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By Jang
The cluster “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
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
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/
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
By may
Last time I talked about tones and meanings. Now I am writing about same spellings with different meanings. When learning Thai you need to take care to get this right or no one will understand you …or you could end up with some very strange conversations.
If you hear the word “yen (เย็น)”, it means cool or evening.
For example:
A: wan-nee-aa-gàat-yen/วันนี้อากาศเย็น (It is cool today.)
B: yen-nee-wâa-jà-bpai-doo-năng/เย็นนี้ว่าจะไปดูหนัง (This evening I will go to see a movie.)
***yen (เย็น), pronounced with the first tone, means cool or evening.
When someone says “pha-yaa-baan-ao-phâa-phan-phlăeh-maa-phan-khăa-hâi/ พยาบาลเอาผ้าพันแผลมาพันขาให้ (My leg is bound by a nurse with a bandage.)” or “theuh-mee-ngeun-sàg-phan-mái/เธอมีเงินสักพันมั๊ย (Do you have a thousand baht?)
***phan (พัน), pronounced with the first tone, means bind or thousand.
If you use the word “gan (กัน)”, it might be “keep out” or “prevent”
For example:
A: dtam-rùaj-gan-thai-mung-òhg-bpai-jàag-thêe-gèud-hèit/ตำรวจกันไทยมุงออกไปจากที่เกิดเหตุ (The police kept out the outsiders of the crime scene.)
B: dtôo-ní-rá-phai-sâang-wái-phûeh-gan-kha-moy-jàag-gaan-ngád-ngáe-khâo-maa/ตู้นิรภัยสร้างไว้เพื่อกันขโมยจากการงัดแงะเข้ามา (The vault itself is constructed to prevent robbers from breaking the lock.)
The word “raaw (ราว), pronounced with the first tone, means handrail or around or about. I might say ”phôo-yĭng-khon-nán-thùhg-dtam-nì-rûeng-mâi-jàb-raaw-ban-dai-lûen/ผู้หญิงคนนั้นถูกตำหนิเรื่องไม่จับราวบันไดเลื่อน (That woman was blamed for not holding escalator handrail.)” or “chăn-jà-jeu-theu-raaw-thûm-nueang/ฉันจะเจอเธอราวทุ่มนึง (I will see you around 7 p.m.)”
Hope this helps you learn Thai in a fun way.
Khru May Thai Teacher @ Thailanguagehut
Want to learn Thai….then come to have a look at our Thai Language School
www.thailanguagehut.com
By may
Today I think I am talking about tones and meanings. If you are foreigners living in Thailand, making the right tone might be something interesting for you.
When you think you hear “maa”, it might be the real “maa” which means “come” or it might be “máa” or “horse” or it could be “măa” or “dog”. Most of Thai words have meanings and some of them are pronounced in five different tones but might be heard the same by farang.
For example:
A: wan-nee-jeuh-tàeh-phôo-yĭng-suay-suay/วันนี้เจอแต่ผู้หญิงซวย ซวย (Today I met only damned women.)
B: wan-nee-jeuh-tàeh-phôo-yĭng-sŭay-sŭay/วันนี้เจอแต่ผู้หญิงสวย สวย (Today I met only beautiful women.)
A: wan-nee-suay-jing-jing/วันนี้ซวยจริง จริง (Today I really got bad luck.)
B: wan-nee-thóng-fáa-sŭay/วันนี้ท้องฟ้าสวย (Today the sky is beautiful.)
***suay (ซวย) means bad luck and suay is pronounced with the first tone
***sŭay (สวย ) means beautiful and sŭay is pronounced with the fifth tone
A: chăn-chôb-doo-khàw/ ฉันชอบดูข่าว (I like to watch news.)
B: chăn-yàag-gin-khâw-râad-gaehng/ ฉันอยากกินข้าวราดแกง (I want to eat rice and curry.)
