Thai pronunciation
Editors: a submitted article about the Thai language by Frans de Beer.
Frans is a loyal reader of Thailand blog, has studied Thai and speaks it with his wife and daughter. To tell people more about the Thai language, he has written two articles, part 1 of which is now.
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No language is spoken monotonously, there is always a variation in pitch or intonation. Languages in which the word meaning depends on the pitch are called a tonal language. We know register tonal languages and contour tonal languages. Register tone languages have a number of flat tones, which differ in pitch. With contour tonal languages, each shape has its own tone (falling, flat, rising, falling and rising again, etc.), but pitch differences are also possible within the same contour.
Thai, together with other types of oriental languages, belongs to the contour tonal languages. In Thai, the flat contour has three pitches. The Thai language has five tones: low, medium, high, rising and falling. The highs, mids and lows are more or less flat. In Thai, each syllable has one of five tones. A word that consists of several syllables therefore has the same number of tones, which of course do not have to be equal. In our phonetic representation of Thai, we use hyphens before the syllable to indicate tone.
|
show |
sign |
example |
ภาษาไทย |
|
midden |
- |
-aa |
uncle |
|
low |
_ |
_aa |
อ่า |
|
descending |
|
aa |
อ้า |
|
high |
¯ |
¯aa |
อ๊า |
|
rising |
/ |
/aa |
อ๋า |
The order in this table is not randomly chosen, but is the order that is also in Thailand is used when listing the tones. The Thai script is completely designed for the use of tones. Words that only differ in tone are still spelled differently.
Consonants at the beginning of a word
Simple consonants
In Thai, the following initial consonants occur
k k-sound ng ng-sound (as in king)
p unaspirated p l
t unaspirated t r short r sound
d s
b h
kh aspirated kw bilabial w
ph aspirated p j
th aspirated t tj as de tj in tjalk or dj in rag
m ch as ch in change
n ? abrupt beginning or end of a vowel
A consonant is aspirated if an air stream follows the sound. In the phonetic representation we indicate this with an h after the consonant. These are the consonants k, p and t; aspirated so kh, ph and th. Dutch often has unaspirated k, p and t sounds, but aspirated forms do occur in dialects in the northeast of the Netherlands. The English language aspires much more often (tea, push etc.)
Thai has aspirated and unaspirated consonants next to each other. This difference is just as important as the difference between the 'd' and 't' in our language. For us, the word roof takes on a completely different meaning if we pronounce it with a 't' instead of a 'd' (so branch). Incidentally, Thai also knows the difference between 'd' and 't'. You will be understood in English if you use a few unaspirated p's here and there where they should be aspirated. In Thai, misunderstandings are plentiful if you handle this fact carelessly.
The 'ch' can be considered in Thai as the aspirated version of the 'tj'. We don't know the 'ng' at the beginning of a word in our language. With some practice, this initial sound can be learned. Thai speakers often pronounce the 'r' as 'l'. If it's an r sound at all, it's a short roll of the tip of the tongue.
Double consonants
Thai has only a small number of consonant clusters (groups of consonants that are pronounced one after the other without the intervention of a vowel). These clusters are always at the beginning of a syllable, never at the end. The first letter is always a k, p or t, where the k and p can also be aspirated. The second letter is an r, l or w. Not all combinations occur, as shown in the following table.
kr unaspirated k with short r pl unaspirated p with l
kl unaspirated k with l pr unaspirated p with short r
kw unaspirated k with w phl aspirated p with l
khr aspirated k with short r phr aspirated p with short r
khl aspirated k with l tr unaspirated t with short r
khw aspirated k with w
Note: Thai speakers are quite sloppy with pronouncing clusters, sometimes the second letter disappears or the second r is pronounced as l.
End consonants
At the end of a word or syllable we have the following options:
- Klinker
- Abruptly broken vowel (vowel with glottal stop))
- semi-consonant; j or w
- M, n, ng (nasal or nasal)
- K,p or t (pop sound)
In the case of a polysyllabic word, the glottal stops within the word disappear in normal speech. Case 2 therefore only applies to word endings.
The way in which a k, p or t is pronounced at the end of a word in Thai differs essentially from the Dutch pronunciation. The k, p or t are so-called occlusives. They are formed by temporarily closing off the airflow. The way of closing determines the sound. For example, the p is formed by closing the lips, at the t the airflow is blocked with the tip of the tongue and teeth, the k is formed by pressing the middle part of the tongue against the palate.
