Thai consonant 2 of 44
ข – Kho Khai (kǎw kài): the Thai letter K
- Class
- High class
- Start sound
- k
- End sound
- k
- Keyword
- egg
ข ขอ ไข่ kǎw kài
In short
ข (ขอ ไข่kǎw kài) is the 2nd letter of the Thai alphabet and a high-class consonant. At the start of a syllable it sounds like k, and at the end of a syllable like k. Its name means "ข as in ไข่, egg".
How to say ข
k with a puff of air, as in 'kite'
The keyword ไข่kài means egg. Say the letter as ขอ ไข่kǎw kài.
Same "k" sound, different letter: ฃ Kho Khuat, ค Kho Khwai, ฅ Kho Khon, ฆ Kho Rakhang. The class is what tells them apart.
Thai words with ข
Tap the speaker to hear each word. Can you spot ข in each one?
- ขนม kà-nǒm
snack; sweets, dessert
- ข้าว kâao
rice; a meal
- ข้าวมันไก่ kâao-man-gài
Hainanese chicken rice (khao man gai)
- ขอ kǎw
may I have…, I'd like… (asking for something)
- ของ kǎwng
of, belonging to; things, stuff
- ขวา kwǎa
right (the direction)
- ขึ้น kûen
to go up; to get on, to get in (a vehicle)
- ข้างหน้า kâang-nâa
in front; up ahead
- ข้างหลัง kâang-lǎng
behind; at the back
- ข้างๆ kâang-kâang
next to, beside
Don't mix it up with
Letters that look similar. Compare the loops, tails and notches.
- ขอ ไข่ kǎw kài
Tones with high-class letters
ข is one of the 11 high-class consonants. With no tone mark:
- Live syllableRising tone
- Dead syllableLow tone
Two tone marks: ◌่ low, ◌้ falling.
The full tone rules chart