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Thai · Thai letters
Thai Alphabet
Thai is written from left to right with no spaces between words (spaces mark the end of a phrase or sentence). It has 44 consonant letters in three classes, mid, high and low, and the class of the first consonant decides, together with the tone mark and the vowel, which of Thai's five tones a syllable gets. Vowels are signs written before, after, above or below the consonant, sometimes around it, and each is short or long; a consonant with no written vowel carries a short a or an o. Four tone marks sit above the consonant, and a mark called thanthakhat silences a letter. Thai also has its own digits ๐ to ๙, which you see on official documents and some price boards, while most shops write 1 2 3. Sounds use the lessons' spelling: g for ก, j for จ, kh th ph for the aspirated stops, ch, ng, long vowels doubled (aa ii uu ee oo), and ae aw oe ue uea ia ua for the other vowels, with the tone on the vowel (à low, â falling, á high, ǎ rising, mid tone unmarked) and the final stops written k, t, p. The letters ฃ and ฅ are obsolete, but they stay in the traditional 44-letter alphabet, so the cards keep them.
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Mid class consonants
กg · final kmid class consonant · unaspirated k, between 'g' and 'k' as in 'sky' (written g in the lessons) · ko kai (chicken)กิน (gin) to eat
จj · final tmid class consonant · j as in 'jar', but unaspirated · cho chan (plate)จาน (jaan) plate
ฎd · final tmid class consonant · d as in 'dog' · do cha-da (headdress)ฎีกา (dii-gaa) appeal to the Supreme Court
ฏtmid class consonant · unaspirated t, as in 'stop' · to pa-tak (goad)ปฏิบัติ (pà-tì-bàt) to practise
ดd · final tmid class consonant · d as in 'dog' · do dek (child)ดี (dii) good
ตtmid class consonant · unaspirated t, as in 'stop' · to tao (turtle)ตา (taa) eye
บb · final pmid class consonant · b as in 'bat' · bo bai-mai (leaf)บ้าน (bâan) house
ปpmid class consonant · unaspirated p, as in 'spin' · po pla (fish)ปลา (plaa) fish
อsilentmid class consonant · silent: carries a vowel when a word starts with one, and is itself the vowel ออ · o ang (basin)อาหาร (aa-hǎan) food
High class consonants
ขkh · final khigh class consonant · aspirated k, with a puff of air as in 'kite' · kho khai (egg)ขา (khǎa) leg
ฃkhhigh class consonant, obsolete · kh as in 'kite' · kho khuat (bottle)obsolete: no modern word is spelled with it
ฉchhigh class consonant · ch as in 'chat' (aspirated); it never ends a syllable · cho ching (small cymbals)ฉัน (chǎn) I, me
ฐth · final thigh class consonant · th is an aspirated t, 'top' with a puff of air, not the English 'th' · tho than (pedestal)ฐาน (thǎan) base, pedestal
ถth · final thigh class consonant · th, the aspirated t (not English 'th') · tho thung (sack)ถุง (thǔng) bag
ผphhigh class consonant · ph, the aspirated p, as in 'pot' with a puff of air; it never ends a syllable · pho phueng (bee)ผม (phǒm) I (male), hair
ฝfhigh class consonant · f as in 'fan'; it never ends a syllable · fo fa (lid)ฝน (fǒn) rain
ศs · final thigh class consonant · s as in 'sun' · so sa-la (pavilion)ศาลา (sǎa-laa) pavilion
ษs · final thigh class consonant · s, only in Pali and Sanskrit loanwords · so rue-sii (hermit)พิเศษ (phí-sèet) special
สs · final thigh class consonant · s as in 'sun' · so suea (tiger)สวย (sǔai) beautiful
หhhigh class consonant · h as in 'hot'; silent before ง ญ น ม ย ร ล ว, where it only sets the tone class (หมา mǎa 'dog') · ho hip (chest)ห้อง (hâwng) room
Low class consonants 1 (ค to ภ)
คkh · final klow class consonant · kh as in 'kite' · kho khwai (water buffalo)คน (khon) person
ฅkhlow class consonant, obsolete · kh as in 'kite' · kho khon (person)obsolete: no modern word is spelled with it (คน now uses ค)
ฆkh · final klow class consonant · kh, only in Pali and Sanskrit loanwords · kho ra-khang (bell)ฆ่า (khâa) to kill
