling in Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. Southeast Asia is a mosaic of ancient temples, golden Buddha’s, markets, massage parlors, delicious cuisine, silvery waterfalls, scraggy limestone cliffs and 1000s jungle topped islands. From the serene tropical beaches of Thailand to the lush green mountains of Halong Bay in Vietnam. Follow my travelogue with in between Tips and Insight Information about Accommodation, Restaurants, Best places to visit and Places you never thought of to visit. You do not have to become a (paid) member, there are no advertisements and you can use / copy all information from this travelogue as long it is not for commercial use and as long you refer to this travelogue.

About the founder & editor

I belong to that race of men that don't fit in, a race that can't sit still, so they break the hearts of kith and kin and they roam the world at will. (Thanks Mark). Born in a tiny country in Europe at young age I started to explore Europe. And from 1985 I started to roam the world at will, first in Indonesia & Thailand. Now living in Thailand I am still roaming the world. If you have a question or need help in planning your holiday in Thailand, Laos, Cambodia or Vietnam then send me an email at The Little Elephant Traveling in Thailand.

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