สำเนียง
sǎm-niiangMeanings
1NounB1
accent; dialectal pronunciation
the characteristic way of pronouncing words that indicates a speaker’s region, background, or language influence
Examples
เขาkǎoเขาkǎo1he; him2she; her3they; them (context-dependent)4horn5mountain; hillพูดpûutพูดpûut1[to] speak; talk2[to] say; speak3[to] tell; talk aboutไทยtaiไทยtai1Thai (language)2Thai; of Thailand3Thai personด้วยdûuaiด้วยdûuai1with; together with2also; too; as well3by; by means of; using4because of; due to5because; since (formal/literary)6request particle; please; tooสำเนียงเหนือsǎm-niiang-nʉ̌ʉaสำเนียงเหนือsǎm-niiang-nʉ̌ʉaNorthern Thai accent
He speaks Thai with a Northern accent.
3 more examplesShow less
My foreign friend has a very clear British accent.
ครูkruuบอกว่าbɔ̀ɔk-wâaสำเนียงsǎm-niiangไม่ใช่mâi-châiปัญหาbpan-hǎaขอให้kɔ̌ɔ-hâiสื่อสารsʉ̀ʉ-sǎanได้dâaiก็gɔ̂พอpɔɔ
The teacher said that accent is not a problem as long as you can communicate.
แม้mɛ́ɛเขาkǎoจะjàออกเสียงɔ̀ɔk-sǐiangถูกต้องtùuk-dtɔ̂ngแต่dtɛ̀ɛสำเนียงsǎm-niiangยังyangสะท้อนsà-tɔ́ɔnพื้นเพpʉ́ʉn-peeทางtaangภาษาpaa-sǎaและlɛ́ถิ่นกำเนิดtìn-gam-nə̀ətของเขาkɔ̌ɔng-kǎoอยู่yùu
Even though his pronunciation is correct, his accent still reflects his linguistic background and place of origin.
2NounB1
tone; intonation; manner of speaking
the pitch pattern, vocal tone, or style of speaking that conveys feeling, attitude, or mood
Examples
เขาkǎoเขาkǎo1he; him2she; her3they; them (context-dependent)4horn5mountain; hillพูดด้วยpûut-dûuaiพูดด้วยpûut-dûuai[to] speak with [sb]; [to] talk to [sb]สำเนียงsǎm-niiangสำเนียงsǎm-niiang1accent; dialectal pronunciation2tone; intonation; manner of speakingอ่อนโยนɔ̀ɔn-yoonอ่อนโยนɔ̀ɔn-yoon1gentle; kind (manner)2tender; delicate (treatment/handling)ทำให้tam-hâiทำให้tam-hâi1[to] make; cause [sb/sth] to [do/be sth]; render2[to] do/make [sth] for [sb]รู้สึกrúu-sʉ̀kรู้สึกrúu-sʉ̀k1[to] feel; sense2[to] feel that…; think (impression/opinion)สบายใจsà-baai-jaiสบายใจsà-baai-jai1at ease; relieved; contented2[to] feel at ease; feel relieved
He spoke with a gentle tone, which made me feel at ease.
3 more examplesShow less
สำเนียงsǎm-niiangของkɔ̌ɔngเธอtəəฟังดูfang-duuตัดพ้อdtàt-pɔ́ɔเล็กน้อยlék-nɔ́ɔiแม้mɛ́ɛคำพูดkam-pûutจะjàสุภาพsù-pâap
Her tone sounded slightly plaintive, even though her words were polite.
The teacher used a firm tone to emphasize that this rule is important.
เขาkǎoเปลี่ยนbplìianสำเนียงsǎm-niiangจากjàakขึงขังkʉ̌ng-kǎngเป็นbpenเป็นกันเองbpen-gan-eengทันทีที่tan-tii-tîiบรรยากาศban-yaa-gàatเริ่มrə̂əmผ่อนคลายpɔ̀ɔn-klaaiขึ้นkʉ̂n
He shifted his tone from stern to friendly as soon as the atmosphere started to relax.
Tones
See how the spelling sets each syllable's tone, step by step.
Why is สำเนียง said สัม-เนียง?
sǎm-niiang
The tone rules below use the spoken syllables.
2 syllables · pick one to see its rule
How the tone is decided
- Consonant classHigh class
- Tone markNo tone mark
- Syllable endingLive syllableThe vowel ำ hides a final -ม, so it is live.
High class consonants
ขฃฉฐถผฝศษสห
Result
Rising tone
sǎm
Dips low first, then rises clearly.
High class + No tone mark + Live syllable → Rising
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 | — | — |