Hints on Pronunciation

The pronunciation of Thai does not involve any great difficulties. This, of course, does not mean that you can use English sounds in Thai words and expect to be understood. But you will find that many of the sounds are sufficiently similar to your own so that you will have practically no difficulty with them. However, there are a few Thai sounds that are different from anything in English. For that reason it is necessary for you to listen carefully and try hard to imitate what you hear. If you do this and follow the Hints on Pronunciation that are given to you from time to time, you will learn to be able to pronounce Thai so that you can be readily understood.

1. Some short vowels.

While listening to the words already given, you have probably noticed that most vowel-sounds in Thai are similar to certain English vowel-sounds. The following table gives you all but two of the short vowels of Thai and shows you what the different vowel-aids stand for.  Read through the descriptions, and then listen to the examples and repeat them many times.  Come back and review them at least a dozen times.

VOWEL-AIDS	NEAREST ENGLISH SOUND	EXAMPLES
i	Like our i in pin.	hǐn	'stone'
e	Like our e in hen.	hěn	'to see'
æ	Like our a in sang, but much shorter.	khæŋ	'to be hard, solid'
a	Like our a in father, but much shorter. Take care not to pronounce this sound like our sound u, as in but, because the Thai will think you are pronouncing a different vowel, and will misunderstand you.	hǎn	'to turn around'
ơ	Like our o in song, but much shorter.	thơŋ	'to poke with the elbow'
o	Like our o in home, but much shorter.	phǒm	'I' (m.)
u	Like our oo in noon, but much shorter.	thǔŋ	'sack, bag'

If it seems to you that any English word said to contain the nearest English sound does not have a sound like the one in the Thai word, then ignore the English word, and imitate the speech as accurately as you possibly can.  Different English speakers pronounce English words differently, and at best the 'nearest English sounds' are only a rough approximation.

2. Some long vowels.

In the next table you will find examples of all but two of the long vowels of Thai.  Read through the descriptions, and then listen carefully to the words, imitating them as exactly as possible:

VOWEL-AIDS	NEAREST ENGLISH SOUND	EXAMPLES
i:	Like our ee in seem.	khi:m	'tongs'
e:	Like our a in plane.	phle:ŋ	'song'
æ:	Like our a in tan, but longer.	thæ:n	'instead'
a:	Like our a in father.	na:ŋ	'Mrs.; lady'
ơ:	Like our o in song.	sơ:ŋ	'envelope'
o:	Like our o in lone.	mo:ŋ	'o'clock'
u:	Like our oo in coon.	khu:n	'to multiply'

Now go through the Useful Words and Phrases several more times, first repeating after the speech 6-7 times.  Think of the meaning as you hear and say each word. While you are listening and imitating, note carefully the different tones and also the short and long vowels which you have just been practicing.  Focus on what you are doing with the intent to associate change of tone and change in vowel length with difference in meaning.