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.
