Thai Reference
A comprehensive guide to the building blocks of the Thai language. Listen to the pronunciation and learn the IPA symbols.
ก - ฮConsonants (44)
Thai consonants are divided into three classes: High, Mid, and Low. This class determines the tone of the syllable when combined with vowels and tone marks.
Why do they have names? ("A for Apple")
Thai consonants follow the acrophonic principle, just like saying "A for Apple" or "B for Boy". Because many Thai letters share the exact same sound (for example, there are 6 distinct letters for the "T" sound!), each letter is identified by a unique word.
For example, Gor Gai means the letter "G" (Gor) as in "Chicken" (Gai).
| Audio | Char | IPA | Transliteration | Class | Name | Definition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ก | k | k | Mid | Gor Gai | Chicken | |
| ข | kʰ | kh | High | Khor Khai | Egg | |
| ฃ | kʰ | kh | High | Khor Khuad | Bottle (Obsolete) | |
| ค | kʰ | kh | Low | Khor Khwai | Buffalo | |
| ฅ | kʰ | kh | Low | Khor Khon | Person (Obsolete) | |
| ฆ | kʰ | kh | Low | Khor Rakhang | Bell | |
| ง | ŋ | ng | Low | Ngor Ngu | Snake | |
| จ | tɕ | j | Mid | Jor Jan | Plate | |
| ฉ | tɕʰ | ch | High | Chor Ching | Cymbals | |
| ช | tɕʰ | ch | Low | Chor Chang | Elephant | |
| ซ | s | s | Low | Sor So | Chain | |
| ฌ | tɕʰ | ch | Low | Chor Cher | Tree | |
| ญ | j | y | Low | Yor Ying | Woman | |
| ฎ | d | d | Mid | Dor Chada | Headdress | |
| ฏ | t | t | Mid | Tor Patak | Goad/Spear | |
| ฐ | tʰ | th | High | Thor Than | Pedestal | |
| ฑ | tʰ | th | Low | Thor Montho | Montho (character) | |
| ฒ | tʰ | th | Low | Thor Phuthau | Elder | |
| ณ | n | n | Low | Nor Nen | Novice Monk | |
| ด | d | d | Mid | Dor Dek | Child | |
| ต | t | t | Mid | Tor Tao | Turtle | |
| ถ | tʰ | th | High | Thor Thung | Sack | |
| ท | tʰ | th | Low | Thor Thahan | Soldier | |
| ธ | tʰ | th | Low | Thor Thong | Flag | |
| น | n | n | Low | Nor Nu | Mouse | |
| บ | b | b | Mid | Bor Baimai | Leaf | |
| ป | p | p | Mid | Por Pla | Fish | |
| ผ | pʰ | ph | High | Phor Phueng | Bee | |
| ฝ | f | f | High | For Fa | Lid | |
| พ | pʰ | ph | Low | Phor Phan | Tray | |
| ฟ | f | f | Low | For Fan | Teeth | |
| ภ | pʰ | ph | Low | Phor Samphao | Sailboat | |
| ม | m | m | Low | Mor Ma | Horse | |
| ย | j | y | Low | Yor Yak | Giant | |
| ร | r | r | Low | Ror Rua | Boat | |
| ล | l | l | Low | Lor Ling | Monkey | |
| ว | w | w | Low | Wor Waen | Ring | |
| ศ | s | s | High | Sor Sala | Pavilion | |
| ษ | s | s | High | Sor Ruesi | Hermit | |
| ส | s | s | High | Sor Suea | Tiger | |
| ห | h | h | High | Hor Hip | Chest/Box | |
| ฬ | l | l | Low | Lor Chula | Kite | |
| อ | ʔ | o | Mid | Or Ang | Basin | |
| ฮ | h | h | Low | Hor Nokhuk | Owl |