The Thai language has five tones, neutral tone, low tone, the falling tone, high tone and rising tone.
The same syllable with a different tone will sometimes radically different meanings.
A good understanding of tone is a prerequisite to learning capital of the Thai language.
Before detailing the rules governing the tone of a syllable, I offer a record of these five tones.
Listen and repeat, make sure you understand the difference between these five tones is crucial.
1. Initial consonant + long vowel = medium tone
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Paddy field |
Snake | Come | Ship |
2. Initial consonant + short vowel = high tone
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And | Yes (female) | Goat | Each |
3. Initial consonant + short vowel + final consonant k, p, t = high tone
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Think | Bird | Temple | Small |
4. Initial consonant + short vowel + final consonant ng, n, m = medium tone
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Day |
Move down |
Mosquito |
You |
5. Initial consonant + long vowel + final consonant k, p, t = falling tone
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Like |
Lot |
Difficult |
Say |
6. Initial consonant + long vowel + final consonant ng, n, m = medium tone
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Long time |
Work |
Candle |
Learn |
7. Initial consonant+ any vowel + accent
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Falling tone |
High tone | don't exist |
don't exist |
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