# Talking Thai <> English Dictionary+Phrasebook — user reviews > 215 indexed App Store user reviews of Talking Thai <> English Dictionary+Phrasebook by Paiboon Publishing and Word in the Hand, rated 4.80/5 from 124 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/talking-thai-english-dictionary-plus-phrasebook/id411632067/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/talking-thai-english-dictionary-plus-phrasebook/id411632067.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 114 · 4★ 3 · 3★ 2 · 2★ 2 · 1★ 3 ## What do users think of Talking Thai <> English Dictionary+Phrasebook? Overall sentiment: positive **Pros** - 🚀 Comprehensive dictionary with extensive vocabulary - 🔊 High-quality native speaker audio pronunciations - 📚 Detailed word definitions and explanations - 🔍 Multiple search options (English, Thai script, phonetics) - 🔧 Useful features like 'words inside' and tone information - 📱 Convenient mobile app format **Cons** - 🐛 Occasional bugs and crashes reported - 🖥️ Outdated interface, not optimized for newer devices - 💰 Expensive compared to other dictionary apps - 🔍 Missing some common/colloquial words **Commonly reported bugs** - Keyboard issues on newer iOS versions - Inconsistent performance, app freezes at times **Most requested features** - Add male voice option for pronunciations - Implement favorites/vocabulary list management - Improve search and browsing functionality - Provide more frequent updates and bug fixes ## Newest reviews (19 of 215) ### 3/5 — Needs UI redesign *2026-06-28* Really want to use this dictionary more but often end up relying on free ones. That’s just because, as other reviewers have mentioned, the user interface is less than smooth and easy. Feels like an old Windows experience (I’m on iOS) which is kind of exhausting, and it hasn’t really changed much over the years. Too bad, because it’s a really good dictionary in a lot of other ways. If I may make a suggestion: search results could appear in a list as basic entries (e.g., word, n/v/adv, translation, pronunciation button) but then then tap to open as its own page. That would be a better place for all the great features and help make search cleaner. Then you could have the “search inside words” feature, related words, classifiers, categories, real world fonts, example sentences, and all the cool features that otherwise clutter up the search page. This is how most dictionary apps work and it’s pretty intuitive. ### 2/5 — Most complete Thai Dictionary, but with the worst of all interfaces. *2026-02-08* This is the best and by far the most extensive Thai dictionary I have found online. The definitions are thorough, precise and abundant. That said I must add that the user interface is one of the worst app interfaces I have ever encountered. It somehow even manages to make what should be simple tasks, such as copying and pasting — difficult. The developer has assured me that they’re still working on it and continuing to support the app, but over the years I haven’t noticed any real improvement. This is an amazing dictionary for one of the most difficult languages in the world. But the user interface is frustratingly complicated and difficult to use. นี่คือพจนานุกรมภาษาไทยที่ดีที่สุดและครอบคลุมที่สุดเท่าที่ฉันเคยเจอทางออนไลน์ คำจำกัดความละเอียดถี่ถ้วน แม่นยำ และมากมาย อย่างไรก็ตาม ฉันต้องเสริมว่าส่วนติดต่อผู้ใช้เป็นหนึ่งในส่วนติดต่อแอปที่แย่ที่สุดเท่าที่ฉันเคยเจอมา มันทำให้แม้แต่ภารกิจง่ายๆ อย่างการคัดลอกและวางก็ยากลำบาก ผู้พัฒนาได้ให้คำมั่นกับฉันว่าพวกเขายังคงทำงานอยู่และให้การสนับสนุนแอปต่อไป แต่ตลอดหลายปีที่ผ่านมา ฉันไม่เห็นการปรับปรุงที่แท้จริงใดๆ เลย นี่คือพจนานุกรมที่ยอดเยี่ยมสำหรับหนึ่งในภาษาที่ยากที่สุดในโลก แต่ส่วนติดต่อผู้ใช้นั้นซับซ้อนและใช้งานยากจนน่าหงุดหงิด **Developer response:** Thanks! Appreciate your purchase and kind words. In case any other customers reading this encounter issues typing, pasting or using dictation, the immediate workaround is here: https://word-in-the-hand.com/paste ### 5/5 — This app nails it *2024-08-10* My wife and I will travel to remote parts of Thailand later this year. We wanted to supplement in person lessons to practice Thai when we’re out and about to accelerate our learning. This app is just perfect to practice. We are quickly able to find the right words, phrases, and hear the pronunciations. Since Thai is a tonal language, pronounciation isn’t for showing off; it’s a necessity to convey your message. This app is a great job by the app makers. Many thanks! Khop kun khráp!! ### 5/5 — Absolutely phenomenal app to support learning Thai *2024-08-03* I’ve tried off and on for years to learn Thai, and this is always the app I come back to. I’ve taken classes, private lessons, used Pimsleur lessons, use Google translate (to read signs, translate spoken sentences from English to Thai, etc). Each of those resources is very good for certain things, and this app can’t replace all of them, but it does support the broadest range of language