Thai vowels are unique because they can be placed before, after, above, below, or surrounding the consonant. Even so, they always attach to the initial consonant and are read after it. In this lesson, we explore how vowels work, how vowel length affects the meaning of a word, and why vowels are essential to distinguishing syllables.

You will learn:

• The structure and placement of Thai vowels
• The difference between short and long vowels

This lesson reinforces the relationship between consonants and vowels—an important step for reading real Thai words confidently.

Quick Summary and Key Takeaways

• Thai has over 32 vowel forms, and each attaches to an initial consonant.
• A vowel is always attached to the initial consonant.
• A vowel can be placed in different positions, like in front, behind, below, above, or around the initial consonant.
• Vowel length (short vs long) changes meaning.
• Identifying vowels is key to determining where a syllable ends.

Next Lesson Preview: Once you understand vowels and consonants, it’s time to explore tones. Tones are what give Thai its expressiveness and precision. The next lesson introduces the five tones and shows how small changes in pitch can completely change a word’s meaning.