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Unit 28 · Hear all five tones · Meet

Hear all five tones

Compare a level, low, falling, high and rising pitch on the same syllable.

Meet the tone marks

Tap a card and listen. Try saying it too.

◌่In ไม้เอก
i

mai ek: class-dependent tone. Mid/high → low; low class → falling.

ก่าHear it in ก่า · ก่า
◌๊In ไม้ตรี
i

mai tri: high tone. Normally with mid-class initials.

ก๊าHear it in ก๊า · ก๊า
◌๋In ไม้จัตวา
i

mai chattawa: rising tone. Normally with mid-class initials.

ก๋าHear it in ก๋า · ก๋า

Words to read

mid-tone practice

กา

mid-tone practicekaa →

ก่า

low-tone practice syllablekàa ↘

ก้า

falling-tone practice syllablekâa ↗↘

ก๊า

high-tone practice syllablekáa ↗

ก๋า

rising-tone practice syllablekǎa ↘↗
Reading tips

่ · mai ek: class-dependent tone · Mid/high → low; low class → falling.

๊ · mai tri: high tone · Normally with mid-class initials.

๋ · mai chattawa: rising tone · Normally with mid-class initials.

Tones can change a word. First listen to these five practice syllables, then compare them without changing the consonant or vowel length. Apart from กา, these are sound drills, not five everyday nouns.

TonePitch reminderListen
Midlevel →กา
Lowlow / downward ↘ก่า
Fallinghigh then down ↗↘ก้า
Highhigh / upward ↗ก๊า
Risinglow then up ↘↗ก๋า

The arrows are memory aids, not precise pitch measurements. A speaker’s pitch range varies. Replay a pair, hum the contrast, then imitate the whole syllable. Written marks are explained in the next lessons; hearing the difference comes first.

Reading practice

Five tones, one syllable

Listen to the models first. Then: which one is the mystery word?

Listen first

mid tone
low tone
falling tone
high tone
rising tone
Mystery sound

Five tones, one syllable

Listen to the models first. Then: which one is the mystery word?

Listen first

mid tone
low tone
falling tone
high tone
rising tone
Mystery sound

Five tones, one syllable

Listen to the models first. Then: which one is the mystery word?

Listen first

mid tone
low tone
falling tone
high tone
rising tone
Mystery sound

Five tones, one syllable

Listen to the models first. Then: which one is the mystery word?

Listen first

mid tone
low tone
falling tone
high tone
rising tone
Mystery sound

Five tones, one syllable

Listen to the models first. Then: which one is the mystery word?

Listen first

mid tone
low tone
falling tone
high tone
rising tone
Mystery sound

Find the sign in its syllable

Match each sign or pattern to its highlighted position. The dash stands for the consonant.

Find the sound

Listen, then match the sign. The helper vowel belongs to the letter clip.

Read with support

Match the words to their meanings.

Read without a sound cue

Match the words to their meanings.

Sound to spelling

Listen. Choose the spelling.

Spelling to sound

Read the word. Choose its sound.

ก่า

Sound to spelling

Listen. Choose the spelling.

Spelling to sound

Read the word. Choose its sound.

ก๊า

Build the word

Listen and build the word in typing order.

mid-tone practice

Recall the spelling

Listen and build the word without its picture.

Finish practice to save this unit.

You can read and write this

Compare a level, low, falling, high and rising pitch on the same syllable.

Next unit
mid-tone practice

กา

mid-tone practice

ก่า

low-tone practice syllable

ก้า

falling-tone practice syllable

ก๊า

high-tone practice syllable

ก๋า

rising-tone practice syllable

All letters

ก
i

k. Plain k, with little puff, like k after s in sky.. Traditional letter name: ก ไก่. The consonant clip uses the ɔː helper vowel; it is not a neutral tone model.

กามาก
ม
i

m. Traditional letter name: ม ม้า. The consonant clip uses the ɔː helper vowel; it is not a neutral tone model.