C: chăn-chôb-chúd-sĕe-khăw/ ฉันชอบชุดสีขาว (I like white dresses.)
*** khàw (ข่าว ) , pronounced with the second tone, means news.
*** khâw (ข้าว ) , pronounced with the third tone, means rice.
*** khăw (ขาว ) , pronounced with the fifth tone, means white.
A: chăn-chôb-sa-làd-khài/ ฉันชอบสลัดไข่ (I like egg salad.)
B: chăn-kíd-wâa-chăn-bpen-khâi/ ฉันคิดว่าฉันเป็นไข้ (I think I have a fever.)
C: chăn-jam-dâi-wâa-chăn-khăi-gun-jaeh-pra-dtoo-láew/ ฉันจำได้ว่าฉันไขกุญแจประตูแล้ว (I remembered that I unlocked the door already.)
*** khài (ไข่ ) means eggs, we pronounce it with the second tone
*** khâi (ไข้ ) means fever, we pronounce it with the third tone
*** khăi (ไข ) means unlock, we pronounce it with the fifth tone
A: chăn-súh-dtúg-ga-dta-khŏn-sàt-tua-mài-maa/ ฉันซื้อตุ๊กตาขนสัตว์ตัวใหม่มา (I bought new stuffed animal.)
B: chăn-mâi-chôb-bpai-hăa-mŏh/ ฉันไม่ชอบไปหาหมอ (I don’t like to see the doctor.)
C: chăn-dâi-glìn-a-rai-mâi-ná/ ฉันได้กลิ่นอะไรไหม้นะ (I smelt something burning.)
D: Phâa-măi-thai-dâi-ráb-gaan-yóg-yông-nai-thăa-na-phâa-thoh-thêe-dee-thêe-sùd-nai-lôhg/ผ้าไหมไทยได้รับการยกย่องในฐานะผ้าทอที่ดีที่สุดในโลก (Thai silk is acclaimed as the finest fabric in the world.)
E: khun-chôb-aa-hăan-thai-măi/ คุณชอบอาหารไทยไหม (Do you like Thai food?)
*** mài (ใหม่ ) means new and is pronounced with the second tone.
*** mâi (ไม่ ) means no and is pronounced with the third tone.
*** mâi (ไหม้ ) means burn and is also pronounced with the third tone.
*** măi (ไหม) means silk and is pronounced with the fifth tone.
*** măi (ไหม) , also pronounced with the fifth tone, put at the end of the Yes/No question.
A: chăn-yàag-jà-bòhg-laa/ ฉันอยากจะบอกลา (I want to say goodbye.)
B: chăn-kíd-wâa-laa-nâa-rág/ ฉันคิดว่าลาน่ารัก (I think donkeys are lovely.)
C: khun-chôb-lâa-sàt-măi/ คุณชอบล่าสัตว์ไหม (Do you like to hunt?)
D: chăn-rúh-sèug-láa/ ฉันรู้สึกล้า (I feel tired.)
E: rao-khăay-phâa-măi-bpen-lăa/เราขายผ้าไหมเป็นหลา (We sell silk by the yard.)
*** laa (ลา) means goodbye, this word is pronounced with the first tone.
*** laa (ลา) this word is pronounced with the first tone also but means donkeys.
*** lâa (ล่า) means hunt, we pronounced it with the third tone.
*** láa (ล้า) , pronounced with the fourth tone, means tired.
*** lăa (หลา) means yard and is pronounced with the fifth tone.
As above, I hope you might see how it works.
Khru May Thai Teacher @ Thailanguagehut
Want to learn more Thai….then come to have a look at our Thai Language School
www.thailanguagehut.com
By Jang
Kam-Puăn is a style of playing with Thai words by swapping the vowels and final sounds of the first syllable with the last syllable. This will create a new word which might not have a meaning but the sounds of the word will rhyme with the original word. Kam-Puăn is practically used with 2 or 3 syllable-words because it is easier to swap the positions of vowels and final sounds.