To get to know the Thai language, we use the word hopman. The pronunciation of the 'p' in Hopman can be done in two ways, namely:
- The word hop followed by the word man. Here, after the pronunciation of the 'p', the lips temporarily part and then close again when the 'm' is formed.
- With the second statement, the lips remain closed between the 'p' and the 'm'. When the 'p' is pronounced, the lips close, do not open again, the 'm' is formed and only with the 'a' do the lips part again.
This last way is used in Thailand for the final consonant 'k', 'p' and 't'. This differs so much from our pronunciation that a Dutch ear sometimes does not hear this final consonant at all. To us it sounds like the consonant is only half finished, the liberating airflow at the end is missing.
In phonetics, one also distinguishes between these two ways of pronunciation. For Dutch, the occlusives are released at the end of a word. The phonetic rendering of the word cat is kath. The 'h' at the end indicates the released airflow. Thai has no released final occlusives. The Thai pronunciation of the word cat is phonetically cat.
Vowels
Thai has a long and a short version of many pure vowels. The long version takes about twice as long as the short one. An overview of the long and short vowels:
o short o sound
oo long o sound as in loom
oh short oh sound like in morning, but a little longer
Oh? Long oh, but cut short abruptly
i short ie sound as in Piet, but shorter
ie long ie sound as in see
oe short oe sound as in cloth
oe: long oe sound as in burp
u short u sound; a you with a wide drawn mouth
uu long u sound; a uu with a wide drawn mouth
e short ee sound
ee long ee sound as in bone
ae long ae sound as in misery
eu long eu sound as in de, but longer
To pure vowels are polyphthongs; the vowel sounds flow smoothly into each other.
Word recognition
Word recognition in Thai relies heavily on vowel and tone. The Thai way of word recognition therefore works differently from our way. For us, consonant clusters at the beginning and end of a syllable are important criteria. In Thai people listen much more to the vowel and the tone. This can already be heard when you hear some Thai speak English. Often complicated word endings or consonant clusters degenerate into a single consonant (against becomes againt or again). My name French is pronounced Fan in Thai.
In Thai, neglecting consonant clusters causes much less confusion for Thai speakers than if this were done in Dutch, for example.
(source LJM van Moergestel)
I'm afraid this scares more than it helps, but an A + for afford 😉
No, it doesn't scare me at all, I like to learn. Any help is welcome. And to see it systematically listed here, even with Dutch explanation, is very valuable!
Thank you, Frans! I'm already looking forward to your second part!
@Jim, surely you meant "effort" instead of "afford"?
Idk.. it was still very early. the english part of the brain didn't have enough coffee yet 😉
in terms of pronunciation, I think you better skip the whole phonetic part and get started right away with “manee mana”.
see: http://www.learningthai.com/books/manee/introduction_09.htm
Pfff, if you read this like this, not easy, but I think when I'm actually working on it, it's also easier to understand.
Also a fun way to learn Thai:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KS4Ffw5CFJQ&feature=player_embedded
Another 10 days and then I will fly to my dream country again for 2 months, Klaas.
Finally a clear, complete and essential story about the pronunciation of Thai . It is of course also in van Moergestel's Dutch-Thai dictionary, a "must" also because the pronunciation is displayed so well. Print this out and put it on the table to read regularly.
That in Thai vowels and tone are important for good understanding, while in Dutch the consonants are I always explain by saying the following:
“Ek go nir Oemstirdeem” All vowels wrong and yet we understand: I'm going to Amsterdam. When you learn Thai, learn the vowels well and especially the tones. If you want to practice the difference between aspirated and unaspirated k, p, and t, hold one hand over your mouth and you will feel some or no airflow coming out of your mouth. You can also do it with a lighter, which must continue to burn or be blown out.
Then another joke about the importance of the tones. If you say: phom chob khie maa and the last two tones are resp. low and high then you say: I like horseback riding. If you do a descending and then an ascending tone, you say: I love dog poop. There are more such jokes but they are less suitable for a neat blog like this. But you have been warned about this one!
tino,
Are you the tino I met once at the Prince Palace Hotel's Coconut Pool Bar?
