How to Tell Time in Thai (Formal & Everyday Thai Explained)

Thai people tell time in more than one way. There is a formal style (commonly used in official documents and news) and an informal style (used in everyday conversation). In this guide, you’ll learn both — so you can tell time naturally like a native Thai.

Table of Contents

• Formal Thai Time (Standard Clock Style)

• Informal Thai Time (What Locals Actually Say)

  • Daytime (06:00 AM – 06:59 PM)

  • Nighttime (7:00 PM – 5:59 AM)

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Formal Thai Time (Standard Clock Style)

Used in official announcements, news broadcasts, schedules, transportation, and formal situations. In formal contexts, the 24-hour system is often used.

Structure

[hour] + naa-lí-gaa + [minutes] + naa-tii

• นาฬิกา (naa-lí-gaa) = hour

• นาที (naa-tii) = minutes

Example

• 09:00 = gâao naa-lí-gaa

• 14:15 = sìp-sìi naa-lí-gaa sìb-hâa naa-tii

• 18:45 = sìp-bpàaet naa-lí-gaa sìi-sìp-hâa naa-tii

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Informal Thai Time (What Locals Actually Say)

This is the everyday time system. In Thai, telling time changes depending on whether it’s day or night.

☀️ Daytime (06:00 AM – 06:59 PM)

📍06:00 – 11:59 AM → [hour] + mohng cháo

*If you add "นาที (naa-tii) - minutes" , cháo is dropped.

Example:

• 07:00 AM = jèd mohng cháo

• 07:05 AM = jèd mohng hâa naa-tii

📍12:00 – 12:59 PM → tîang + [minutes]

 Example:

• 12:15 PM = tîang sìb hâa naa-tii

📍01:00 – 03:59 PM → bàai + [hour] mohng

*Special case: For 01:00 PM, Thais don’t say bàai nèung mohng, we say bàai mohng instead.

Example:

• 01:05 AM = bàai mohng hâa naa-tii

*In addition, between 02:00 and 03:59 PM, if "นาที (naa-tii) - minutes" are included, the word mohng is usually dropped.

Example:

• 03:00 PM = bàai sǎam mohng

• 03:05 PM = bàai sǎam hâa naa-tii

📍4:00 PM – 6:59 PM → [hour] + mohng yen

*Drop yen when "นาที (naa-tii) - minutes" are added

Example:

• 5:00 PM = hâa mohng yen

• 5:20 PM = hâa mohng yîi-sìp naa-tii

  
  

🌙 Nighttime (7:00 PM – 5:59 AM)

📍7:00 PM – 11:59 PM → [number] + tûm

*From 7 PM to 11 PM, Thai counts the hours as 1–5 tûm.

Example:

• 7:00 PM = nèung tûm

• 9:15 PM = sǎam tûm sìb-hâa naa-tii

📍12:00 AM – 12:59 AM → tîang kheuun

Example:

• 12:10 AM = tîang kheuun sìb naa-tii

📍1:00 AM – 5:59 AM → dtii + [hour]

Example:

• 2:00 AM = dtii sǎawng

• 4:30 AM = dtii sìi sǎam sìb naa-tii

⭐ Useful Tip

In Thai, 30 minutes is often said as: ครึ่ง (khrêung) = half

Example:

• 10:30 AM = sìp mohng khrêung

• 4:30 AM = dtii sìi khrêung

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If you want to understand real Thai conversations — not just textbook Thai — learning things like telling time the natural way makes a huge difference.

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