Approximation (ประมาณ)

Estimating quantities: ประมาณ

To express estimates or rough quantities, Thai uses the word ประมาณ. This word translates to "about" or "approximately."

To use it, place ประมาณ directly before the number or quantity you are estimating.

When discussing demographics such as a village (หมู่บ้าน) or a city's population (ประชากร), you will often need large numbers. Here is a quick reference for counting in Thai:

• พัน (thousand)
• หมื่น (ten thousand)
• แสน (hundred thousand)
• ล้าน (million)

Let's see how ประมาณ is placed right before these large quantities:

Surveys and Statistics

When you conduct a survey (สำรวจ), you gather demographic data. You can use ประมาณ to report the estimated number of people surveyed or the total population of a country.

Percentages and Majorities

In statistics, you will also use percentages, which in Thai is the loanword เปอร์เซ็นต์. You can place ประมาณ right before the number of the percentage just like any other quantity.

If you don't have an exact estimate but want to refer to the "majority" or "most" of a group, use the word ส่วนใหญ่ immediately following the noun.

Estimating Prices

The word ประมาณ is not just for populations and surveys; it is equally useful for everyday estimates, such as discussing a budget or the price of an expensive item.