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Thai Explore 1

Start your reading and writing journey: master Thai consonants by class, learn the essential vowels, and practise with vocabulary, flashcards, and interactive exercises.

9 Chapters Reading & Writing Interactive Exercises Audio Included
01 Class C1 Consonants 02 Class C2 Consonants 03 Class B Consonants 04 Class A Consonants 05 Live-Dead Syllables 06 Tone Rules 07 Tone Mark #1 08 Tone Mark #2 09 Vowel Shortening
Chapter 1

Class C1 Consonants

Begin your Thai reading journey. Learn the most common Class C1 consonants, key vowel marks, and how "live" final sounds work in Thai.

In this chapter, you will learn:
  1. Common Class C1 consonants
  2. Vowels: -า, -ี
  3. "Live" final sounds
3Activities
15Questions
1Topic
Chapter 2
Chapter 2

Class C2 Consonants

Build on your reading foundation. Learn the most common Class C2 consonants and the front vowels that pair with them.

In this chapter, you will learn:
  1. Common Class C2 consonants
  2. Vowels: เ-, แ-, ไ-
3Activities
15Questions
1Topic
Chapter 3
Chapter 3

Class B Consonants

Complete your foundation. Learn the most common Class B consonants and three special vowels that complete the basic Thai writing system.

In this chapter, you will learn:
  1. Common Class B consonants
  2. Special vowels: -ู, ใ, ไ
3Activities
15Questions
1Topic
Chapter 4
Chapter 4

Class A Consonants

Round out the three consonant classes. Learn the most common Class A consonants, the special vowel เ-อ, and tips for memorizing classes.

In this chapter, you will learn:
  1. Common Class A consonants
  2. Special vowels: เ-อ
  3. Memorizing consonant classes
3Activities
15Questions
1Topic
Chapter 5
Chapter 5

Live-Dead Syllables

Master a fundamental Thai reading concept, live vs. dead syllables, the less common Class C consonants, and two more essential vowels.

In this chapter, you will learn:
  1. Less common Class C consonants (C1 and C2)
  2. Vowels: -ึ, -ิ
  3. The concept of "live-dead syllables"
3Activities
15Questions
1Topic
Chapter 6
Chapter 6

Tone Rules

Unlock the rules that make Thai readable aloud, less common Class A and B consonants plus the foundations of how Thai tones work.

In this chapter, you will learn:
  1. Less common Class A and Class B consonants
  2. The basics of tone rules
3Activities
15Questions
1Topic
Chapter 7
Chapter 7

Tone Mark #1

Learn the first tone mark plus the trickier two-form vowels that change shape depending on what comes after them.

In this chapter, you will learn:
  1. Vowels that have two forms: -ะ, -ิ, -ึ, -ุ, เ-ะ
  2. The first tone mark: " ่ "
3Activities
15Questions
1Topic
Practice

Vocabulary, Flashcards & Exercise

Read words using the first tone mark and two-form vowels, memorise with picture flashcards (lime = มะนาว), and test your listening.

English Phonetics Thai Script
Photographtàai rûupถ่ายรูป
Good newskàao diiข่าวดี
Fried eggkài daaoไข่ดาว
Limemá-naaoมะนาว
More first-tone-mark & two-form vowel words in the activities below
Chapter 8
Chapter 8

Tone Mark #2

Add the second tone mark to your toolkit and tackle the trickier diphthong vowels that change shape with context.

In this chapter, you will learn:
  1. Vowels that have two forms: -ัว, เ-ือ, เ-อะ
  2. The second tone mark: " ้ "
3Activities
15Questions
1Topic
Practice

Vocabulary, Flashcards & Exercise

Read words using the second tone mark and diphthong vowels, memorise with picture flashcards (cow = วัว), and test your listening.

English Phonetics Thai Script
Eat peanutsgin tùaกินถั่ว
Cow dieswua dtaaiวัวตาย
Hearthǔajaiหัวใจ
Cowwuaวัว
More second-tone-mark & two-form vowel words in the activities below
Chapter 9
Chapter 9

Vowel Shortening

Round out the Thai writing system, the third and fourth tone marks, vowel-shortening with -ะ, and the special vowel เ-าะ.

In this chapter, you will learn:
  1. The third and fourth tone marks: " ๊ " " ๋ "
  2. How to shorten vowels with -ะ
  3. Vowels: เ-าะ
3Activities
15Questions
1Topic
Practice

Vocabulary, Flashcards & Exercise

Read words using the third and fourth tone marks and shortened vowels, memorise with picture flashcards (gyoza = เกี๊ยวซ่า), and test yourself.

English Phonetics Thai Script
Gyozagíaosâaเกี๊ยวซ่า
May I have two plates of gyoza?kɔ̌ɔ gíaosâa sɔ̌ɔng jaanขอเกี๊ยวซ่าสองจาน
Platejaanจาน
May I have / requestkɔ̌ɔขอ
More tone-mark 3 & 4 and shortened-vowel words in the activities below

Want to keep going? Continue to Explore 2

Carry on building your Thai reading and writing skills, more consonant classes, more vowels, and more interactive exercises.

Audio Tracks Interactive Exercises Enrolled Students Reading & Writing