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Koh Rang Yai

APPENDIX 1: THAI ALPHABET
CONSONANTS

There are 44 consonants in the Thai alphabet but two are obsolete and we have not included them. All Thai consonant characters are given a two word name.

The first word represents the sound the character makes when placed at the start of a syllable. The first consonant of the Thai alphabet is Gor Gai. When placed at the start of a syllable it makes a 'g' sound, hence 'gor'.

The second is a word that includes the character. 'Gai' is the Thai word for chicken and starts with the character Gor Gai.

You will notice that many of the Thai consonants make a different sound when placed at the end of a syllable while others are not allowed to be placed at the end of a syllable.

    Start
Syllable
Sound
End
Syllable
Sound
Gor Gai
(chicken)
G K
Kor Kai
(egg)
K K
Kor Kwai
(buffalo)
K K
Kor RaKang
(bell)
K  
Ngor Nguu
(snake)
NG NG
Jor Jahn
(plate)
J T
Chor Ching
(cymbal)
CH  
Chor Chang
(elephant)
CH T
Sor So
(chain)
S T
Chor Cherr
(tree)
Y N
Yor Ying
(woman)
Y N
Dor ChaDah
(dance hat)
D T
Dtor Bpadtak
(spear)
DT T
Tor Tahn
(base)
T T
Tor MonTo
(story character)
T T
Tor PuuTao
(old man)
T T
Nor Nayn
(novice monk)
N N
Dor Dek
(child)
D T
Dtor Dtao
(turtle)
DT T
Tor Tung
(bag)
T T
Tor NaiTahahn
(soldier)
T T
Tor Tong
(flag)
T T
Nor Nuu
(mouse)
N N
Bor BaiMai
(leaf)
B P
Bpor Bplah
(fish)
BP P
Por Purng
(bee)
P  
For Fah
(lid)
F  
Por Pahn
(offering tray)
P P
For Fun
(tooth)
F  
Por SamPao
(small boat)
P P
Mor Mah
(horse)
M M
Yor Yak
(giant/demon)
Y  
Ror Reu-a
(boat)
R N
Lor Ling
(monkey)
L N
Wor Wairn
(ring)
W  
Sor Sahlah
(shelter)
S T
Sor ReuSee
(hermit)
S T
Sor Seu-a
(tiger)
S T
Hor Heep
(trunk/box)
H  
Lor JuLah
(kite)
L N
Or Ahng
(base)
*  
Hor NokHuuk
(owl)
H  

 

* OR AHNG - is a special character. On its own it makes the vowel sound 'or'. However, it is included in the consonants list because it is also used as a base for other vowel sounds. In written Thai, all vowels must be attached to a consonant. If they want to write a vowel sound without an attached consonant then they attach it to Or Ahng. In this case, Or Ahng is silent.

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