Translate a Word document into Thai

What Thai changes in a Word file

Thai runs left to right, but it is written without spaces between words. A space marks the end of a clause or sentence, not of a word. Word therefore cannot break lines at spaces; it relies on a dictionary to find word boundaries. A break in the wrong place, for instance splitting ภาษาไทย (‘Thai language’) into ภา and ษาไทย, is obvious to any Thai reader.

The second issue is height. Vowels and tone marks sit above and below consonants, sometimes on two levels, as in ที่นี่ (‘here’). A Thai line needs more vertical room than a Latin one. Where paragraphs use fixed line spacing (‘exactly 12 pt’, common in corporate templates and tight tables), the top of those marks can be clipped on screen and in print.

Justified text also behaves differently: with no inter-word spaces to stretch, narrow columns can end up with some lines looking noticeably looser than others.

Fonts and sizes: the Thai-specific trap

Manuce keeps the original fonts, run by run. Many Latin typefaces, including plenty of brand fonts, contain no Thai characters at all. Word then displays the Thai text in a separate ‘complex script’ font, and what you see may differ from one computer to the next depending on installed fonts.

• Check in the delivered PDF and in the .docx which font is actually rendering the Thai.
• If you want a specific Thai typeface (TH Sarabun New, Leelawadee UI, Tahoma), change it in the styles: since the original styles are preserved, editing ‘Normal’ and the heading styles updates the whole document.
• Watch the size: at the same point size, several Thai fonts look much smaller than Latin ones. Body text that reads well at 11 pt in English can become tiny in Thai; TH Sarabun New, for example, is commonly set at 16 pt for running text.

Plurals, register, dates: what the language requires

No grammatical plural. Thai has a single form (one CLDR category: other). Quantity is shown by a number followed by a classifier: ‘3 contracts’ becomes สัญญา 3 ฉบับ, literally ‘contract 3 [classifier for documents]’. Patterns such as ‘file(s)’ or ‘{n} attachment(s)’ have nothing to reproduce; the Thai is simply shorter.

Register. Business documents use a formal written register without the spoken politeness particles ครับ and ค่ะ, which depend on whether the speaker is male or female. If your text addresses the reader directly (‘Please find enclosed…’), use the free sample to check the tone suits the recipient.

Dates and numbers. Thai documents usually follow the Buddhist Era, 543 years ahead of the Gregorian calendar: 2025 is written พ.ศ. 2568. Thai digits (๐ ๑ ๒ ๓…) exist, though Western digits are widely used. Proofread dates, deadlines and regulatory references carefully; that is where mistakes cost most.

What Manuce delivers, and what it does not do

Manuce translates paragraphs, tables, headers and footers, and text boxes. A merged cell is translated and charged only once. The .docx is rebuilt run by run: sizes, colours, bold and italics, styles, numbering and table widths stay as in the original. An automatic check compares the layout of the translation with the original and flags any discrepancy.

You receive:

• the file in its original format, with the text replaced in place;
• a Word version, a PDF and the plain text (handy for a Thai-speaking colleague to proofread without the layout).

What is not done:

• Automatic fields (table of contents, cross-references) keep working but are not recalculated: update the fields in Word after translation so page numbers reflect the Thai text.
• Manuce does not produce certified (sworn) translations. Certificates or diplomas for Thai authorities or an embassy usually need a sworn translator.
• Manuce does not change line spacing or fonts, so the Thai-specific adjustments above remain yours to make if your document needs them.

Thai carries a surcharge: a ×1.6 coefficient on the per-word rate.

Preparing the file and checking the result

1. Before uploading, find styles with fixed line spacing (body text, table cells, footnotes) and switch them to multiple or ‘at least’ spacing where you can, so Thai marks have room.
2. Replace text embedded in images with real text: images are not translated.
3. Read the free sample: check register, proper names and terms that must stay unchanged (product names, acronyms).
4. After delivery, open the PDF and look for clipped marks, substitute fonts and line breaks in the middle of words.
5. Update the fields in Word, then check dates, figures and table-of-contents page numbers.

In practice

1. Spot fixed line spacing and any text inside images.
2. Upload the .docx for an instant quote on the exact word count.
3. Read the free Thai sample before paying.
4. Open the delivered PDF and check fonts, line height and line breaks.
5. Update fields in Word and proofread the dates.