Practice: tone marks and reading
What you will be able to do
Name the four tone marks on sight, and read simple words built from the letters in steps 2 and 3.
Which tone mark is on this letter?
ก่
That is ไม้เอก, the first tone mark. Remember that the mark does not name the tone: the result depends on the consonant class underneath.
Which tone mark is on this letter?
ก้
That is ไม้โท, the second tone mark.
Which tone mark is on this letter?
ก๊
That is ไม้ตรี, the third mark. It is rare and appears mostly on loanwords.
Which tone mark is on this letter?
ก๋
That is ไม้จัตวา, the fourth mark, and the rarest of the four.
What does this word mean?
กา
กา is gaa, a crow. Consonant ก plus the long vowel า.
What does this word mean?
ตา
ตา is dtaa, eye. It also means maternal grandfather.
What does this word mean?
ดี
ดี is dii, good. The vowel ี sits above the consonant but is read after it.
What does this word mean?
ปู
ปู is bpuu, crab. The vowel ู sits below.
What does this word mean?
จาน
จาน is jaan, plate. น closes the syllable, and a final consonant is one of the things that decides tone.
How is this read?
เก
เก is gee. เ is written before the consonant but pronounced after it, so your eye has to jump.
Common mistake
Read each word out loud before choosing. Answering silently trains recognition of a shape rather than the ability to read.