พยางค์
pá-yaangMeanings
1NounB1
syllable
a unit of pronunciation with one vowel sound, with or without surrounding consonants, forming all or part of a word
Examples
คำว่าkam-wâaคำว่าkam-wâathe word/term (introductory marker)บ้านbâanบ้านbâan1house; home2home (family unit)3village; hometown4classifier: หลัง5domestic; domesticated; cultivatedมีmiiมีmii1[to] have; possess2there is/are; exist3[to] experience; undergoหนึ่งnʉ̀ngหนึ่งnʉ̀ng1one (number)2a; one; a single3a certain; a particular4first; top; foremostพยางค์pá-yaangพยางค์pá-yaang1syllable2syllable (classifier for Thai syllables)
The word ‘บ้าน’ has one syllable.
3 more examplesShow less
The teacher asked us to split the word ‘สนุก’ into two syllables.
เวลาwee-laaฝึกfʉ̀kอ่านàanเราraoนับnápพยางค์pá-yaangเพื่อpʉ̂ʉaช่วยchûuaiออกเสียงɔ̀ɔk-sǐiangให้hâiถูกtùuk
When practicing reading, we count syllables to help pronounce correctly.
ในnaiภาษาไทยpaa-sǎa-taiพยางค์pá-yaangประกอบด้วยbprà-gɔ̀ɔp-dûuaiสระsàหลักlàkหนึ่งnʉ̀ngตัวdtuuaและlɛ́เสียงsǐiangพยัญชนะpá-yan-chá-náที่tîiอาจàatมีmiiก็ได้gɔ̂-dâaiทำให้tam-hâiโครงสร้างkroong-sâangคำkamหลากหลายlàak-lǎai
In Thai, a syllable consists of a main vowel and optional consonant sounds, resulting in a variety of word structures.
2ClassifierB1
syllable (classifier for Thai syllables)
classifier used when counting or referring to syllables
Examples
คำkamคำkam1word; term2classifier for words/utterances3speech; saying; utteranceนี้níiนี้níi1this (near speaker)2this one3this; the present (time/topic)มีmiiมีmii1[to] have; possess2there is/are; exist3[to] experience; undergoสามsǎamสามsǎamthree (3)พยางค์pá-yaangพยางค์pá-yaang1syllable2syllable (classifier for Thai syllables)นักเรียนnák-riianนักเรียนnák-riianschool student; pupilช่วยchûuaiช่วยchûuai1[to] help; assist [sb/sth]2please (request marker)3[to] save; rescue [sb]นับnápนับnáp1[to] count2[to] include; be counted3[to] consider; regardดูสิduu-sìดูสิduu-sìlook!; see!
This word has three syllables; students, try counting them.
3 more examplesShow less
เวลาwee-laaแต่งกลอนdtɛ̀ng-glɔɔnเขาkǎoจะjàกำหนดgam-nòtจำนวนjam-nuuanพยางค์pá-yaangในnaiแต่ละวรรคdtɛ̀ɛ-lá-wákให้hâiพอดีpɔɔ-diiจังหวะjang-wà
When composing poetry, they set the number of syllables in each line to match the rhythm.
อาจารย์aa-jaanบอกให้bɔ̀ɔk-hâiตัดคำdtàt-kamนี้níiออกɔ̀ɔkเป็นสองbpen-sɔ̌ɔngพยางค์pá-yaangเพื่อให้pʉ̂ʉa-hâiอ่านง่ายàan-ngâaiขึ้นkʉ̂n
The teacher told us to split this word into two syllables to make it easier to read.
ชื่อchêuแบรนด์braenสั้นๆsân sânสองsŏngพยางค์pá-yaangมักmákจำง่ายjam ngâaiและláeติดหูdtìt hŏoผู้บริโภคpôo bò-rí-pôhkมากกว่าmâak gwàa
Short brand names with two syllables are often easier for consumers to remember and find catchy.
Tones
See how the spelling sets each syllable's tone, step by step.
Why is พยางค์ said พะ-ยาง?
pá-yaang
The tone rules below use the spoken syllables.
2 syllables · pick one to see its rule
How the tone is decided
- Consonant classLow class
- Tone markNo tone mark
- Syllable endingDead syllableShort vowelA short vowel with no final consonant, so it is dead.
Low class consonants
คฅฆงชซฌญฑฒณทธนพฟภมยรลวฬฮ
Result
High tone
pá
Starts high and keeps climbing.
Low class + No tone mark + Dead syllable · Short vowel → High
Tone chart
Every class and spelling pattern, with this syllable outlined.
| Mid class | High class | Low class | |
|---|---|---|---|
| No mark + live | Mid | Rising | Mid |
| No mark + dead short | Low | Low | High |
| No mark + dead long | Low | Low | Falling |
| Mai ek | Low | Low | Falling |
| Mai tho | Falling | Falling | High |
| Mai tri | High | — | — |
| Mai chattawa | Rising | — | — |