มามาก
าIn อา
i

aa. A long open a; it sits after the consonant.

กามา
ต
i

t. Plain t, with little puff of air.. Traditional letter name: ต เต่า. The consonant clip uses the ɔː helper vowel; it is not a neutral tone model.

ตา
น
i

n. Traditional letter name: น หนู. The consonant clip uses the ɔː helper vowel; it is not a neutral tone model.

นานาน
จ
i

ch / tɕ. A plain joined ch sound, little puff.. Traditional letter name: จ จาน. The consonant clip uses the ɔː helper vowel; it is not a neutral tone model.

จาน
ด
i

d. Traditional letter name: ด เด็ก. The consonant clip uses the ɔː helper vowel; it is not a neutral tone model.

ดาบ
บ
i

b. Traditional letter name: บ ใบไม้. The consonant clip uses the ɔː helper vowel; it is not a neutral tone model.

ดาบบาน
ป
i

p. Plain p, little puff.. Traditional letter name: ป ปลา. The consonant clip uses the ɔː helper vowel; it is not a neutral tone model.

ปาก
อ
i

vowel carrier / ʔ. Carries an initial vowel; can also be part of a vowel spelling.. Traditional letter name: อ อ่าง. The consonant clip uses the ɔː helper vowel; it is not a neutral tone model.

อา
◌ิIn อิ
i

i. Short i, above the consonant.

กิน
◌ีIn อี
i

ii. Long i, above the consonant.

มีด
◌ุIn อุ
i

u. Short u, below the consonant.

มุม
◌ูIn อู
i

uu. Long uu, below the consonant.

ปู
ะIn อะ
i

a, short open syllable. Written after the consonant; an open short vowel ends with a throat closure.

กะนะ
◌ัIn อัก
i

a, before a final consonant. Above the consonant, used for short a in closed syllables.

มัน
เIn เอ
i

ee, in เ–. Written before the consonant, spoken after it.

เกม
แIn แอ
i

aeae, in แ–. Long open vowel like a broad a in cat.

แมว
โIn โอ
i

oo, in โ–. Long o.

โต
ว
i

w. A w sound; it can also close a syllable as a glide.. Traditional letter name: ว แหวน. The consonant clip uses the ɔː helper vowel; it is not a neutral tone model.

แมวดาว
ไIn ไอ
i

ai, in ไ–. Sounds like eye.

ไป
ใIn ไอ
i

ai, in ใ–. Same vowel sound as ไ; spelling must be learned with the word.

ใบ
ำIn อำ
i

am. A vowel plus final m; typed after the consonant.

ดำ
เ–าIn เอา
i

ao. The two vowel pieces surround the initial consonant.

เตา
ข
i

kh. k with a puff.. Traditional letter name: ข ไข่. The consonant clip uses the ɔː helper vowel; it is not a neutral tone model.

ขา
ฉ
i

chh / tɕʰ. Airy joined ch sound.. Traditional letter name: ฉ ฉิ่ง. The consonant clip uses the ɔː helper vowel; it is not a neutral tone model.

ฉาบ
ถ
i

th. t with a puff, never English th.. Traditional letter name: ถ ถุง. The consonant clip uses the ɔː helper vowel; it is not a neutral tone model.

ถาด
ผ
i

ph. p with a puff, never f.. Traditional letter name: ผ ผึ้ง. The consonant clip uses the ɔː helper vowel; it is not a neutral tone model.

ผี
ฝ
i

f. Traditional letter name: ฝ ฝา. The consonant clip uses the ɔː helper vowel; it is not a neutral tone model.

ฝา
ส
i

s. Traditional letter name: ส เสือ. The consonant clip uses the ɔː helper vowel; it is not a neutral tone model.

สิบสี
ห
i

h. Traditional letter name: ห หีบ. The consonant clip uses the ɔː helper vowel; it is not a neutral tone model.