Ø Kam-Puăn with 2 syllable-word can be done by swapping the vowel of the first syllable with the vowel of the second syllable by keeping the initial consonants in their own places.
Examples:
Original Kam-Puăn
Doern-nam เดินนำ à dam-noern ดำเนิน
Hĭw-kaâo หิวข้าว à haăo-kîw หาวขิ้ว
Kaăi-naâ ขายหน้า à kaâ-naăi ข้าหนาย
Mòd-dtua หมดตัว à mua-dtòd มัวตด
Glûm-jai กลุ้มใจ à glai-jûm ใกลจุ้ม
Ø Kam-Puăn with 3 syllable-word can be done by swapping the position of the second syllable with the third syllable by:
1. Replacing the vowel of the third syllable with the vowel of the second syllable
2. Replacing the vowel of the second syllable with the vowel of the third syllable
3. Replacing the final sound (final letter) of the third syllable with the final sound (final letter) of second syllable
4. Replacing the final sound (final letter) of the second syllable with the final sound (final letter) of the third syllable
5. Keep the first syllable in its own place. There is no need to change anything
Examples:
Original Kam-Puăn
สวัสดี (สะ-หวัด-ดี) sà-wàd-dee à สวีดัด (สะ-วี-ดัด) sà-wee-dàd
ข้าวเหนียวดำ kaaô-niăw-dam à ข้าวหนำเดียว kaaô-năm-diaw
ต้มยำกุ้ง dtôm-yam-gûng à ต้มยุงก้ำ dtôm-yung-gâm
มะม่วงเปรี้ยว má-muâng-bpriâw à มะเมี่ยวปร้วง má-miâw-bpruâng
**The other way of making ‘kam-puăn’ of the 3-syllable-word can be done by:
1. Replacing the vowel of the first syllable with the vowel of the third syllable
2. Replacing the vowel of the third syllable with the vowel of the first syllable
3. Replacing the final sound (final letter) of the first syllable with the final sound (final letter) of third syllable
4. Replacing the final sound (final letter) of the third syllable with the final sound (final letter) of the first syllable
5. Keep the second syllable in its own place, there is no need to change anything.
Examples:
Original Kam-Puăn
ไม่รักคุณ maî-rák-khun à มุ่นรักไค mûn-rák-khai
ไปโรงเรียน bpai-rong-rian à เปียนโรงไร bpian-rong-rai
ภาษาไทย paa-saă-thai à ไภยษาทา pai-saa-taa
บ้านผีสิง baân-peĕ-sĭng à บิ๋งผีส้าน bĭng-peĕ-saân
ก๋วยเตี๋ยวเรือ guăy-dtiăw-ruer à เกื๋อเตี๋ยวรวย guĕr-dtiăw-ruay
This might sound complicated and difficult but once you know how to do it you will enjoy teasing Thai friends or your Thai teacher at your Thai Language School with Kam-Puăn.
Kru MulanJ
Want to learn more Thai….then come to have a look at our Thai Language School www.thailanguagehut.com
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
By may
At my Thai language school most of my Thai students from America and Europe almost said the same thing the first time they learned how to speak Thai. The students of Thai said they couldn’t tell the difference between gai (ไก่ or gài) means chicken and (ไข่ or khài) kai means egg and they said these two words sounded the same to them. Most problems come from pronunciation.
For example:
You pronounce ใกล้ or glâi(near) and ไกล or glai(far) with the same tone because you are not familiar with mark tones.
Or you pronounce ไม่ or mâi(no) and ไม้ or mái(wood) the same because you do not know that these two words have different meanings.
Or you pronounce ก ไก่(gor gài) ข ไข่(khŏrr khài) and ค ควาย(khorr kwaai) all the same because you think they are the same sound, such as “Who sells eggs? ใครขายไข่ไก่(krai-khăai-khài-gài?)”, “Enjoy talking about funny things. พูดขบขันกันครื้นเครง(phôod-khòhb-khăn-gan-kruén-kreng)”, etc.
