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| Intro |
VOWELS
with Interactive Audio |
CONSONANTS
with Interactive Audio |
FIVE TONES |
OTHER CHARACTERS
with Interactive Audio |
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THE FIVE TONES OF THAI LANGUAGE |
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Thai language has five different tones that can be associated to a given syllable.
The above table contains several words to be used as samples. Suggestion A : scan horizontally the first row to hear the different tones between words that a westerner may mistakenly perceive to be the same. Suggestion B : scan one or more column in way to hear words structurally different, but characterized by the same tone. |
| FOUR TONE MARKERS |
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In the above table are shown the four tone markers. In this case the dash represents a generic character, since
tone marker can be placed even over a vowel.
(you can hear their definition clicking on them). When you find a syllable with a tone marker, its tone is defined by the combination of the tone marker and the class of the initial consonant. If the syllable doesn't have any tone marker, then they must be considered the generic rules related to the tones. As you have guessed, there are many cases possible. The following diagram concentrates in a very little space most of the rules that determine the tone of a syllable. Keep in mind that the diagram doesn't take in account exceptions or particular cases that are normally learnt in a more advanced level. Please don't get mad studying the diagram below: that scheme has the sole purpose to make more understandable the complex rules that determine how a syllable is pronounced. Rather, I suggest you to read the examples here below using the diagram to understand why a syllable adopts a tone rather than another. Once again, keep in mind that a Thai never uses a similar scheme. Practice and experience are the best "teachers"
A - The tone markers Mai-Dtree and Mai-Jattawah identify a tone in a precise way. If you see one of these two markers, the tone is immediately identified.. no need to consider anything else. B - Syllables starting with a middle consonant may assume any of the five tones available. In the upper right part of the graph, in fact, you can notice how this class of consonant has all the four tone markers. C - In the page dedicated to the vowels we met four "special" characters that, according to the cases, can be pronounced either with a "long" or "short" sound. These "particular" vowels should be always considered as "long" in the above diagram. |
EXAMPLE N.1 - KAO (HE) 
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We got a syllable with a low consonant and the tone marker Mai-to. In the diagram, the pink rhombus is
asking us if there is any tone marker. Yesss... there is!! So, let go on the right and look for the row of the low
consonant. Let find the intersection with the column of the tone marker Mai-to... done!!.. the tone is HIGH
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EXAMPLE N.2 - KAO (WHITE) 
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The syllable doesn't have any tone marker and ends in a vibrant consonant. Go down on the diagram to
discover that we are in front of a live syllable. The syllable begins also with a high consonant.
Go on the right following the row of the high consonants... we got it!! the tone is RAISING.
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EXAMPLE N.3 - BPAA (TO THROW) 
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The syllable begins with a middle consonant, ends in a long vowel and there are not tone markers.
In the diagram, go down until we will find that it's another live syllable. Move on the right following the
row of the middle consonant... this time the tone is MIDDLE
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EXAMPLE N.4 - BPAA (FOREST) 
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The syllable looks identical to the one met in the previous example, but this time we have the tone marker Mai-et.
In the diagram, we must stop at the pink rhombus, move on the right, and look for the intersection between
middle consonants and tone marker Mai-et. The tone is LOW.
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EXAMPLE N.5 - BPAA (AUNT) 
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Another syllable apparently similar to the previous two. In this case the tone marker Mai-too identifies a
FALLING tone.
Next Page - OTHER CHARACTERS |
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