If that was one of those days when those ash clouds from Iceland prevented us from flying for a week then the answer is yes. How so? Do you want Thai lessons?
hey Tino,
No it wasn't then, it was earlier. But with your last name it is clear. No, we also exchanged phone numbers, but I couldn't reach you later, which I thought was a shame. because even if the contact was only a few hours at the most, it was very pleasant and Vlaardingen was also discussed. Mail me so I can respond a little easier, because this will be fairly private and will not interest everyone, or perhaps no one. ([email protected])
Regards,
Arie
Is my Mr. Frans de Beer in the Netherlands or Thailand and can we also take lessons from him?
Mr. Frans de Beer is located in Almere, the Netherlands
Clear and instructive. Look forward to part 2 🙂
I found the part about word recognition by Thais particularly interesting – it explains why we can interpret 'poor' Dutch or English, and why we don't understand that Thais can't interpret our poor Thai, even if it differs (for us) off the tone just a little bit.
A simple booklet with a story and a good glossary would help a lot. Try translating Benjawan Poomsam Becker (Advanced) from Thai into Dutch. It doesn't even work in English. It indicates a global translation. (Beginners and Intermediate are good, but too short.) Totally different from what we get served at school in the Netherlands. (Word translation) And what's the point, when you learn Phasa Klaang and everyone speaks Phasa Chiangmai. 25000 baht to the moon and people don't understand you here. Maybe if more Bangkokkians swap Bangkok for Chiangmai. If you compare it with the Oxford series (for sale at Se-ed), Thais have much more choice to learn English. Looks nice and have a good vocabulary. Reading, writing and speaking, and the difficult one step further to the official language of parliament, for example. Still a long way to go. I will manage, and I am only 60. After three days of touring on my motorbike, Fang, Doi Angkhaan I have spoken with border guards, the owner of the hotel and the soldiers at the checkpoint for Chiang Dao. Was no trouble at all, spoke Phasa Khlaang fine. Even the Lahu people tried to make themselves understood that way. It makes one think that Thais prefer to speak their dialect in Chiangmai. And you will have to learn the sounds and tones in practice. Much hilarity, don't you believe me? just ask the market for a kilo of mussels. Have fun.
Dear Hank W.
Laughing when we were in Thailand for the first time. My 3 buddies and me. And were still in the Arthur stage.
let's greet me with Hoy buddy. And that was indeed a lot of hilarity. I often think back to it. And now you're having fun with it. I therefore leave it to my wife when we go to buy mussels. When we are in Thailand. Wand they keep laughing their asses off when I do it. Even though I point them out, I have to say it again about 3 times. I'm just as excited about it as she is
Greetings Pon & Kees
I'm happy with it.
A part is also in my course, but I find this more extensive and still nice and compact.
Looking forward to the next part.
Now my performance…
To the learning ende vermaeck and by popular request three more jokes about the wrong use of tones and vowels in Thai, personally experienced.
A Belgian walks into an office in Chiang Mai to buy tickets for the journey back to his beloved homeland. He sees a lady sitting behind a desk and asks: Khoen khai toea mai khrab? If he had said tua in a rising tone, he would have asked: Do you sell tickets? But he uses a flat middle tone and then toea means body or body and so he asks: Are you selling your body? Or: Are you a whore?
A Thai is talking to a Swede. The Thai asks : Your country is very cold, isn't it? And the Swede replies: Chai, hi ma tog boi boi. Hi ma (as in Himalayas) with two short vowels and a low and a high tone means snow, but he uses two long vowels and two rising tones and then says: Yes, in Sweden dog cunts often fall.
A Dutchman says to his Thai girlfriend: Khoen soeay Maak. When he pronounces soeay in a rising tone, he says: you are very beautiful. But he uses a flat midtone and then he says, You're a girl who never gets lucky. So pay attention to your tones and your vowels. Fortunately, most Thais are too well-educated to get angry or laugh at you
My experience is that they do laugh about it. But doing this because they understand that you mean well and that's why they like it. They don't laugh at you to hurt you.
To the editor: Mr de Beer did not write this. It comes literally and in its entirety from the Dutch-Thai dictionary of LJM van Moergestel, which I already mentioned. So plagiarism. Please post a correction.