ชch · final tlow class consonant · ch as in 'chat' · cho chang (elephant)ช้าง (cháang) elephant
ซs · final tlow class consonant · s as in 'sun' · so so (chain)ซอย (soi) side street
ฌch · final tlow class consonant · ch, only in Pali and Sanskrit loanwords · cho choe (tree)เฌอ (choe) tree, a rare literary word
ฑth · final tlow class consonant · th (sometimes read d in a few Pali words) · tho mon-tho (Montho, a character's name)มณฑล (mon-thon) province, region
ฒth · final tlow class consonant · th, the aspirated t · tho phu-thao (elder)ผู้เฒ่า (phûu-thâo) elder
ทth · final tlow class consonant · th, the aspirated t (not English 'th') · tho tha-han (soldier)ทาง (thaang) way, road
ธth · final tlow class consonant · th, the aspirated t (not English 'th') · tho thong (flag)ธง (thong) flag
พph · final plow class consonant · ph, the aspirated p · pho phan (tray)พี่ (phîi) older brother or sister
ฟf · final plow class consonant · f as in 'fan' · fo fan (tooth)ฟัน (fan) tooth
ภph · final plow class consonant · ph, the aspirated p · pho sam-phao (junk, a sailing boat)ภาษา (phaa-sǎa) language
Low class consonants 2 (ง to ฮ)
งnglow class consonant · ng as in 'sing', also at the start of a word · ngo ngu (snake)งู (nguu) snake
ญy · final nlow class consonant · y as in 'yes' at the start of a syllable, n at the end · yo ying (woman)ญี่ปุ่น (yîi-pùn) Japan
ณnlow class consonant · n as in 'no' · no nen (novice monk)เณร (neen) novice monk
นnlow class consonant · n as in 'no' · no nu (mouse)น้ำ (náam) water
มmlow class consonant · m as in 'map' · mo ma (horse)ม้า (máa) horse
ยylow class consonant · y as in 'yes'; at the end of a syllable it is the glide in -ai and -oi · yo yak (giant)ยา (yaa) medicine
รr · final nlow class consonant · r (tapped or rolled, often 'l' in casual speech) at the start, n at the end · ro ruea (boat)รถ (rót) car
ลl · final nlow class consonant · l as in 'lap' at the start, n at the end · lo ling (monkey)ลิง (ling) monkey
วwlow class consonant · w as in 'water'; at the end of a syllable it is the glide in -ao and -iao · wo waen (ring)วัน (wan) day
ฬl · final nlow class consonant · l, only in Pali and Sanskrit loanwords · lo chu-la (kite)กีฬา (gii-laa) sport
ฮhlow class consonant · h as in 'hot' · ho nok-huk (owl)ฮ่องกง (hâwng-gong) Hong Kong
Vowels (short)
อะashort vowel · short a, like the 'u' in 'cup' · ะ goes after the consonantจะ (jà) will
อิishort vowel · short i as in 'bit' · ◌ิ sits above the consonantกิน (gin) to eat
อึueshort vowel · short ue, like 'oo' in 'book' with the lips spread, not rounded · ◌ึ sits above the consonantหนึ่ง (nùeng) one
อุushort vowel · short u as in 'put' · ◌ุ sits below the consonantคุณ (khun) you
เอะeshort vowel · short e, a tense 'e' as in 'bed' · around the consonant: เ before, ะ after; with a final consonant it becomes เ◌็ (เล็ก lék)เล็ก (lék) small
แอะaeshort vowel · short ae, like the 'a' in 'cat' · around the consonant: แ before, ะ afterแกะ (gàe) sheep
โอะoshort vowel · short o, 'o' in 'go' cut short · around the consonant: โ before, ะ afterโต๊ะ (tó) table
เอาะawshort vowel · short aw, like the 'o' in British 'hot' · around the consonant: เ before, าะ afterเกาะ (gàw) island
เออะoeshort vowel · short oe, like the 'er' of British 'her' cut short · around the consonant: เ before, อะ afterเถอะ (thòe) come on, let's
เอียะiashort vowel · short ia, 'ee' gliding to 'a' · around the consonant: เ before, ◌ี above, ยะ afterrare short vowel, found in a few sound words; unverified
เอือะueashort vowel · short uea, 'ue' gliding to 'a' · around the consonant: เ before, ◌ื above, อะ aftervery rare short vowel, no common word; unverified
อัวะuashort vowel · short ua, 'oo' gliding to 'a' · around the consonant: ◌ั above, วะ afterrare short vowel, found in a few sound words; unverified
Vowels (long)
