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Thai has a rich vowel system with 32 vowel forms, but the core concept is simple: there are 9 basic vowel sounds, each with a short and long version. Vowel length is crucial in Thai — it affects both meaning and tone.
In Thai, the difference between a short and long vowel can change a word's meaning entirely:
| Short Vowel | Meaning | Long Vowel | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| กัด (gàt) | To bite | กาด (gàat) | Market (dialect) |
| จิต (jìt) | Mind | จีด (jìit) | — |
| ปุ (bpù) | Grandmother | ปู (bpuu) | Crab / grandfather |
Vowel length also determines whether a syllable is live or dead, which directly affects the tone:
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