Thai consonant 1 of 44
ก – Ko Kai (gaw gài): the Thai letter G
- Class
- Mid class
- Start sound
- g
- End sound
- k
- Keyword
- chicken
ก กอ ไก่ gaw gài
In short
ก (กอ ไก่gaw gài) is the 1st letter of the Thai alphabet and a mid-class consonant. At the start of a syllable it sounds like g, and at the end of a syllable like k. Its name means "ก as in ไก่, chicken".
How to say ก
between g and k: like the k in 'skin' (no puff of air)
The keyword ไก่gài means chicken. Say the letter as กอ ไก่gaw gài.
Thai words with ก
Tap the speaker to hear each word. Can you spot ก in each one?
- กาแฟ gaa-fae
coffee
- กิน gin
to eat
- ก๋วยเตี๋ยว gǔay-dtǐaw
noodle soup; noodles
- กลับบ้าน glàp bâan
to go home; to take away (food)
- กับ gàp
and; with
- กัน gan
together, each other; let's (at the end)
- กล้วย glûay
banana
- กี่ gìi
how many (+ counting word)
- กระเป๋า grà-bpǎo
bag; suitcase
- กีฬา gii-laa
sport
Don't mix it up with
Letters that look similar. Compare the loops, tails and notches.
- กอ ไก่ gaw gài
Tones with mid-class letters
ก is one of the 9 mid-class consonants. With no tone mark:
- Live syllableMid tone
- Dead syllableLow tone
All four tone marks: ◌่ low, ◌้ falling, ◌๊ high, ◌๋ rising.
The full tone rules chart