Thai
/taɪ/noun
Relating to Thailand, its people, or the Thai language.
Did you know?The name Thai is tied to a meaning of “free,” and the country’s former name, Siam, was replaced in the 20th century as part of a modern nation-building push.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Tai-Kadai
PTK
*kʰraːj A / *daj A
“Ancient roots associated with the ethnonym later reflected in Tai/Thai forms, with meanings tied to peoplehood and freedom in later development”
Early historical Tai
Tai
tai
“People; person; later, in some contexts, free people”
Sukhothai era
Thai
ไทย
“Thai; free people; the ethnonym used for the people and language”
14th–19th Century
English
Siamese
“Pertaining to Siam, the historical name of Thailand”
20th Century
English
Thai
“The modern English ethnonym and adjective for Thailand and its people”
Explore more surprising origins