Chapter 2
Thai Tones / Consonants / Vowels
Thai is a tonal language with 5 tones, meaning the pitch of your voice can change the meaning of a word. The same Romanized word may have different meanings depending on its tone.
Tips for Learners
- Focus on tones first, as they’re critical to being understood.
- Practice vowels and consonant sounds in pairs (e.g., ka, kha, ki, khee) to build fluency.
- Use audio resources or native speakers to hear the correct pronunciation, as Romanization can sometimes vary.