หู
ค
i

kh. Traditional letter name: ค ควาย. The consonant clip uses the ɔː helper vowel; it is not a neutral tone model.

คอ
ช
i

chh / tɕʰ. Traditional letter name: ช ช้าง. The consonant clip uses the ɔː helper vowel; it is not a neutral tone model.

ชา
ท
i

th. Traditional letter name: ท ทหาร. The consonant clip uses the ɔː helper vowel; it is not a neutral tone model.

ทีวี
พ
i

ph. Traditional letter name: พ พาน. The consonant clip uses the ɔː helper vowel; it is not a neutral tone model.

พัด
ฟ
i

f. Traditional letter name: ฟ ฟัน. The consonant clip uses the ɔː helper vowel; it is not a neutral tone model.

ฟัน
ซ
i

s. Traditional letter name: ซ โซ่. The consonant clip uses the ɔː helper vowel; it is not a neutral tone model.

ซุป
ฮ
i

h. Traditional letter name: ฮ นกฮูก. The consonant clip uses the ɔː helper vowel; it is not a neutral tone model.

นกฮูก
ง
i

ng. As at the end of sing; Thai also allows it at the start.. Traditional letter name: ง งู. The consonant clip uses the ɔː helper vowel; it is not a neutral tone model.

งู
ย
i

y. Traditional letter name: ย ยักษ์. The consonant clip uses the ɔː helper vowel; it is not a neutral tone model.

ยา
ร
i

r. A tap or trill; often l in casual speech.. Traditional letter name: ร เรือ. The consonant clip uses the ɔː helper vowel; it is not a neutral tone model.

รำ
ล
i

l. Traditional letter name: ล ลิง. The consonant clip uses the ɔː helper vowel; it is not a neutral tone model.

ลิง
◌ึIn อึ
i

ue / ɯ. Short high vowel: say oo with unrounded lips.

บึง
◌ือIn อือ
i

uue / ɯː, in –ือ. Long unrounded vowel; open syllables include อ.

มือ
–อIn ออ
i

aw-aw / ɔː. Long open o; อ is part of the vowel here.

ตอเยอะ
เ–อะIn เออะ
i

oe / ɤ, short. A short central vowel, unrounded.

เยอะ
เ–อIn เออ
i

oe-oe / ɤː. The long central vowel.

เยอะเจอ
◌็In ไม้ไต่คู้
i

shortener. Makes certain vowel patterns short; it is not a tone mark.

เป็ดเด็กHear it in เด็ก · เด็ก
เ–ียIn เอีย
i

ia, long. A long diphthong; look at both sides of the initial.

เตียงเผียะ
เ–ียะIn เอียะ
i

ia, short. The short partner ends with ะ.

เผียะ
เ–ือIn เอือ
i

uea, long. A long diphthong starting with the unrounded vowel.

เรือเกือะ
เ–ือะIn เอือะ
i

uea, short. The short partner.

เกือะ
–ัวIn อัว
i

ua, long. Long ua; before a final the ั drops: –ว–.

วัวกัวะ
–ัวะIn อัวะ
i

ua, short. The short partner.

กัวะ
◌้In ไม้โท
i

mai tho: tone instruction. This mark helps determine tone. In น้ำ the complete word has high tone; the class-dependent rule comes later.

น้ำHear it in ก้า · ก้า
◌่In ไม้เอก
i

mai ek: class-dependent tone. Mid/high → low; low class → falling.

ก่าHear it in ก่า · ก่า
◌๊In ไม้ตรี
i

mai tri: high tone. Normally with mid-class initials.

ก๊าHear it in ก๊า · ก๊า
◌๋In ไม้จัตวา
i

mai chattawa: rising tone. Normally with mid-class initials.

ก๋าHear it in ก๋า · ก๋า
◌์In ทัณฑฆาต
i

cancellation mark. Marks silent letters; sometimes a group is silent.