learning skills (hearing, speaking, reading and writing) very well. If I hear someone say something in Thai, I can look it up using either the Paiboon Romanization system, or Thai (if I know how to write it). If I see some thing written in Thai, I can type the Thai in and learn to pronounce and translate it. If I need to tell someone something in Thai, I can write it in English then show them the Thai translation and start learning the Thai myself. It provides examples of grammatically correct usage for Thai words, and related Thai words. This is particularly helpful, e.g., in learning to distinguish the 10 different ways a word that sounds like “Mai” but with varying tones and spelling is used in Thai. I’ve learned French and Chinese pretty well so understand what’s required for a native English speaker to achieve fluency in another another European language or an Asian language and have used a wide range of language learning tools. This is both a translation tool and a customizable lesson book for learning Thai. I’d give it 9/10, the interface is clear and easy to learn to use, and the results it provides are always high quality. The only thing it needs to get 10/10 is sentence translation, now it only does words and common phrases. I wish Paiboon Publishing would make apps like this for all the other SE Asian languages I wish I could learn (Lao, Khmer, Vietnamese, Burmese, Bhasa, etc) ### 5/5 — Absolutely the best there is *2024-07-19, version 2.3* Beer ever dictionary with voice samples so you actually know what the words sound like ### 4/5 — Powerfull App *2024-05-05* This app while more updates would be appreciated , never the less it is a powerful app, take the time to go through all the options which has more than many of it’s competitors. As a day today app for Thai language it’s an app I depend on! ### 5/5 — Something to lean on *2024-04-03* I now have time to dedicate to my learning Thai and have greater understanding and involvement in conversation with my wife and family - this is just one of the tools I am using but find it very helpful not just for me to speak Thai but also when Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) in written form so that I can refer to English and Thai at the same time which will enhance any student/teacher clarification. HOWEVER I am only just starting my Thai language journey - but like the way that this allows me to formulate and alter specific sentences. I like it ### 4/5 — Best Thai Leaning App for Those with Some Thai Language Skills *2024-02-21* I’ve been using this app off and on for years. Lately (2024) I’ve notice that the input onscreen keyboard isn’t formatted to fit the screen on my iPad any longer. The lower portion is cut off. I check the last update version and this app hasn’t been updated for the past 6 years. I still find it useful though. I always liked the Thai phonetic sound test input feature. The app only works with the on-screen keyboard provided in the app… Cannot use the iPad onscreen keyboard or and external keyboard. The publisher of this app, Paiboon Publishing, has been producing Thai dictionaries, phrase books, tapes, and learning materials since the early 1970’s and probably well before that. All there materials are very helpful in learning and improving your Thai language skills. I’m sorry they stopped updating this app. Since the basic Thai language doesn’t change much except for more recent technical terms this app is still useful. ### 5/5 — Outstanding! *2024-02-11* Best money I have ever spent on Thai language learning materials. ### 5/5 — Best Thai Dictionary I've Found *2024-01-23* I've been using this for several years now. My wife is Thai and this has been a great help in talking with my in-laws. It's not only a dictionary but also has classfiers for all the nouns, can function as a phrasebook, and you can tap on the little speaker icon to hear the word pronounced by a native Thai speaker with the correct tonation. Is it a little pricey as apps go? Maybe a little but this app is well worth it. ### 5/5 — Great english - thai app *2023-12-11* The best app for english - thai I’ve ever used. I live in Thailand and I use it every day. Thanks a lot ! ### 5/5 — Used it for years and years. *2023-11-23, version 2.3* I have had this app since I got a smart phone after first learning basic Thai from the first to Paiboon cassette and books (green one and a red one). Love the app. Use it all the time. ### 3/5 — No Updates *2023-10-12* Basically an excellent dictionary with a very good UI. Unfortunately not maintained anymore. Some words in colloquial language are missing and must be searched in other sources like google translate. ### 5/5 — Best Thai Dictionary, with some room for improvement *2023-10-06* This is the best and by far the most extensive Thai dictionary I have found online, and the developer is responsive and communicative. Excellent! In honesty, I would say that the app is not yet 