The primary language spoken in Thailand is Thai. It is the official language and is used in government, education, media, and daily communication. Thai, also known as Siamese, is part of the Tai-Kadai language family and has its unique script, which is an abugida derived from the Old Khmer script. The language is tonal, meaning that changes in pitch can alter the meaning of words, which adds complexity to pronunciation. While English is commonly taught in schools and understood in urban areas, proficiency varies significantly across the country, especially in rural regions.