Thai Homophone

By Jang

There are many word in Thai which are pronouced the same but different spelling and have different meanings!
The following words are some of them , ready?

Rót
รถ     =     car
รส     =     taste, flavour
รด     =     pour, to water

eg. เขากินไอศกรีมรสช็อกโกแลตอยู่ในรถ ดูพ่อรถน้ำต้นไม้      /káo gin ice-cream rót chocolate yùu nai rót, duu pôr rót nám dtôn-mái/
>>He is eating an chocolate flavoured ice-cream in the car and watching father waters plants

Sôrm
ส้อม      =   fork
ซ่อม      =  to fix, to repair, to mend

eg. เขาใช้ส้อมซ่อมประตู /káo chái sôrm sôrm bprà-dtuu/
>>He uses a fork to mend the door.

Tam
ทำ            =      to do, to make
ธรรม        =      Dharma, fair

eg. แม่ฟังธรรมตอนทำอาหาร /mâe fang tam dtorn tam aa-hǎan/
>>Mom listens to dharma while she is cooking.

Please try to practice and remember

Hope you enjoyed learning–reading and writing  Thai!

Jang
Thai language teacher
Thai language hut

สระ “ใ-”

By Jang

In Thai language, there is vowel which is pronouced as /ai/ but has 2 characters : sà-rà ai mái ma-lai /ไ-/ and sà-rà ai mái múan /ใ-/.
Sometimes it is confusing how to spell, how to write Thai correctly, which one is which??!
This following poem is the verse which Thai student uss to remember the only 20 words which spell with ใ-. 

ผู้ใหญ่หาผ้าใหม่                ให้สะใภ้ใช้คล้องคอ
ใฝ่ใจเอาใส่ห่อ                   มิหลงใหลใครขอดู
จะใคร่ลงเรือใบ                  ดูน้ำใสและปลาปู
สิ่งใดอยู่ในตู้                      มิใช่อยู่ใต้ตั่งเตียง
บ้าใบ้ถือใยบัว                    หูตามัวมาใกล้เคียง
เล่าท่องอย่าละเลี่ยง            ยี่สิบม้วนจำจงดี

pûu-yài hǎa pâa mài        hâi sà-pái chái klórng kor
fài jai ao sài hòr                 mí lǒng-lǎi krai kǒr duu
jà krâi long rua-bai          duu nám sǎi láe bplaa bpuu
sìng dai yùu nai dtûu      mí châi yùu dtâi dtàng dtiang
bâa bâi tǔu yai bua          hǔu dtaa mua maa glâi kiang
lâo tôrng yàa lá lîang      yîi sìp múan jam jong dii

คำศัพท์           kam-sàp            Vocabularies  

ใหญ่                 /yài/                      big  
ใหม่                  /mài/                     new
ให้                    /hâi/                       to give
สะใภ้               /sà-pái/                 female in law
ใช้                   /chái/                     to use
ใฝ่                   /fài/                        to aim
ใจ                    /jai/                       heart
ใส่                   /sài/                       to put in, add, apply, wear
หลงใหล         /lǒng-lǎi/                enticing, crazy for
ใคร                 /krai/                     who
ใคร่                 /krâi/                     desire
ใบ                  /bai/                        leaf, sheet
ใส                   /sǎi/                       clear
ใด                  /dai/                        which, what
ใน                  /nai/                        in
ใช่                 /châi/                       yes
ใต้                 /dtâi/                       under
ใบ้                 /bâi/                         mute person
ใย                /yai/                         web
ใกล้              /glâi/                        near

Hope this can help you to remember ใ- and enjoy learning Thai!!

Jang
Thai language teacher
Thai language hut

Loy Krathong.

By prae

One of the most beautiful festivals that takes place in Thailand is the one for Loy Krathong. This is celebrated on the full moon in November. The word loy means to float, and a krathong is a banana leaf cup. People place a candle and incense sticks in their krathongs and then float them on a local river or pond. As they push away their krathong, they ask for forgiveness in polluting the waterways and also for good luck in the coming months.

Vocabulary

Prae

Thai language teacher

If you want to learn more Thai, please come to visit us, www.thailanguagehut.com

How to say “No” in Thai.

By Jang

Thailand is not really that bad with street hawkers, tuk tuk drivers or people trying to sell you something. International sign language of shaking your head and walking on usually works. But try some of these phrases, you might surprise them. They then might stop bothering you.

ไม่เอาครับ         mài ao khrab*            I don’t want any

ไม่มีตังค์            mài mi: dtang            I don’t have any money

ลืมเอาตังค์มา     lum ao dtang ma:       I forgot my money

*for women you must say kâ not kráp.  

When you are walking down a street you might hear someone ask you “bai nai?” This means “Where are you going?” Usually it will be a tuk tuk driver but sometimes just an ordinary person. Some visitors get annoyed because they hear it so often. But really, “bai nai” is like a greeting and the person isn’t really interested in your answer.

A:     ไปไหน      bai nǎi?   

Where are you going?

