Chapter 3: Consonants & Tones
Tap to Listen
Click on the consonants below to hear their names. Pay close attention to the sound of ห.
Guide to Consonant Classes & Tones
Consonant Classes & Our Color Code
Thai consonants are divided into three classes. The class of the starting consonant is a significant factor in determining a syllable’s tone. We use colors to help you remember them:
- High Class (Red): ห
- Mid Class (Purple): ก, ต, อ, ป, ด
- Low Class (Blue): น, ม, ร, พ
A Simple Introduction to Tones
Until now, every word you have learned has had a flat, Mid Tone.
When a High Class consonant like ห is paired with a long vowel, it creates a Rising Tone. Listen to the word หา (hǎa). Notice how the pitch of the word drops in the middle then goes up at the end.
You may notice that while the first part of names of the low and mid class consonants we learned were the consonant sound followed by the “aw” vowel in a mid tone, the first part of the name of the high class ห consists of the consonant sound (h) followed by the “aw” vowel with this new rising tone.
Listen then Tap
Click the 🔊 button to hear a consonant’s name, then find the correct consonant.
When you can consistently identify the correct answer, you’re ready to move on.
Tap Then Say
Click on the consonants below to hear their core sound. Try to match the rising tone of ห.
Say Then Tap
Try to say the sound of the consonant before clicking on it to check your pronunciation.