Hugo introduces himself
ฮิวโก้แนะนำตัว
Hugo has just moved into a Bangkok soi. He meets his neighbor.
Thai-learning app for iPhone, iPad and Android
Learn Thai by reading stories you understand
Kru May teaches Thai the way you learned your first language: through stories. 90 illustrated stories, every sentence read aloud at two speeds, and every word tappable for its meaning and tone.
Free to download · No account needed
- 90
- illustrated stories
- 30
- levels, from complete beginner to B2+
- 658
- words met in context
- 18
- interface languages
How Kru May works
Kru May is built around reading. Audio, tones, grammar notes and flashcards are all there to help you understand the page in front of you.
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Read real stories
Follow Hugo, a Frenchman who has just moved into a Bangkok soi, through markets, tuk-tuks, temples and his first Muay Thai class: 90 stories and 1034 illustrated pages, from sentences of a few words up to everyday Thai.
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Tap any word
Thai is written without spaces between words. In Kru May every sentence is split into words by hand, so you can tap any word to see where it starts and ends, how it is pronounced, its tone and its meaning.
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Hear everything at two speeds
Every sentence and every word has audio at natural speed and slowed down. At full speed a Thai syllable goes by too fast for a beginner to catch the shape of its tone; the slow version gives your ear time.
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See the five tones
Thai has five tones, and a different tone makes a different word. Kru May gives each tone its own color, so you can see the pattern before you can fully hear it.
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Grammar in three lines
Thai has no conjugation, no plurals and no articles: its grammar lives in word order and a handful of particles. When a new pattern appears, a small badge under the sentence explains it in three lines, once, where you first meet it.
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The whole alphabet
All 44 consonants with their traditional names, 32 vowels and the Thai numerals, each one spoken aloud. Consonants are grouped by class, because the class decides the tone.
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Flashcards that come back on time
Save any word and it becomes a flashcard. Spaced repetition brings it back just before you would forget it.
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A short quiz after each story
A few questions at the end of each story check that you understood it, with an explanation for each answer.
Inside the app
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Learn Thai with real stories -
Tap any word to understand it -
Hear every sentence -
Test yourself after each story -
Stories built for your level -
Track your progress
Stories graded to your level
90 short stories across 30 levels, from complete beginner to Expert level (B2+). Here are a few of them.
At the restaurant
ที่ร้านอาหาร
Hugo’s first pad thai. He tries “not spicy” — and discovers it’s relative.
Som tam
ส้มตำ
Mali’s friend Nok introduces Hugo to green papaya salad. He asks for “a little spicy”. Nok does not.
Chiang Mai
ไปเชียงใหม่
Twelve hours by train to the mountains of the north. Cool air, temples everywhere, and Mali’s verdict: the most beautiful place there is.
The message
ข้อความ
Mali texts Hugo in Thai. He can’t read it, so he asks Kru May, and learns the most Thai question there is.
From the blog
How to Learn Thai: A Step-by-Step Plan for Complete Beginners
A clear plan to learn Thai from zero: tones first, survival phrases, the Thai script, graded stories, spaced repetition, speaking and a weekly routine.
Is Thai Hard to Learn? An Honest Answer for English Speakers
Is Thai hard? What is really difficult (tones, script, vowel length, politeness), what is easy (no conjugation, no plurals) and the FSI estimate.
How Long Does It Take to Learn Thai? Realistic Milestones
How long it takes to learn Thai: estimated milestones from week one to two years by daily study time, what A1, A2 and B1 mean in Thai and how to speed up.
Frequently asked questions
What is Kru May?
Kru May is a mobile app for learning Thai through 90 short illustrated stories, available on iPhone, iPad and Android. Every sentence has audio at two speeds, every word can be tapped for its meaning and tone, and the app also covers the Thai alphabet and flashcards with spaced repetition.
Is Kru May suitable for complete beginners?
Yes. The first level starts with sentences of a few words, and every word shows its pronunciation in Latin letters, so you can start reading before you know the alphabet. Sentences get longer and vocabulary grows level by level.
Do I need to learn the Thai alphabet first?
No. Kru May shows Thai script from day one, but each word also comes with a transliteration and audio. The alphabet section, with all the consonants, vowels and numerals spoken aloud, is there whenever you want to start recognising letters. See also our Thai alphabet guide.
How much does Kru May cost?
Kru May is free to download. A monthly or annual subscription unlocks every story and unlimited flashcards, and a free trial may be offered when you start. Prices are shown in the app before you pay, and you can cancel at any time from your App Store or Google Play account.
Which devices does Kru May run on?
Kru May runs on iPhone and iPad (App Store) and on Android phones and tablets (Google Play).
Which languages is the app available in?
Kru May teaches Thai, and its interface and translations are available in English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Brazilian Portuguese, European Portuguese, Dutch, Swedish, Danish, Norwegian Bokmål, Finnish, Polish, Japanese, Korean, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, and Hindi.
Do I need to create an account?
No. There is no account and no sign-up: your progress stays on your device.
What level of Thai can I reach with Kru May?
The 90 published stories go from complete beginner to Expert level (CEFR B2+), across 30 levels and 658 words met in context. The goal is to read and understand everyday Thai.
Start with the first story
Hugo has just arrived in Bangkok. Meet him on page one.
Free to download · No account needed