Mai Ek (low tone mark)
ไม้เอก
First tone mark
Example: ไก่
Tone marks
A tone mark sits above the consonant and, together with the consonant class and the vowel length, decides how the syllable is pitched.
Mai Tho (falling tone mark)
ไม้โท
Second tone mark
Example: น้ำ
Mai Tri (high tone mark)
ไม้ตรี
Third tone mark
Example: โต๊ะ
Mai Chattawa (rising tone mark)
ไม้จัตวา
Fourth tone mark
Example: จ๋า
Mai Taikhu (vowel shortener)
ไม้ไต่คู้
short syllables
Example: เด็ก
Hear the difference
Tones are easier to learn by ear than by rule. The practice app has listening drills that play one syllable and ask you which tone you heard.
Open the practice app