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Thai Alphabet and Pronunciation
If you're trying to learn the Thai Alphabet you will find some useful resources including a course about pronunciation, and sound of all letters... to help you with your Thai grammar. Try to concentrate on the lesson and memorize the sounds. Also don't forget to check the rest of our other lessons listed on Learn Thai. Enjoy the rest of the lesson!
Thai Alphabet
Learning the Thai alphabet is very important because its structure is used in every day conversation. Without it, you will not be able to say words properly even if you know how to write those words. The better you pronounce a letter in a word, the more understood you will be in speaking the Thai language.
Below is a table showing the Thai alphabet and how it is pronounced in English, and finally examples of how those letters would sound if you place them in a word.
| Thai Alphabet | English Sound | Pronunciation Example |
|---|---|---|
| Consonants | ||
| k | as in ko kai (chicken) | |
| kh | as in kho khai (egg) | |
| kh | as in kho khuat (bottle) [obsolete] | |
| kh | as in kho khwai (water buffalo) | |
| kh | as in kho khon (person) [obsolete] | |
| kh | as in kho ra-khang (bell) | |
| ng | as in ngo ngu (snake) | |
| ch | as in cho chan (plate) | |
| ch | as in cho ching (cymbals) | |
| ch | as in cho chang (elephant) | |
| s | as in so so (chain) | |
| ch | as in cho choe (tree) | |
| y | as in yo ying (woman) | |
| d | as in do cha-da (headdress) | |
| t | as in to pa-tak (goad, javelin) | |
| th | as in tho than (base) | |
| th | as in tho montho (Mandodari, character from Ramayana) | |
| th | as in tho phu-thao (elder) | |
| n | as in no nen (samanera) | |
| d | as in do dek (child) | |
| t | as in to tao (turtle) | |
| th | as in tho thung (sack) | |
| th | as in tho thahan (soldier) | |
| th | as in tho thong (flag) | |
| n | as in no nu (mouse) | |
| b | as in bo baimai (leaf) | |
| p | as in po pla (fish) | |
| ph | as in pho phueng (bee) | |
| f | as in fo fa (lid) | |
| ph | as in pho phan (tray) | |
| f | as in fo fan (teeth) | |
| ph | as in pho sam-phao (sailboat) | |
| m | as in mo ma (horse) | |
| y | as in yo yak (giant) | |
| r | as in ro ruea (boat) | |
| l | as in lo ling (monkey) | |
| w | as in wo waen (ring) | |
| s | as in so sala (pavilion) | |
| s | as in so rue-si (hermit) | |
| s | as in so suea (tiger) | |
| h | as in ho hip (chest) | |
| l | as in lo chu-la (kite) | |
| * | as in o ang (basin) | |
| h | as in ho nok-huk (owl) | |
| Vowels | ||
| a | u as in in nut | |
| o | oa as in in boat | |
| an | un as in in tun | |
| a | u as in in nut | |
| am | um as in in hum | |
| ua | ewe as in in newer | |
| uai | uoy as in in buoy | |
| o | aw as in in saw | |
| o | o as in in not | |
| oi | oy as in in boy | |
| a | u as in in nut | |
| a | u as in in nut | |
| ai | i as in in hi | |
| ua | ewe as in in newer | |
| ua | ewe as in in sewer | |
| a | a as in in father | |
| ai | ye as in in bye | |
| ao | ow as in in now | |
| am | um as in in sum | |
| i | y as in in greedy | |
| io | ew as in in new | |
| i | ee as in in see | |
| ue | u as in French du (short) | |
| ue | u as in French dur (long) | |
| u | oo as in in look | |
| u | oo as in in too | |
| e | a as in in lame | |
| e | e as in in neck | |
| e | e as in in neck | |
| oei | u as in in burn + y as in in boy | |
| oe | u as in in burn | |
| oe | e as in in the | |
| oe | e as in in the | |
| eo | ai + ow as in in rainbow | |
| ao | ow as in in cow | |
| o | o as in in not | |
| ia | ea as in in ear | |
| ia | ea as in in ear with glottal stop | |
| iao | io as in in trio | |
| uea | ure as in in pure | |
| uea | ure as in in pure | |
| ae | a as in in ham | |
| ae | a as in in at | |
| ae | a as in in at | |
| aeo | a as in in ham + ow as in in low | |
| o | o as in in go | |
| o | o as in in poke | |
| ai | i as in in I | |
| ai | i as in in I | |
| rue | ri as in in Krishna | |
| rue | ||
| lue | li as in in leak |
Thai Pronunciation
You saw how a letter is written and might be pronounced, but there is nothing better than hearing the sound of the letters in a video or audio. Below you will be able to hear how the letters above are pronounced, just press the play button:
| Thai Pronunciation |
|---|
The alphabet and its pronunciation have a very important role in Thai. Once you're done with Thai alphabet, you might want to check the rest of our Thai lessons here: Learn Thai. Don't forget to bookmark this page.