I have also added the source reference. Besides, I have permission to post it.
Above the article it is very clear that you have written this and you have not. You can therefore not rely on source reference or permission. It is and remains plagiarism. I therefore expect an apology from you and on behalf of the editors.
It's an excellent story, by the way, and I'm glad it got posted. I wish all Dutch people in Thailand are as active with Thai as you are.
@ Tino, maybe you shouldn't blow so high off the tower. No one has to apologize to you. The writer has permission, that's it.
I just passed my third Thai conversation course with a translation agency http://www.suwannaphoom.nl in Almere. Partly thanks to the daily conversations with my wife Waew, the development is going quite fast. The courses are highly recommended for those who enjoy learning this fascinating language in a relaxed way in the Netherlands.
Unfortunately I can't read and write the language yet.. But I will do that too. For now only phonetically...
Example sentences:
– Wannie tja rieb kin jaa phuua phroengnie tja daai shark
(I'm taking medicine fast today so I'll be better tomorrow)
– phom roesuk phohtjai thie phuuan hai
(I am happy with the present a friend gave me)
– laang muu kohn kin khaaw
(wash hands first, then eat)
– khoen mai pai samakngaan, daai ngaan tham laew shai mai
You don't have to apply, you already have a job, don't you?
– phom sjohb kin aahaan phed, waan, prieaw, ruu mai koh khem
I like spicy, sweet and sour, or else, salty food
– tua kruuangbin pai klab krungtheb ?amsteudam rakhaa pramaan saam muun bad
a return ticket by plane to Amsterdam Bangkok costs about 30,000 baht
Dear Daan,
Good luck with your Thai course. I think it is good to learn to read as soon as possible.
76 vowels and consonants. The problem that will arise in your case is again the sounds. You really have to involve the Mai iek, to, tri and chatawa. If you were to speak the above sentences in Thailand you will notice that you will pronounce the sounds incorrectly. How easily I pronounced a questioning sentence in ascending order at the beginning. And then you go into the fog. Recognizing is easy, 1 2 3 and +
So ending an interrogative sentence with chai mai crab already prevents a lot of problems.
Success again.
Of course I can also pronounce these sentences with the correct tones, but I have not included them now. I have done a conversation course, so I can also make myself understood in Thailand
During the courses in NL, the tones are included from lesson 1, so you get an excellent lesson in pronunciation. So I can speak and understand the language, but not yet read and write in the Thai characters. My Thai in-laws were shocked when they heard how well I already spoke their language. So don't worry HenkW.
Now I understand why my girlfriend gets angry, I don't listen to the name of Fan.
This is an exact reproduction of one of the booklets that I bought for one of my trips to Thailand, in every booklet "Thai for beginners or Thai for holidaymakers" you can find this exactly, just buy a booklet at e.g. the ANWB there is exactly the same, with a number of standard sentences added, so that you can save yourself a bit in Thailand.
All due respect to Mr. de Beer and his effort to put things on paper, but this can be found exactly in every travel guide.
While I'm at it I would like to clear up a misunderstanding and that is that the Thai people could not pronounce R, it is indeed not such a rolling R as we are used to but they can do it and he can also be heard, there are even words where the R can be clearly heard, such as: Krung, Rak khun, tie Rak and kratiem and even the word Farang, which many people still consider to be a swear word, but use it themselves to to declare himself as a foreigner, in the strangest spellings, by the way.
Very interesting!
I didn't know you could learn 'Thai', but do know that you can study 'a Thai', if needed. And of course that you can learn 'Thai', because that's what this tonal language is called. Curious, this writing error, or am I behind some spelling changes that are so incomprehensible that they are barely used?
@ Haha funny. My mistake Martin. Too quick to post, I should have read through it.
Studying a Thai, that could still be done 😉 I'll adjust it.
The land wise the land honour. You are of course right. It's the Thai language. I had vowed not to make the same mistake as my Uncle who emigrated to Australia. When he came to visit the Netherlands, he spoke Dutch with an accent and used unfashionable words; interspersed with English words. Well, apparently I will too. Everything here is Thai: Phasa Thai, Aahaan Thai, Khon Thai, Phujing Thai, Phuchai Thai, Prathet Thai. Then making the mistake is obvious. It won't happen again. Thanks for the tip. 🙂