100% user-unfriendly. Switching between Eng and Thai is kinda funky, and there have been problems with the paste text into search box function. But the developer assures me they’re working on it and continuing to support the app. This is an amazing dictionary for one of the most difficult languages in the world. Excellent app, highly recommended. นี่คือพจนานุกรมภาษาไทยที่ดีที่สุดและเป็นพจนานุกรมภาษาไทยที่ครอบคลุมที่สุดเท่าที่ฉันพบทางออนไลน์ และผู้พัฒนาก็ตอบสนองและสื่อสารได้ดี ยอดเยี่ยม! พูดตามตรง ฉันจะบอกว่าแอปนี้ยังไม่เป็นมิตรกับผู้ใช้ 100% การสลับระหว่างภาษาอังกฤษและภาษาไทยค่อนข้างจะขี้ขลาด และมีปัญหากับการวางข้อความลงในฟังก์ชันช่องค้นหา แต่นักพัฒนารับรองกับฉันว่าพวกเขากำลังดำเนินการและสนับสนุนแอปต่อไป นี่คือพจนานุกรมที่น่าทึ่งสำหรับหนึ่งในภาษาที่ยากที่สุดในโลก แอพที่ยอดเยี่ยม แนะนำเป็นอย่างยิ่ง **Developer response:** Thanks! Appreciate your purchase and kind words. In case any other customers reading this encounter issues typing, pasting or using dictation, the immediate workaround is here: https://word-in-the-hand.com/paste ### 3/5 — Was awesome, but now in major need of update. *2023-09-14* I’ve been using this app for a little over five years now. Until recently, it has been an excellent application and well worth the money. However, now many of the icons at the bottom or no longer accessible on my iPad. It’s constantly asking me if I want to allow the application to paste. Sure, these aren’t major issues, but if you are someone who uses it constantly like myself, it gets annoying very fast. Please update soon, and I will be able to continue to recommend it to my friends. **Developer response:** Thanks for your purchase and kind words. There are immediate workarounds available now for both problems: for the cut off problem (both workaround and longer-term status as ThaiDict is still very much under active development), see https://word-in-the-hand.com/ipad For the paste dialog problem, this affects users of many iOS apps since iOS 16 and the solution is go to the Apple Settings app and choose ThaiDict > Paste from Other Apps > set it to "allow." By the way, likely the reason why the paste dialog comes up (though not necessarily) is that at some point you enabled the option inside ThaiDict called Settings > Auto Paste and Search. By making the Apple Settings choice above, you can keep the ThaiDict "Auto Paste and Search" enabled if you like and you will not see the popup. ### 5/5 — Even more amazing *2023-09-08, version 2.3* This app just keeps getting better. I first got it over 10 years ago; I recently moved to Thailand and this app has made my life so much easier. Well worth the price. ### 5/5 — Good but needs updating *2023-07-18* Its a great app when it works, but recent iOS changes mean its difficult to use. The navigation bar which appears at the bottom runs off screen, so you can only see the top 20% of it ### 5/5 — Highly recommended *2023-06-16* I tried so many apps but this one is the best, using this app for years now. It’s very useful for learning new words and the way they are written and pronounced. Worth the money ### 4/5 — Due an update *2023-05-11* This app is good but it needs an update now. For £25, this app should get frequent updates. There are other free apps which are nearly as good as this one. To learn a new language you need many different apps to help so I’m happy that I purchased this app and recommend it to potential purchasers but it really needs an update to modernise it. ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Broken for iOS & apparently not supported *2023-10-04* This is the most extensive Thai dictionary I have found online. However, it is user unfriendly and it has been impossible to paste text into the search box for a long time. It seems that the app is no longer being supported. Extremely dissatisfied, especially given the price of the app. นี่คือพจนานุกรมภาษาไทยที่ครอบคลุมที่สุดที่ฉันพบทางออนไลน์ อย่างไรก็ตาม เป็นไปไม่ได้ที่จะวางข้อความลงในช่องค้นหาเป็นเวลานาน และดูเหมือนว่าแอปจะไม่ได้รับการสนับสนุนอีกต่อไป ไม่พอใจอย่างมาก โดยเฉพาะกับราคาของแอป **Developer response:** Thanks for your purchase. The app is most definitely supported and under active development, with a new version with thousands of new words and phrases in the works; on 4 OCT we responded same-day to your email with steps likely to get paste working again, based on working with the one other customer who had a similar paste issue---please check it as I believe it will solve your issue. You can contact support@word-in-the-hand.com at any time. ### 1/5 — Not worth money spent *2021-12-28, version 2.3* I have found this app difficult and confusing to use. Instructions hard to understand. Lots of bragging from the developers about the thousands of words. But something as simple as ‘Tom boon’ can’t be found. Google translate is easy to use and better. Wasted my money on this app. Check the reviews. All are over a year old. Much better apps out there that include