อาaalong vowel · long aa, like the 'a' in 'father' · า goes after the consonantมา (maa) to come
อีiilong vowel · long ii, like 'ee' in 'see' · ◌ี sits above the consonantดี (dii) good
อือuelong vowel · long ue, like 'oo' in 'moon' with the lips spread, not rounded · ◌ื sits above the consonant and อ goes after it (the อ drops before a final consonant: มืด)ซื้อ (súe) to buy
อูuulong vowel · long uu, like 'oo' in 'moon' · ◌ู sits below the consonantครู (khruu) teacher
เอeelong vowel · long ee, like 'ay' in 'say' without the glide · เ goes before the consonantเพลง (phleeng) song
แอaelong vowel · long ae, the 'a' of 'cat' held long · แ goes before the consonantแปด (pàet) eight
โอoolong vowel · long oo, like 'o' in 'go' without the glide · โ goes before the consonantโรงแรม (roong-raem) hotel
ออawlong vowel · long aw, like 'aw' in 'saw' · อ goes after the consonant (the vowel is the letter อ itself)ร้อน (ráwn) hot
เออoelong vowel · long oe, like 'ur' in British 'fur' · around the consonant: เ before, อ afterเธอ (thoe) you, she
เอียialong vowel · ia as in 'Mia' · around the consonant: เ before, ◌ี above, ย afterเสีย (sǐa) to lose, to break down
เอือuealong vowel · uea: 'ue' gliding to 'a' · around the consonant: เ before, ◌ื above, อ afterเรือ (ruea) boat
อัวualong vowel · ua: 'oo' gliding to 'a', as in 'tour' · ◌ั sits above the consonant and ว goes after itตัว (tua) body
Special vowels
อำamspecial vowel · short am, like 'um' in 'sum' · ำ goes after the consonant: a ring above (nikhahit) plus าทำ (tham) to do, to make
ไอaispecial vowel · ai as in 'aisle', the usual spelling · ไ goes before the consonantไป (pai) to go
ใอaispecial vowel · ai as in 'aisle', the same sound as ไ, used in about twenty words · ใ goes before the consonantใจ (jai) heart
เอาaospecial vowel · ao as in 'now' · เ goes before and า after the consonantเรา (rao) we
ฤruespecial vowel, a consonant and vowel in one · rue, sometimes ri (อังกฤษ ang-grìt, English) or roe · written as a full letter, sorted after ร in the alphabetฤดู (rúe-duu) season
ฤๅruespecial vowel · the long form of ฤ: rue held long · written as a full letter with ๅ after itฤๅษี (rue-sǐi) hermit
ฦluespecial vowel, obsolete · lue · written as a full letter, sorted after ลobsolete: no modern word is spelled with it
ฦๅluespecial vowel, obsolete · the long form of ฦ · written as a full letter with ๅ after itobsolete: no modern word is spelled with it
Tone marks
ก่gàtone mark mai ek (ไม้เอก) · low tone on a mid or high class consonant, falling tone on a low class one · written above the consonantไก่ (gài) chicken
ก้gâtone mark mai tho (ไม้โท) · falling tone on a mid or high class consonant, high tone on a low class one · written above the consonantเก้า (gâao) nine
ก๊gátone mark mai tri (ไม้ตรี) · high tone, used only on mid class consonants · written above the consonantโต๊ะ (tó) table
ก๋gǎtone mark mai chattawa (ไม้จัตวา) · rising tone, used only on mid class consonants · written above the consonantก๋วยเตี๋ยว (gǔai-tǐao) noodles
Tone practice (ก ข ค)
กาgaamid tone · mid class ก, no tone mark, long vowelกา (gaa) crow, kettle
ก่าgàalow tone · mai ek on mid class กtone pattern only, not a common word
ก้าgâafalling tone · mai tho on mid class กtone pattern only, not a common word
ก๊าgáahigh tone · mai tri on mid class กtone pattern only, not a common word
ก๋าgǎarising tone · mai chattawa on mid class กtone pattern only, not a common word
ขาkhǎarising tone · high class ข, no tone mark, long vowelขา (khǎa) leg
ข่าkhàalow tone · mai ek on high class ขข่า (khàa) galangal
ข้าkhâafalling tone · mai tho on high class ขข้า (khâa) I, servant; old-fashioned
คาkhaamid tone · low class ค, no tone mark, long vowelคา (khaa) stuck, lodged
ค่าkhâafalling tone · mai ek on low class คค่า (khâa) price, fee
ค้าkháahigh tone · mai tho on low class คค้า (kháa) to trade
Other signs
