Thai language: The months of the year
The months of the year in Thailand are often used in abbreviations with notes and documents. It is good to know what those abbreviations look like and then to know what month it is.
The abbreviation uses the last letter to indicate the number of days. This letter ค stands for 31 days and ย indicates the month with 30 days. Only February is an exception: พ
January – มกราคม – มค
February – กุมภาพันธ์ – กีพ
March – มีนาคม – มีค
April – เมษายน – เมย
May – พฤษภาคม – พค
June – มิถุนายน – มิย
July – กรกฎาคม – กค
August – สิงหาคม – สค
September – กันยายน – กย
October – ตุลาคม – ตค
November – พฤศจิกายน – พย
December – ธันวาคม – ธค
There is a sticker on the moped, motorcycle and car with, for example, 17 พย 2559, then a new inspection and sticker for road tax must be arranged and paid on that date, November 17, 2016.
The era also differs from the Gregorian era with the Buddhist era; a difference of 543 years. The Buddhist calendar begins on the date of Buddha's death (March 11, 543). It can be useful to put different years next to each other in connection with agreements. At that moment it prevents “calculations” and works faster, for example 2016 = 2559 and 2017 = 2560. With such a list at hand, it all works easier and prevents misunderstandings.
The day of Buddha's death (March 11) was according to the most common dating (in accordance with the Gregorian calendar) not in the year 543 (1473 years ago) but in the year 543 BC. (2559 years ago).
Dear French,
Completely correct and thank you.
You would have a difference of 1086 years even because of this inaccuracy!
fr.g.,
Lodewijk
Good story. Just the dots on the i.
It's ม.ค. etc and not มค. Thais love abbreviations, by the way, it drives me completely crazy.
Completely agree. In language use, the Thai always choose the easiest way. They are very lazy to fully pronounce a long word. They especially like to abbreviate the medical terms.
I find my number solution for the months the most useful , and I have not yet met a Thai who did not recognize month number …1 /2/3/4 etc… , and saves me headaches to learn Thai ,(hopeless in my case …)