Thai Vowels

Listing of Thai Vowels

• Thai vowels might seem overwhelming at first, especially when pupils learn that there are sixteen separate vowel symbols that join in various ways.
• In Thai phonology, there are nine monophonic vowels. There are a total of eighteen simple vowel sounds, each of which is uttered with either a short or long length.
• Note that when talking about vowels in English, the terms "short" and "long" sometimes refer to a certain grouping of vowel qualities. This difference is better described by the terms "lax" and "tense." However, "long" and "short" will refer to the relative length of time the vowel is pronounced.
• Each basic vowel sound can also appear in an open or closed syllable.

Diphthongs of Thai

/j/ Glide Endings of Thai

/w/ Glide Endings of Thai

Miscellaneous Vowel Glyphs

Thai Vowels Summary

Short Vowels

Long Vowels

Notes

• รร is a special-case way of writing /a/.
• When any tone mark appears with เ--, or in some rare cases, such as เพชร , the syllable has a short vowel sound.
• When the ไม้เอก tone mark appears in a live syllable with แ-- and a mid- or high-class initial, the syllable has a short vowel sound.