ร์silentsilencing mark thanthakhat (ทัณฑฆาต) · the letter it sits on, with its vowel, is not pronounced · written above the consonantเสาร์ (sǎo) Saturday
กัamai han-akat (ไม้หันอากาศ), the short a sign · written above the consonant, only before a final consonant (กั + น = gan)กัน (gan) together; unverified (sign name not on the two source pages)
ก็gâwmai taikhu (ไม้ไต่คู้) · a small sign above the consonant that shortens the vowel (เล็ก lék); on ก it is the common word 'also, then'เล็ก (lék) small; unverified (sign name not on the two source pages)
กํmnikhahit (นิคหิต) · a small ring above the consonant, a nasal ending from Pali; with า after it, it forms the vowel ำ (am)กำ (gam) fist, handful
ๆ(repeat)mai yamok (ไม้ยมก) · repeat sign: say the word before it twiceช้าๆ (cháa-cháa) slowly; unverified (sign name not on the two source pages)
ฯ(abbreviation)paiyannoi (ไปยาลน้อย) · abbreviation sign: the rest of a long name is left outกรุงเทพฯ (grung-thêep) Bangkok; unverified (sign name not on the two source pages)
ฯลฯláe ùen-ùenpaiyanyai (ไปยาลใหญ่) · 'et cetera', the sign for 'and so on', usually read out as และอื่นๆunverified (sign name and reading not on the two source pages)
Numbers
๐0 · sǔunThai digit zeroศูนย์ (sǔun) zero; Thai digits appear on official documents and some price boards, shops mostly use 1 2 3
๑1 · nùengThai digit oneหนึ่ง (nùeng) one
๒2 · sǎwngThai digit twoสอง (sǎwng) two
๓3 · sǎamThai digit threeสาม (sǎam) three
๔4 · sìiThai digit fourสี่ (sìi) four
๕5 · hâaThai digit fiveห้า (hâa) five
๖6 · hòkThai digit sixหก (hòk) six
๗7 · jètThai digit sevenเจ็ด (jèt) seven
๘8 · pàetThai digit eightแปด (pàet) eight
๙9 · gâaoThai digit nineเก้า (gâao) nine
๑๐10 · sìpThai digits one and zero side by sideสิบ (sìp) ten
Signs & menu words
ทางเข้าthaang-khâoentranceseen above doors, car parks and station gates
ทางออกthaang-àwkexitseen above doors and in malls, often on a green sign
ห้องน้ำhâwng-náamtoiletseen in malls, restaurants, stations and petrol stations
ชายchaaimen, maleseen on the toilet door
หญิงyǐngwomen, femaleseen on the toilet door
เปิดpòetopenseen on shop doors and hanging door signs
ปิดpìtclosedseen on shop doors and hanging door signs
ผลักphlàkpushseen on glass doors and shop doors
ดึงduengpullseen on glass doors and shop doors
ตำรวจtam-rùatpoliceseen at police stations and booths, and on uniforms
โรงพยาบาลroong-phá-yaa-baanhospitalseen on road signs and building fronts
ร้านขายยาráan-khǎai-yaapharmacyseen on shop signs, often with a green cross
สถานีsà-thǎa-niistationseen at train, metro and bus stations
สนามบินsà-nǎam-binairportseen on road signs and in train stations
รถเมล์rót-meebusseen at bus stops and on the side of buses
ตั๋วtǔaticketseen at ticket counters and on ticket machines
อันตรายan-tà-raaidangerseen at building sites, on electric wires and near cliffs
ห้ามสูบบุหรี่hâam sùup bù-rìino smokingseen in restaurants, malls and stations
ห้ามเข้าhâam khâono entryseen on staff doors and at private areas
น้ำnáamwaterseen at drinks stalls, on bottles and over taps
ชาchaateaseen on menus and at drinks stalls
กาแฟgaa-faecoffeeseen on cafe menus and at drinks stalls
เบียร์biabeerseen on menus, in bars and on shop fridges
ข้าวkhâaoriceseen on menus and at street food stalls
ไก่gàichickenseen on menus and at street food stalls
ปลาplaafishseen on menus, in markets and at street food stalls
เจjeevegetarian (strict, no meat or strong herbs)seen as red letters on yellow flags at food stalls, especially during the vegetarian festival
มังสวิรัติmang-sà-wí-rátvegetarianseen on menus and restaurant signs
เผ็ดphètspicyseen on menus and at food stalls
ราคาraa-khaapriceseen on shop shelves, menus and signs
ลดราคาlót raa-khaasale, discountseen in shop windows and on supermarket shelves
ฟรีfriifreeseen in shop windows, on menus and on wifi signs
ฉุกเฉินchùk-chǒenemergencyseen on hospital signs and emergency exits
Basic Thai phrases