Thai Alphabet – 32 Vowels
Writing and reading are both main skills in learning a language. However, many people skipped them and put their focus on speaking and listening skills for a short visit to Thailand. Many people can of course learn speaking & listening without knowing the alphabet too, but please bear in mind Thai Romanization isn’t always consistent… So if you want to learn Thai in long term, learning Thai alphabet can open many new doors to immerse yourself in Thailand and make your learning Thai journey much easier!
Thai alphabet or Thai script (อักษรไทย /àk-sŏn tai/) has 44 consonants (พยัญชนะ /pá-yan-chá-ná/) and 32 vowels (สระ /sà-rà/). The vowel can be grouped as short vowels (สระเสียงสั้น /sà-rà-sĭang-sân/) and long vowels (สระเสียงยาว /sà-rà-sĭang-yaao/). In addition, Thai language also has special characters and 4 tone marks.
Here is a complete list of 32 Vowels
| Vowel | English sound | Model word |
| Long vowel | ||
-า |
-aa | as in Far / Car |
-ี |
-ee | as in See / Bee |
-ู |
-oo | as in Boot / Too |
เ- |
-ay | as in Play |
แ- |
-air / -a- | as in Fair / Ham |
โ- |
-oh | as in Oh! / Go |
-อ |
-or / -aw | as in More / Saw |
-ื- / -ือ |
-ue | – (Can’t compare to English) |
เ-ือ |
-uea | – (Can’t compare to English) |
เ-ีย |
-ia | as in Asia / Ear |
-ัว / -ว- |
-ua | as in Quantity |
-ำ |
-am | as in Rum |
ไ- |
-ai | as in Thai |
ใ- |
-ai | as in Thai |
เ-า |
-ao | as in Cacao |
เ-อ / เ-ิ- |
-er | as in Her |
| Short vowel | ||
-ะ / -ั- |
-a / -u- | as in Apollo / Gun |
-ิ |
-i | as in Italy |
-ุ |
-u | as in Put |
เ-ะ |
-e | as in Men |
แ-ะ |
-ae | as in Ipad / At |
โ-ะ |
-o | as in Boat |
เ-าะ |
-or / -aw | as in Not |
-ึ |
-ue | – (Can’t compare to English) |
เ-ียะ |
-ia | – (Can’t compare to English) |
เ-ือะ |
-uea | – (Can’t compare to English) |
-ัวะ |
-ua | – (Can’t compare to English) |
เ-อะ |
-er | as in The |
| Special vowel symbols *Not commonly use | ||
ฤ |
dtua rue (Short vowel) | |
ฤๅ |
dtua rue (Long vowel) | |
| Special vowel symbols *No longer use | ||
ฦ |
dtua lue (Short vowel) | |
ฦๅ |
dtua lue (Long vowel) | |
Note: There are vowel sounds in Thai that can’t compare to English language, so you just have to listen to the native Thai speakers and mimic the sounds. The English model words are just a guideline.
Additional vowel sounds when ย (i) or ว (o) are included
| Vowel + ย / ว | English sound | Model word |
-ัย |
-ai | as in I |
-าย |
-ai | as in Eye / Bye |
ไ-ย |
-ai | as in Thai |
-อย |
-aauy | as in Boy |
เ-ย |
-ooei | – (Can’t compare to English) |
โ-ย |
-ooi | – (Can’t compare to English) |
-ุย |
-ui | – (Can’t compare to English) |
-ูย |
-uui | – (Can’t compare to English) |
-วย |
-uuai | as in Muay Thai |
เ-ือย |
-uueai | – (Can’t compare to English) |
-าว |
-aao | as in Now |
แ-ว |
-aaeo | as in L |
เ-็ว |
-eo | as in Well (Short sound) |
เ-ว |
-eeo | as in Well (Long sound) |
-ิว |
-iw | as in Few |
เ-ียว |
-iiao | as in Meow or Miaow |
Note: There are vowel sounds in Thai that can’t compare to English language, so you just have to listen to the native Thai speakers and mimic the sounds. The English model words are just a guideline.
DOWNLOAD FREE PDF HERE
Need more help?
If you are still struggling with trying to learn how to read and write Thai by yourself but not successful yet, please check out my Read Thai in 2 Weeks intensive course! I can help you master all you need for reading & writing: consonants, vowels, special characters, tone marks, tone rules and exceptions!
Learning Thai isn’t as complicated as it seems. With the right way to learn, you can learn how to read and write Thai successfully! I hope to see you soon. 🙂
See all the Thai lesson packages
