Vowels
Thai vowels “ride” on the consonant they follow. Below, vowels are shown riding on ◌ to give you a sense of their placement relative to the consonant.
Tap to Listen
Click on the vowels below to hear their sound. Repeat as many times as you need to feel you can recognize each sound.
Pronunciation Notes
Vowel Duration: In Thai, the length of time you hold a vowel sound can change a word’s meaning. Both vowels in this lesson are long duration vowels.
- `◌า` (sara aa): This is a long ‘aa’ sound, very similar to the ‘a’ in the English word “father” or “spa.”
- `◌ี` (sara ii): This is a long ‘ii’ sound, identical to the ‘ee’ in the English word “see” or “bee.”
Listen then Tap
Click the 🔊 button to hear a vowel sound, then find the correct vowel.
When you feel confident you can pick the correct vowel every time, you’re ready to move on.
Tap Then Say
Click on the vowels below and repeat the sound you hear. Repeat until you feel comfortable making each vowel sound.
Say Then Tap
Now we’re going to turn it around. Try to say the vowel sound before clicking on it. When you’re correct most of the time, you’re ready for the next lesson!