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Tone rules are the heart of Thai reading. Thai has five tones, and the tone of every syllable is determined by a combination of four factors: the consonant class, the tone mark (if any), the vowel length, and whether the syllable is live or dead. Master these rules and you can correctly pronounce any Thai word.
| # | Tone | Thai Name | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mid | สามัญ (sǎa-man) | Flat, neutral pitch — your normal speaking voice | กา (gaa) — crow |
| 2 | Low | เอก (èek) | Below your normal pitch, flat | ก่า (gàa) |
| 3 | Falling | โท (thoo) | Starts high, drops down sharply | ก้า (gâa) |
| 4 | High | ตรี (dtrii) | Above your normal pitch, flat or slightly rising | ค้า (kháa) — trade |
| 5 | Rising | จัตวา (jàt-dtà-waa) | Starts low, rises up (like an English question) | ขา (khǎa) — leg |
Tone contour diagram:
High: —————— ↗ (Rising)
↘ (Falling)
Mid: ——————
Low: ——————
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