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How to learn to read Thai

You learn to read Thai in three steps. First the letters and the three classes they fall into, then how the spelling of a syllable gives its tone, then real words and signs. Each step has a free tool that practises it and lessons that carry on from there. Lesson 1 is free, and you don't need an account.

Start with lesson 1, it's free

Step 1: The letters and their classes

At the end you can name the class of every consonant these lessons teach, and read a consonant joined to the long vowel aa as a word.

Practise with the Thai alphabet chart and its 44 consonants in three classes, then with the pages for mid-class, high-class and low-class letters. The printable charts are free too.

The course is lessons 3 to 14. It costs US$59, paid once. Full refund inside fourteen days, no questions asked. Any VAT that applies is included. Nothing is added at checkout. The course pricing page has the details.

Step 2: Syllables and tones

At the end you can work out the tone of a syllable from the class of its first consonant, whether the syllable is live or dead, and any tone mark.

The tone rules chart holds the rules for the five tones, and the tone drill makes you use them. The vowels chart shows how long and short vowels pair up.

  • Lesson 5: Short Vowels and Syllable Length (in the course)
  • Lesson 6: The Five Tones (in the course)
  • Lesson 7: Final Consonants and Syllable Endings (in the course)
  • Lesson 8: The Tone Chart (in the course)

Step 3: Real words and signs

At the end you can sound out a real Thai word from its spelling, tone included, and try the signs on the reading page.

Reading practice has 16 real signs and menus, each spoken aloud.

  • Lesson 9: Compound Vowels and Diphthongs (in the course)
  • Lesson 10: Reading Real Thai Words (in the course)
  • Lesson 11: Short Vowels That Stay Live (in the course)
  • Lesson 12: Clusters and Leading Letters (in the course)
  • Lesson 13: Thai Numerals (in the course)
  • Lesson 14: Silent and Repeated Marks (in the course)

Where the course stops

The course teaches you to read Thai: the letters, the tones and words as they're written. It doesn't teach what most words mean, how to speak the language or its grammar.

That's where a tutor, or a course in vocabulary or conversation, takes over. Reading gives you a way to see what you are learning, and the spelling shows you how each word is pitched.

How the script itself fits together is on the Thai script explained page.