In this article, you will learn vocabulary for different musical instruments in the Thai language and about music-related vocabulary.

You will also learn about some famous Thai instruments.

Let’s start with the word for Music and Instruments in general.

Music is: ดนตรี (don-dtree) 🎵

Musical instruments is: เครื่องดนตรี (krêuang don-dtree) 🎹🎻🥁

Thai Instruments

The following are some popular Thai instruments that I am familiar with. These instruments are used in traditional Thai music.

If you want a list of all the Thai instruments, check out this Wikipedia Article.

• One type of Thai bamboo flute
  ขลุ่ย
  klùi
  
  
• One type of Thai Oboe (similar to a clarinet)
  ปี่
  bpèe
  
  
• A 3 stringed crocodile-shaped instrument used in Thai music
  จะเข้
  jà kây
  
  
• A stringed instrument that is played with sticks
  ขิม
  kĭm
  
  
• ซอ
  sor
  A fiddle with a hardwood body
  
  • A 2 string fiddle
    ซอด้วง
    sor dûang
    
  • A different type of 2 string fiddle
    ซออู้
    sor ôo
    
  • A 3 string fiddle
    ซอสามสาย
    sor săam săai
    
• A xylophone type instrument played with 2 mallets.
  ระนาด
  rá-nâat
  
  
• 2 cymbals joined by a string that you hit together with your hands.
   ฉิ่ง
  chìng

Instruments

You will notice many of the instruments is just the English way of saying them but pronounced with a Thai accent.

• Piano 🎹
  เปียโน
  bpia noh
  
  
• Trumpet/Horn 🎺
  แตร
  dtrae
  
  
• Ukulele
  อูคูเลเล่
  oo koo lay-lây
  
  
• Guitar 🎸
  กีตาร์
  gee-dtâa
  
  
• Saxophone 🎷
  แซ็กโซโฟน
  sáek-soh-fohn
  
  
• Flute
  ฟลูท
  flôot
  
  
• Violin 🎻
  ไวโอลิน
  wai-oh-lin
  
  
• Drums 🥁
  กลอง
  glong
  
  
• Accordion
  หีบเพลง
  hèep playng
  
  
• Clarinet
  คลาริเนต
  klaa-rí-nâyt
  
  
  
• Trombone
  ทรอมโบน
  trom-bohn

Playing music Instruments

In Thai, you can say เล่น (lâyn), meaning to play, to say you play an instrument. For example, you can say you lâyn guitar, lâyn the flute, lâyn piano or play the guitar, play the flute, play the piano.

However, there are more specific ways of saying some actions. Just like how in English you can say you play the guitar or you might say you are strumming the guitar.

• To strum
  ตีคอร์ด
  dtee kòt
  
  
• To pluck
  ดีด
  dèet
  
  
• To blow
  เป่า
  bpào
  
  
• To hit
  ตี
  dtee

Extra Music vocabulary

• Music
  ดนตรี
  don-dtree
  
  
• Musical instruments
  เครื่องดนตรี
  krêuang don-dtree
  
  
• Notes 🎶
  โน๊ต
  nóht
  
  
• Melody
  ทำนองเพลง
  tam nong playng
  
  
• Chords
  คอร์ด
  kòt

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I hope you enjoyed learning how to say the musical instruments in Thai and about Thai instruments.