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กำลังโหลด
กำลังโหลด
Thai has 5 tones but only 4 tone marks. The resulting tone depends on three factors: the consonant class, the syllable type, and the tone mark.
A flat, neutral tone at a comfortable mid-pitch. No rise or fall.
Starts low and stays low. Slightly flat and subdued, like a quiet statement.
Starts high then drops. Like English when expressing disappointment: "Oh..."
Starts at a high pitch and stays high, slightly rising. Energetic and bright.
Starts low then rises upward. Like English when asking a yes/no question.
mai ek (ไม้เอก)
First tone mark. Produces low tone with mid-class consonants, low tone with high-class, and falling tone with low-class.
mai tho (ไม้โท)
Second tone mark. Produces falling tone with mid- and high-class consonants, and high tone with low-class.
mai tri (ไม้ตรี)
Third tone mark. Produces high tone. Used only with mid-class consonants.
mai chattawa (ไม้จัตวา)
Fourth tone mark. Produces rising tone. Used only with mid-class consonants.
Every Thai consonant belongs to one of three classes. The class is the first factor in determining tone.
Find the consonant class (row) and syllable type, then read across for the resulting tone with each mark. A dash (-) means that tone mark is not used with that class.
| Class | Syllable | No mark | Mai ek ่ | Mai tho ้ | Mai tri ๊ | Mai chattawa ๋ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| mid | live | mid | low | falling | high | rising |
| mid | dead-short | low | low | falling | high | rising |
| mid | dead-long | low | low | falling | high | rising |
| high | live | rising | low | falling | - | - |
| high | dead-short | low | - | - | - | - |
| high | dead-long | low | - | - | - | - |
| low | live | mid | falling | high | - | - |
| low | dead-short | high | - | - | - | - |
| low | dead-long | falling | - | - | - | - |
Practice identifying tones interactively.
Practice Tones