B:     ไปเที่ยว     bai tîaw

        going out for pleasure

That might be enough for most people. But, if a tuk tuk driver is insistant try:

จะเดินไป   ja der:n bai                I want to walk

A common complaint we get are about tuk tuk drivers or other people telling tourists that a temple or museum is closed for the day. They then take the tourists to another place and then eventually a gem shop. This is a scam. Try some of these replies:

ไม่เชื่อ               mài chûa           I don’t believe you

ไม่จริง               mài jing             Not true

จะไปดูเอง          ja bai du: e:ng   I want to go and see for myself

เคยไปมาแล้ว     ker:y bai ma: láe:w     I have been there already

ไม่อยากไป         mài yàk bai                I don’t want to go

Hope you enjoyed learning Thai…

Prae

Yàak pûut paa-sǎa Thai …then come to have a look at our Thai Language School

 www.thailanguagehut.com

Exceptions with “ร”

By Jang

Exceptions with “ร”     

Most of the time, when the consonant ท + ร, the cluster is pronounced as “s” sound, for example : 

ทราย   /saay/       =      sand           

ทรง   /sohng/           =        style 

                                  =        a prefix for verbs and nouns to show royal use or connection to royalty 

ทรัพย์ /sáp/              =        property, wealth 

ทราบ  /sâap/                 =        to know                              

ทรุดโทรม   /sút-sohm/      =        worn out, damaged, ruined 

กระทรวง   /grà-suang/     =        ministry 

Most of the time, when ศ, ส + ร, the cluster “ร” became silent, it is not pronounced at all ; 

สร้อย   /sôy/             =      necklace 

สระ   /sà/                       =        to shampoo, to wash (hair) 

                                        =        pool, pond 

ศรัทธา   /sàt-taa/          =        faith 

ศักดิ์ศรี   /sàk-sǐ/           =        dignity 

สร้าง   /sâang/           =      to create, produce, build 

เสแสร้ง   /sěh-sâeng/    =     to pretend, fake, simulate 

จริง** /jing/                    =       real, true                          

** จริง is the exception. 

Hope you can read, write and understand Thai language more ^_^  

Enjoy Learning Thai ka, see you next time …   

Kruu Jang 

Want to learn more Thai Language …then come have a look at our Thai Language School www.thailanguagehut.com

Silent vowels : ิ, ุ after words

By Jang

Silent Vowels

The vowels ิ, ุ after words

There are some words which are not pronounce the vowels  ิ, ุ at the final consonant but still keep pronunciation of final consonant

ญาติ  /yâat/                               ชาติ    /châat/       

ธาตุ    /tâat/                              ประวัติ /bprà-wàt/

เหตุการณ์  /hèt-gaan/                 ภูมิใจ  /puum-jai/

ภาคภูมิ /pâak-puum/                   สมบัติ /sǒm-bàt/

ปฏิวัติ  /bpà-dtì-wát/              อนุมัติ /à-nú-mát/

Anyway, in some case, there are some words can pronounce the vowels ิ, ุ, you need to check from dictionary again.

Hope you can read, write and understand Thai language more ^_^ 

Kruu Jang

Want to learn more Thai Language …then come have a look at our Thai Language School www.thailanguagehut.com

What is “์” above the consonant??

By Jang

Silent Consonants

The symbol “์” (การันต์)

            When the symbol appears above a consonant, that consonant is not pronounced. It occurs in words of foreign origin to keep the charcters of the original words.

จอห์น         /jawn/          (from “John”)          

ปีเตอร์          /bpii-dtêr/     (from “Peter”)                         

ทัวร์          /tua/            (from “tour”)

เบียร์         /bia/            (from “beer”)               

คอมพิวเตอร์ /korm-piw-dtêr/ (from “computer”)        

ศุกร์          /sùk/           (Friday)           

เสาร์         /sǎo/            (Saturday)                                                                 

อาทิตย์            /aa-tít/         (Sunday)                                            

สัตว์          /sàt/           (animal)

หนังสือพิมพ์ /nǎng-sǔu-pim/ (newspaper)

Sometimes it is not only the consonant below the symbol which is not pronounced but also the one immediately preceding it.

เชาวน์    /chao/                            จันทร์   /jan/       

ศาสตร์   /sàat/                                  ภาพยนตร์   /pâap-pá-yon/           

It is possible to have vowel with the consonant below the symbol which is not pronounced as well.

พันธุ์   /pan/                ศักดิ์สิทธิ์   /sàk-sìt/              ยานัตถุ์  /yaa-nát/    

Kruu Jang

Want to learn more Thai Language …then come have a look at our Thai Language School www.thailanguagehut.com

Thai consonants – Why we have to learn the three groups?

By Jang

The reason that all foreigners who learn reading and writing Thai have to know about the three groups of Thai consonants is that it helps them with tones, pronunciation and correct writing. As a Thai Language Teacher it is difficult to explain how important this is. There is no particularly easy way to learn this other than practice, practice and practice.

What are the three Thai Consonants?
They are the three types of letters that comprise the Thai Alphabet. The three groups of consonants consist of Middle consonants, High consonants and Low consonants. For example ..