จันทร์Hear it in จันทร์ · จันทร์
◌ฺIn พินทุ
i

phinthu. A dot below, chiefly in Pali/Sanskrit or pronunciation guides; uncommon in everyday Thai.

กฺ
ฎ
i

d. Same initial sound as ด.. Traditional letter name: ฎ ชฎา. The consonant clip uses the ɔː helper vowel; it is not a neutral tone model.

กฎ
ฏ
i

t. Same initial sound as ต.. Traditional letter name: ฏ ปฏัก. The consonant clip uses the ɔː helper vowel; it is not a neutral tone model.

ปฏิทิน
ฐ
i

th. Traditional letter name: ฐ ฐาน. The consonant clip uses the ɔː helper vowel; it is not a neutral tone model.

ฐาน
ศ
i

s. Traditional letter name: ศ ศาลา. The consonant clip uses the ɔː helper vowel; it is not a neutral tone model.

ศาลา
ษ
i

s. Traditional letter name: ษ ฤๅษี. The consonant clip uses the ɔː helper vowel; it is not a neutral tone model.

ษา
ฃ
i

kh. Obsolete in ordinary modern spelling; recognise only.. Traditional letter name: ฃ ขวด. The consonant clip uses the ɔː helper vowel; it is not a neutral tone model.

ฃ
ฆ
i

kh. Traditional letter name: ฆ ระฆัง. The consonant clip uses the ɔː helper vowel; it is not a neutral tone model.

ฆ่า
ฌ
i

chh / tɕʰ. Traditional letter name: ฌ เฌอ. The consonant clip uses the ɔː helper vowel; it is not a neutral tone model.

ฌาน
ญ
i

y. Final sound is n.. Traditional letter name: ญ หญิง. The consonant clip uses the ɔː helper vowel; it is not a neutral tone model.

ญาติ
ฑ
i

th, sometimes d. Word-dependent: check the pronunciation.. Traditional letter name: ฑ มณโฑ. The consonant clip uses the ɔː helper vowel; it is not a neutral tone model.

กรีฑา
ฅ
i

kh. Obsolete in ordinary modern spelling; recognise only.. Traditional letter name: ฅ คน. The consonant clip uses the ɔː helper vowel; it is not a neutral tone model.

ฅ
ฒ
i

th. Traditional letter name: ฒ ผู้เฒ่า. The consonant clip uses the ɔː helper vowel; it is not a neutral tone model.

เฒ่า
ณ
i

n. Traditional letter name: ณ เณร. The consonant clip uses the ɔː helper vowel; it is not a neutral tone model.

คุณ
ธ
i

th. Traditional letter name: ธ ธง. The consonant clip uses the ɔː helper vowel; it is not a neutral tone model.

ธง
ภ
i

ph. Traditional letter name: ภ สำเภา. The consonant clip uses the ɔː helper vowel; it is not a neutral tone model.

ภาพ
ฬ
i

l. Traditional letter name: ฬ จุฬา. The consonant clip uses the ɔː helper vowel; it is not a neutral tone model.

กีฬา
ๆIn ไม้ยมก
i

repeat the previous word or phrase. In ช้าๆ, repeat ช้า: cháa cháa.

ช้าๆHear it in ช้าๆ · ช้าๆ
ฯIn ไปยาลน้อย
i

abbreviation sign. Used after shortened names; ฯลฯ means etc.

ฯลฯHear it in ฯลฯ · ฯลฯ
฿In บาท
i

baht currency symbol

฿ 20
ฤIn รึ
i

rue / ri / roe, word-dependent. Traditional vowel letter found in some learned words.

ฤดูฤๅ
ฤๅIn รือ
i

long ruue. Rare traditional long vowel.

ฤๅ
ฦIn ลึ
i

lue, obsolete / rare. Recognition only.

ฦฦๅ
ฦๅIn ลือ
i

long luue, obsolete / rare. Recognition only.

ฦๅ