everyday phrases you can use. ### 1/5 — Very limited *2020-06-04, version 2.3* I bought this translator thinking it would be a useful tool in place of the google translator.. I was wrong. It has some words, but very few useless phrases. It uses a women’s voice and no man’s voice. There is no support because it is old. Save your money and use the free Google translator. ### 1/5 — Beware of update *2018-10-14, version 2.3* Avoid this update. You will be disappointed with this new version. Cluttered, clumsy, klutzy and confusing. Not just an elegant, simple and easy to use dictionary anymore. Also if you had managed to not update and had continued to use the older, simpler, easier version, BEWARE of UPDATING to the new version of IOS. YOU WILL BE FORCED TO UPDATE to this newest, clumsy, cluttered, trying to be everything to everybody, ugly version. Phooey! Grade F. ### 1/5 — bad *2017-09-04* mine doesnt open ### 1/5 — Terrible update *2017-07-09* This version is terrible!!!!! If i cannot revert to the older version i will delete it and find another App..... You say you can revert to the old version? HOW????? Nothing on this App helps 😡😡😡😡😡 ### 1/5 — App keeps crashing *2016-12-27, version 2.0* Since around two iOS upgrades ago the app keeps closing down, however it's still running in the background when you double tap the home button, but when you press on it to open it up again it crashes! So disappointed as it was a fantastic app before this issue ### 1/5 — A great app ruined by some idiot. *2016-10-18, version 2.0* The old version I paid for was the best language app I've ever used. The update has ruined it. Sack the moron who ruined you app! Waste of money now. I want a refund ### 1/5 — To much *2016-09-24, version 2.0* To hard to use , old version 1.8 simple much better to Learn with ### 1/5 — Very Very Disappointed ! *2011-01-04, version 1.3* Very very disappointed as this doesn't actually speak English!! The "Talking Thai-English-Thai Dictionary" Doesn't speak English ONLY speaks Thai !!!! ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Excellent app *2026-07-19* This is my favourite Thai language app Living in rural Thailand, it has help me blend in as much as a farang could! ### 5/5 — Great app! *2026-03-02, version 2.3* Incredible app. When I first saw the price I was skeptical but it is with every penny. It is much more than a dictionary if you dive into its features. I use it every day. Highly recommended. ### 5/5 — Still the best! *2025-12-02* Easy to use and accurate. There are other Thai language apps these days. However, this one is still the best by far. ### 5/5 — Wonderful App with one small bug *2025-10-27* Every good thing all the other reviewers have said about this app is true. I use it daily. The usage examples are especially useful in a Thai language course I am taking; if I can't understand that course's phonetic Thai, I can come here for context. One small bug on my iPad Pro, iOS 16.3.1. The lower rows of both the phonetic and Thai keyboards go off the bottom of the screen. I suspect thus happened with the latest iOS release, not long ago UPDATE The small bug is now fixed and the keyboard works perfectly **Developer response:** Thanks for your purchase and kind words. There are workarounds for the keyboard-cut-off issue. Full details here: https://word-in-the-hand.com/ipad ### 5/5 — The best thai english app *2025-05-24, version 2.3* This is expensive but by far the best Thai - english app if not best the best any language - english app in the app store. Pronunciation recordings, reading tips, linked words, ability to save key words. It doesnt get better than this ### 5/5 — Transfer to new phone *2025-04-19, version 2.3* I had this on my old phone. I bought a new phone and want to transfer the application to my new phone. Most helpful in the hardware store and grocery store. ### 5/5 — This language app is AMAZING!! *2024-12-29* I’ve been travelling to Thailand for the last few years and I have decided to settle in Chiang Mai. This app has so much information in it, it is amazing. It is so useful for learning the Thai language and a great tool towards my schooling at the language school. This app is a MUST! Well done to the team that brought this to us. ### 5/5 — Happy so far *2024-11-18, version 2.3* Helpful and complex. I’m still learning to use the app but have Already learned some useful phrases from it. There is a bit of a learning curve but not insurmountable. ### 5/5 — Best *2024-10-11* I don’t care that the app hasn’t been updated in 7 years. Yes the interface is a little dated but it does everything I want. Translation apps have their place but this dictionary helps you learn Thai words as well as their constituent parts which is invaluable for me to understand and better learn the actual meaning of words in Thai. ### 5/5 — Favorite app *2024-09-23, version 2.3* Best app out there --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-31.*