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Lesson Transcript

Hi everyone.
Welcome to The Ultimate Thai Pronunciation Guide.
In this lesson, you'll learn all 18 Thai vowel sounds.
By learning all of these sounds, you'll be able to pronounce any vowel that could possibly appear in Thai!
Are you ready?
Then let's get started!
The 18 vowel sounds in Thai come in short and long pairs. The length of the vowel is much more important in Thai than it is in English.
If you were to say the word 'gap' normally, and then you were to lengthen the vowel, 'gaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaap', although people will look at you strangely, you'd still be understood because the meaning of the word does not change.
This isn't true for Thai however.
"หวัด ""common cold""
หวาด ""startled""
หวัด ""common cold""
หวาด ""startled"""
Be mindful about the length of Thai vowels, otherwise, you might be saying something completely different!
Now, let's take a look at the first vowel sound.
"สระอะ (pronounce the sound)
หวัด ""common cold""
สับ Chopping
ชัด Clear"
This is a short A sound, like the A in the word 'taco'.
สระอะ, สระอะ (slowly)
สระอะ, สระอะ (slowly)
The next vowel sound is identical to the first, except that it's held for twice as long.
"สระอา
หวาด ""startled""
สาป Curse
ชาติ Nation"
It's like the A in 'father'. Be sure to open wide and allow the air to pour out of the mouth.
สระอา, สระอา (slowly)
สระอา, สระอา (slowly)
The next vowel sound is...
"สระอิ
ติ Criticize
ริบ Confisticate
จิบ Sip"
This is a short I sound, like the I in 'ski'.
สระอิ, สระอิ (slowly)
สระอิ, สระอิ (slowly)
The next vowel sound is identical to the previous sound, but longer.
"สระอี
ตี Hitting
รีบ Hurrying
จีบ Flirtting"
It's like the sound the double E makes in the word 'green'.
สระอี, สระอี (slowly)
สระอี, สระอี (slowly)
The next vowel sound is...
"สระอึ
ขึ้น ""to go up""
รึ ""question particle""
นึก Thinking"
This vowel doesn't exist in English. To pronounce this sound, first, try to pronounce the U in 'true'. From there, try to unround and spread your lips. Listen to Jay.
สระอึ, สระอึ (slowly)
สระอึ, สระอึ (slowly)
The next vowel sound is identical to the previous sound, but longer.
"สระอือ
ชื่อ ""name""
หรือ Or
บื้อ Dumb"
It's like an unrounded U sound. Be sure to lengthen the vowel sound. Listen to Jay.
สระอือ, สระอือ (slowly)
สระอือ, สระอือ (slowly)
The next vowel sound is...
"สระอุ
จุด Dot
ลุก Standing up
ดุ Scolding"
This is a short U sound. It's like the sound the double O creates in the word 'look'.
สระอุ, สระอุ (slowly)
สระอุ, สระอุ (slowly)
The next vowel sound is identical to the previous sound, but longer.
"สระอู
จูบ Kissing
ลูก Son or Daughter
ดู Looking"
It's a long U sound, like the U in 'true'.
สระอู, สระอู (slowly)
สระอู, สระอู (slowly)
The next vowel sound is...
"สระเอะ
เตะ Kicking
เสร็จ Finishing
เล็ก Small"
This is a short E sound, like E in 'neck'.
สระเอะ, สระเอะ (slowly)
สระเอะ, สระเอะ (slowly)
The next vowel sound is identical to the previous sound, but longer.
"สระเอ
เปล Crib
เอน Leaning
เลข Math"
It's a long E sound, similar to the E in the word 'neigh'.
สระเอ, สระเอ (slowly)
สระเอ, สระเอ (slowly)
The next vowel sound is...
"สระแอะ
แกะ Sheep or unwrap
และ And
แพะ Goat"
It's a short, open E like sound similar to the sound the A makes in the word 'at'.
สระแอะ, สระแอะ (slowly)
สระแอะ, สระแอะ (slowly)
The next vowel sound is identical to the previous sound, but longer.
"สระแอ
แก You *in an informal form with friends
แลก Exchange
แพ Raft"
It's a long, open E sound similar to the sound the A makes in the word 'man'.
สระแอ, สระแอ (slowly)
สระแอ, สระแอ (slowly)
The next vowel sound is...
"สระโอะ
โต๊ะ Table
ชก Punching
สด Fresh"
It's a short O sound, like the O in 'boat'.
สระโอะ, สระโอะ (slowly)
สระโอะ, สระโอะ (slowly)
The next vowel sound is identical to the previous sound, but longer.
"สระโอ
โต Big
โชค Luck
โสด Being Single *not married"
It's a long O sound, like the O in 'go'.
สระโอ, สระโอ (slowly)
สระโอ, สระโอ (slowly)
The next vowel sound is...
"สระเอาะ
เพาะ Planting
เงาะ Rambutan
เคาะ Knocking"
It's a short, open O sound, like the O in 'not'. Your mouth should be opened wider than the previous O sound. Listen to Jay.
สระเอาะ, สระเอาะ (slowly)
สระเอาะ, สระเอาะ (slowly)
The next vowel sound is identical to the previous sound, but longer.
"สระออ
พอ Enough
งอ Bending
คอ Neck"
It's a long, open O sound, like the O in 'ought'. Be sure to open wide and allow the air to pour out. Listen to Jay.
สระออ, สระออ (slowly)
สระออ, สระออ (slowly)
The next vowel sound is...
"สระเออะ
เยอะ ""many""
เนอะ Right? Ending word that seek agreement.
เขรอะ Dirty"
This vowel sound doesn't exist in English, but It's a little similar to the sound the E makes in the word 'the'. To pronounce this sound, first, try to pronounce the O in 'boat'. From there, try to unround and spread your lips. Listen to Jay.
สระเออะ, สระเออะ
สระเออะ, สระเออะ
The next and final vowel sound is identical to the previous sound, but longer.
"สระเออ
เธอ her
เจอ Meeting
เชิญ Inviting"
It's similar to the U in 'burn'. You can pronounce this sound by producing the unrounded O sound that you learned previously. Be sure to lengthen the vowel sound. Listen to Jay.
สระเออ, สระเออ (slowly)
สระเออ, สระเออ (slowly)
Well done! You've just learned all 18 vowel sounds in Thai!
With these sounds, you can pronounce any vowel that could possibly appear in the Thai language! Isn't that great?
Which vowel sound was the most difficult for you to pronounce? Let us know in the comments.
In the next lesson, you'll start learning consonant sounds.
See you in the next Ultimate Thai Pronunciation Guide lesson!

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