There is only one search field, and it has no modes: you simply type, and the site figures out what it was. Results appear as you type—no need to confirm.
Below is exactly what happens inside, as this determines how to formulate your query.
Four Ways to Ask
Using Thai Script
Search is performed by the start of the word. A query for น้ำ will find the word itself and everything that starts with it—น้ำ ตา "tear," น้ำ ตาล "sugar," น้ำ ใจ "kindness," and so on. However, Thai search does not look for words in the middle of a word: to find น้ำ inside a long word, you need a phrase analysis, not a search.
Spaces do not interfere. Thai is written without spaces, but people use them—both in queries and when adding words. Therefore, Thai spellings are also compared without any spaces at all: สวัสดี ครับ will find สวัสดีครับ, and vice versa.
Using Latin Script (Romanization)
Latin script is recorded in the thai-language.com format—with tone letters after each syllable and spaces between syllables: ตลาด "market" is dta L laat L.
You do not need to write tones in the query. A single syllable is searched by the start and appears in the main results: gin immediately finds กิน, maak finds มาก. A multi-syllable word written as one string no longer fits the "start" criteria—but it will be picked up by the sound-based search, which is covered in the next section. dtalaat and even talat find ตลาด as the first result, simply in the "similar sounding" block.
In Russian and English
Meanings are searched by any occurrence, not just the start. A query for вода (water) will find words where "вода" appears anywhere in the meaning. English works the same way: water will find the same results from the other side.
This is the essence of the bilingual system: you can search from either side, and the result is the same. → Russian and English together
Additionally, the original text of the query is searched, specifically those for which an AI analysis was once requested. Sometimes this helps find a word by a phrasing that is not present in the meaning itself.
If You Heard a Word but Don't Know How to Spell It
Type what you hear in Latin script—and look at the Similar Sounding Words block under the main results.
The search reduces both your entry and all dictionary words to a "sound skeleton" and compares them. In doing so, it discards exactly what a listener is usually unsure of:
- Aspiration:
kh=k,ph=p,th=t; - Our special pairs:
bp=p,dt=t,ch=c; - Vowel length:
aa=a,ee=e; - Spaces and hyphens—completely.
Therefore, krap, khrap, khrab, and kraap all lead to the same ครับ, and sawatdee, sawaddee, and sawasdee lead to สวัสดี.
What the skeleton does not forgive is the choice of the consonant or vowel itself. crap instead of krap or kup instead of krap will not lead to ครับ: c and k are different letters for the search, as are u and a. If it isn't found the first time, change the consonant, not the number of letters.
This only works if the query contains no Thai or Cyrillic letters and has at least one Latin letter. น้ำ or вода will not trigger the phonetic search—they don't need it. Very short queries (one sound) also do not count.
Practical tip: write it as it sounds and don't try to guess the "correct" transcription. sawatdee, sawaddee, and savatdi are equivalent.
How the Result Order Works
From top to bottom:
- Exact Match — Thai spelling, Latin script, or the original query matches completely.
- Start Match — Thai spelling or Latin script starts with the query.
- Meaning Match — The query is found in the Russian or English meaning.
- Similar Sounding — A separate block below the line, under the heading "Similar Sounding Words."
Within one level, short words come before long ones: usually, you need the word itself, not a compound expression containing it.
Up to 30 results are shown. If the one you need isn't there, make the query longer rather than scrolling further: there is simply no list beyond that.
What is Visible Immediately in the Results
Each line shows the Thai word, Latin script with tones, the meaning in two languages, the entry type, and the part of speech. This is usually enough to choose the right one without opening the page.
If you are logged in, there is a button to add to a collection on the right: +, and if a main collection is already selected—+ collection name with one click. → Word Collections
If Nothing Was Found
This is where the most useful part begins, because we have no empty results.
For a Thai query, Word-by-Word Analysis is automatically activated: the phrase is broken down into dictionary words, each as a card with meaning and pronunciation. Anything not in the dictionary is marked as "not in dictionary." This is exactly what is needed when you paste a whole phrase—it wasn't meant to be found as a single word.
Below the analysis is a button ✦ AI Morphological Analysis—it will analyze the entire phrase: literal translation, natural translation, and grammar by parts. → Phrase Analysis
For any query, you can request an AI analysis: ✦ Ask AI to analyze "...". Login is required. In a minute or two, a standard dictionary entry will be created, which will be visible to others. → AI Word Analysis
Quick Cheat Sheet
| Situation | What to do |
|---|---|
| Know the spelling | Paste Thai text |
| Heard it, but don't know the spelling | Write in Latin script by ear, check "Similar Sounding"; if not found—change the consonant |
| Know the meaning, looking for the word | Write in Russian or English |
| Whole phrase | Paste as is—word-by-word analysis will trigger |
| Word is not in the dictionary | Request AI analysis |
| Need to find a word inside another | Use Morphology, not search |
Next Steps
- How to read a dictionary entry
- Phrase Analysis
- Romanization and Tones — what the tone letters in Latin script mean
- AI Word Analysis