Thai Script Guide

Thai Script at a Glance

44

Consonants

3 classes (high, mid, low)

32+

Vowel Forms

Short & long pairs

5

Tones

Mid, low, falling, high, rising

4

Tone Marks

Modify pronunciation

What makes Thai unique: Vowels can appear before, after, above, or below consonants. There are no spaces between words. Tone is lexical (changes meaning). The same consonant sound can be written with different letters from different classes.

A Script Born of Independence

Traditional accounts credit King Ramkhamhaeng of the Sukhothai Kingdom with creating the Thai script around 1283, establishing a uniquely Thai identity distinct from Khmer and Mon writing systems. The script was heavily influenced by the Khmer script, which itself derived from ancient South Indian Brahmi script.

The Ramkhamhaeng Inscription (traditionally dated to 1292) is one of the earliest examples of Thai writing. The script evolved through subsequent modifications under King Li Thai (1357) and King Narai (1680), forming the basis of modern Thai script today.

c.1283

Sukhothai script developed

1357

King Li Thai modifications

1680

King Narai standardization

Today

Modern Thai script

Evolution of Thai Script

Brahmi → Khmer → Thai

The 44 Consonants

Grouped by class. Consonant class determines tone when combined with vowels and tone marks.

Middle Class (9) — Most neutral

High Class (11) — Aspirated sounds

Low Class (24) — Paired & unpaired

Middle Class กลาง (klang) — 9 consonants

ก

k

ไก่

chicken

จ

j

จาน

plate

ฎ

d

ชฎา

headdress

ฏ

t

ปฏัก

goad

ด

d

เด็ก

child

ต

t

เต่า

turtle

บ

b

ใบไม้

leaf

ป

p

ปลา

fish

อ

-

อ่าง

basin

High Class สูง (sung) — 11 consonants

ข

kh

ไข่

egg

ฃ

kh

(obsolete)

bottle

obsolete

ฉ

ch

ฉิ่ง

cymbal

ฐ

th

ฐาน

base

ถ

th

ถุง

bag

ผ

ph

ผ้า

cloth

ฝ

f

ฝา

lid

ศ

s

ศาลา

pavilion

ษ

s

ฤๅษี

hermit

ส

s

เสือ

tiger

ห

h

หีบ

chest

Low Class ต่ำ (tam) — 24 consonants

ค

kh

ควาย

buffalo

ฅ

kh

(obsolete)

person

obsolete

ฆ

kh

ระฆัง

bell

ง

ng

งู

snake

ช

ch

ช้าง

elephant

ซ

s

โซ่

chain

ฌ

ch

เฌอ

tree

ญ

y

หญิง

woman

ฑ

th

มณโฑ

Montho

ฒ

th

ผู้เฒ่า

elder

ณ

n

เณร

novice

ท

th

ทหาร

soldier

ธ

th

ธง

flag

น

n

หนู

mouse

พ

ph

พาน

tray

ฟ

f

ฟัน

teeth

ภ

ph

สำเภา

junk

ม

m

ม้า

horse

ย

y

ยักษ์

giant

ร

r

เรือ

boat

ล

l

ลิง

monkey

ว

w

แหวน

ring

ฬ

l

จุฬา

kite

ฮ

h

นกฮูก

owl

Why multiple letters for the same sound? Thai has 44 consonant letters but only 21 distinct initial sounds. The "extra" letters serve two purposes: (1) They come from different consonant classes, which affects tone, and (2) They preserve spelling from Pali/Sanskrit loanwords. For example, ส, ศ, and ษ all make the "s" sound, but come from different source languages and belong to different classes.

Next: Vowels & Tone Marks

Learn how Thai vowels can appear before, after, above, or below consonants, and how tone marks modify pronunciation.

Vowel System →

Reading & Practice

Learn the step-by-step process for reading Thai syllables, understand live vs. dead syllables, and practice with real words.

Reading Guide →

Learn Systematically

Master Thai Script with Spaced Repetition

Memorizing 44 consonants and 32+ vowel forms is daunting. Our Literacy-First track introduces them gradually, building on what you've learned with systematic review.

Syllable breakdown cards showing onset, vowel, coda, and tone
Consonant class drills—internalize the 3-class system
Script-first learning track—no romanization crutch
Progressive introduction from common to rare characters

Explore Syllable Breakdown

Jam Kham Syllable Breakdown

สวัสดี

สะ

ส ะ

หวัด

หว ั ด

ดี

ด ี

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about learning to read Thai.

How long does it take to read Thai?

With focused study, you can learn to decode basic syllables in 2-4 weeks. Reading fluently—where you recognize words without sounding out each letter—takes 4-6 months of consistent practice. Full literacy with complex vocabulary is an ongoing journey.

Should I learn romanization or script first?

Both approaches have merit. Script-first avoids the crutch of romanization and forces you to engage with how Thai actually works. Romanization-first lets you start speaking immediately. We recommend learning both in parallel—use romanization for speaking practice, but always study with Thai script visible.

Why are there multiple letters for the same sound?

Thai's "extra" consonants serve two purposes: They encode tone information (different consonant classes produce different default tones), and they preserve etymology from Pali and Sanskrit loanwords. For learners, the consonant class system is the key—it's how you determine which tone a syllable takes.

What's the hardest part of Thai script?

Most learners struggle with vowel positions—Thai vowels can appear before, after, above, below, or surrounding their consonant. The lack of spaces between words also makes it hard to know where words begin and end. Our syllable breakdown cards specifically address these challenges.

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The Thai Writing System