Middle Consonants : ก   จ    ด    ต   บ    ป    อ

High Consonants:  ข   ถ   ฉ   ส   ห   ผ    ฝ

Low Consonants:  ง   น   ม   ย   ว   ท   พ   ค    ร

Kru Mulan

Want to learn more Thai Language …then come have a look at our Thai Language School www.thailanguagehut.com

Thai alphabet: “ร” in different usage

By Jang

“ร” is one of the 44 Thai alphabet. Many expat Thai Language students get very confused when they find the “ร” in different positions/ locations. “ร” can work as an initial sound, a final sound and also a vowel sound. As a Thai Language Teacher I find myself having to often explain this to my Thai Students. The details below will give you hints about how to use “ร” in different situations in reading and writing Thai words.

1. “ร” as an initial sound or as a consonant….it gives a “R…” sound

Examples: รัก (ร -ะ ก = รัก) pronounced as “rák” means “love”

ราก (ร –า ก = ราก) pronounced as “raâk” means “root”

เรือ (ร + เ –ือ = เรือ) pronounced as “ruerh” means “boat”

2. “ร” as a final sound or final letter…..it gives a “…N” sound

Examples: หาร (ห -า + ร = หาร) pronounced as “haăn” means “divide”

ธาร ( ธ -า + ร = ธาร) pronounced as “taan” means “water/ creek”

โจร (จ + โ – ร = โจร) pronounced as “jone” means “thief/ bandit/ robber”

3. “รร” as a vowel sound when they come together…it gives a “Ah” sound ( -ะ / – ั )

3.1 “รร” with a final sound or final letter comes afte… it works as vowel ‘ah’( -ะ / – ั )

Examples: วรรค = ว + รร + ค = (วัค) pronounced as “wák” means “space/ pause in writing”

กรรณ = ก + รร + ณ = (กัณ) pronounced as “gan” means “ear”

ธรรม = ธ + รร + ม = (ธัม) pronounced as “tam” means “dharma”

3.2 “รร” without any final sounds or final letters come after it works as “-an” sound (- ัน)

Examples: สรร = ส + รร = (สัน) pronounced as “săn” means “select/ choose”

พรรษา = พ + รร / ษ + า = (พัน – ษา) pronounced as “pan-saă” means “year/ rainy season”

บรรเทา = บ + รร / ท + เ-า = (บัน-เทา) pronounced as “ban-tao” means “relief”

4. “ร” as when it comes after initial sound/ initial letter without any vowels between…it gives “…awn” sound (“…อน”)

Examples: พร = พอน pronounced as “pawn” means “blessing”

กร = กอน pronounced as “gawn” means “hand”

ศร = ศอน pronounced as “săwn” means “arrow”

ละคร = ละ-คอน pronounced as “la-kawn” means “a play/ soap opera”

วานร = วา-นอน pronounced as “waa-nawn” means “monkey”

โคจร = โค-จอน pronounced as “ko-jawn” means “orbit”

I hope this will help you to understand the usage of “ร” better (^_^)

Kru MulanJ (Thai Language Teacher)

Want to learn more Thai…then come to have a look at our Thai Language School www.thailanguagehut.com

Thai Vowels – Why so many?? 32 vowels!??

By Jang

Thai language has 32 vowels which are generally categorized into three groups as follows:

This is step 2 of learning Thai, the second thing that you have to learn apart from the Thai consonants or Thai alphabet is Thai vowels.

Short vowels consist of –ะ –ิ –ึ –ุ เ–ะ แ–ะ โ–ะ เ–าะ –ัวะ เ–ียะ

เ–ือะ เ–อะ

Long vowels consist of –า –ี –ือ –ู เ– แ– โ–     –อ –ัว

เ–ีย เ–ือ เ–อ

Irregular vowels consist of –ำ ใ– ไ– เ–า ฤ ฤๅ (ฦ ฦๅ *no longer used)

As for the Irregular vowels, most of them are transferred to ‘Long vowels’ group except ฤ .  And the reason we call them ‘Irregular vowels’ is that they have the sounds of consonants blended in themselves as follows:

–ำ = –ะ with ม (m-sound)

ไ– = –ะ with ย (y-sound)

ใ– = –ะ with ย (y-sound)

เ–า = –ะ with ว (w-sound)

ฤๅ= รือ (ร with –ือ)

ฤ = รึ (ร with –ึ )

The main reason we have to categorize Thai vowels into 2 groups based on sounds; short sound and long sound, is that the vowels also play a major role in tones, pronunciation and grammar. And the two groups of vowels will generate the Thai syllables or Thai words to Dead Syllables and Live Syllables. We spend a longtime practising this with our students at our Thai Language School – but don’t be put off this comes over time …even Thai nationals can get this wrong!

What are the Dead syllables and Live Syllables? To be continued…

Kru Mulan (Thai Language Teacher)

Want to learn more Thai Language …then come have a look at our Thai Language School www.thailanguagehut.com