Thai Writing 2: Long Vowels. (Vowel – สระ sà-rà)

There are 32 vowels in Thai, 2 groups, short vowels, and long vowels. The group of vowels will determine the tone of the syllable. The difference between a short and long vowel is an important one—it can change a word’s meaning by itself. Also, the tones rules for short and long are different.

In this lesson, you will learn to write and practice sounds of 3 long vowels. A syllable with a long vowel will pronounce ‘open’ or ‘extend’, like Ahhhhhh!

Thai vowels don’t always occur directly after a consonant like they do in English. Every syllable starts with a consonant (even if the consonant is a silent อ /-/. Although the consonant sound comes first, the vowel may be written before, above, below, after or around the consonant depending on the vowels. When there is a cluster initial (2 consonants right to each other), a vowel will place under or above the second letter (Ex. ครู-kruu).  

We will learn the position of each vowel by showing “อ” as the initial consonant. You will familiar with the vowels position in no time.

In this lesson, you will learn 3 long vowels.