Please remember that different tones make differences ….get it right or you will be misunderstood!
Khru May (Thai Language Teacher)
Want to learn more Thai Language …then come have a look at our Thai Language School www.thailanguagehut.com
By Jang
As you may or may not know already Thai language is a tonal language. As a Thai Language Teacher it is one of the first things I teach at our Thai Language School. To learn how to read and write Thai correctly, you will need to know the dead syllables and live syllables because they come with the tonal sounds. The dead syllables and live syllable will help to conjugate the tones. This is important in Thai grammar and making yourself understood when speaking Thai!
These are examples of the words that consist of dead syllables and live syllables
Dead syllables
· Syllables/words end in Short vowels
นะ ติ ผุ แปะ ยัวะ เจอะ เตะ เงาะ
เละเทะ ธุระ กะทิ เยอะแยะ ทะเลาะ เกาะแกะ
· Syllables/words end in Stop final letters
มาก ตึก บีบ เรียบ วัด เลือด
อกหัก พักยก ตัดขาด มีดบาด แนบชิด
Live syllables
· Syllables/words end in Long vowels
นา ตี หู แบ ตัว เจอ เปีย
หัวใจ โมโห มือถือ งอแง ยาชา ทำดี สูสี
· Syllables/words end in Sonorant final letters
มึน เชียง จาม แบน คุย ดาว สิว
โรงเรียน สอยดาว หิวโหย ขายของ ชุมนุม เชียงราย
Now you can have some ideas about dead syllables and live syllables. See Thai grammar is not that difficult!
Kru Mulan J (Thai Language Teacher)
Want to learn more Thai Language …then come have a look at our Thai Language School www.thailanguagehut.com
By Jang
Thai syllables can be categorized into 2 groups which are Dead syllables and Live syllables. In Thai language, words can be consisted with more than one syllable.
To read and pronounce each syllable correctly you will need to know about the syllables whether they are dead syllables or live syllables. We spend a longtime practising this with our students at our Thai Language School.
The know this you need to understand about the rules of dead and live syllable
Rule no. 1: Dead syllables end in Short vowels
Rule no.2: Live syllables end in Long vowels
Rule no.3: Dead syllables end in Stop final letters group
Rule no.4: Live syllables end in Sonorant final letters group
The dead syllables and live syllables play a major role in Thai tones and pronunciation. To use the right tone markers you will need to know the three groups of Thai consonants and the two groups of Thai vowels.
At this stage you will need to know more about Thai final letters.
For final letters in Thai language can be generated into 8 sounds. All the 8 sounds are categorized into two groups which are ‘Stop Final Letters’ and ‘Sonorant Final Letters’
What are the Stop final letters and Sonorant final letters? Check the next blog!
Thai syllables can be categorized into 2 groups which are Dead syllables and Live syllables. In Thai language, words can be consisted with more than one syllable.
To read and pronounce each syllable correctly you will need to know about the syllables whether they are dead syllables or live syllables.
The know this you need to understand about the rules of dead and live syllable
Rule no. 1: Dead syllables end in Short vowels
Rule no.2: Live syllables end in Long vowels
Rule no.3: Dead syllables end in Stop final letters group
Rule no.4: Live syllables end in Sonorant final letters group
The dead syllables and live syllables play a major role in Thai tones and pronunciation. To use the right tone markers you will need to know the three groups of Thai consonants and the two groups of Thai vowels.
At this stage you will need to know more about Thai final letters.
For final letters in Thai language can be generated into 8 sounds. All the 8 sounds are categorized into two groups which are ‘Stop Final Letters’ and ‘Sonorant Final Letters’
What are the Stop final letters and Sonorant final letters? Check the next blog!
Kru Mulan J
Want to learn more Thai Language …then come have a look at our Thai Language School www.thailanguagehut.com
