Final sounds: k, t, p you don't release

A Thai syllable can only end in a few sounds: -k, -t, -p, -m, -n, -ng, and the glides -y and -w, which we write inside the vowel (as in ai or ao).

Unreleased stops

This is the big difference from English: final k, t and p are unreleased. Close the back of your tongue for k, the tip of your tongue for t, your lips for p, and simply stop. No puff of air, no little vowel after it. Think of the t in "not now" or the p in "stop it" said quickly.

The final changes the word

• ตักdtàk scoop, ตัดdtàt cut, ตับdtàp liver
• รักrák love, รัดrát tie tightly, รับráp receive

So don't swallow the final, even though you don't release it.

m, n and ng

Keep them apart: lips closed for m, the tip of the tongue up for n, the back of the tongue up for ng.

• จามjaam sneeze, จานjaan plate, จางjaang faded

Loanwords go Thai

English endings get Thai finals: a final l becomes n (บอลbawn, ball), s becomes t (แก๊สgáet, gas), and f becomes p (กอล์ฟgáwp, golf).

English habits to drop

• adding a plural s: two coffees is กาแฟสองแก้วgaa-fae sǎwng gâew, with no s anywhere
• releasing a final with a puff: บาทbàat, not "baht-h"
• dropping the final altogether

Typical mistake: ending ฟุตบอลfút-bawn with an English l. Let it end in n, the Thai way.