Tones 1: mid and low

In Thai, the pitch of your voice is part of the word. ปาbpaa means "throw"; say the same syllable lower and it becomes ป่าbpàa, "forest". Every syllable has one of five tones, and you'll learn them two or three at a time.

Why this feels strange

English uses pitch for feelings: "Coffee?" rises when you ask, "Coffee." falls when you decide. Thai can't do that, because the pitch already belongs to the words. Questions are made with question words like ไหมmǎi, not with your voice.

The five tones in our romanization

• mid: no mark, as in maa
• low: à
• falling: â
• high: á
• rising: ǎ

Mid tone

Level, in the middle of your normal speaking voice, and relaxed. Think of a calm, flat "mm". It's the most common tone: มาmaa (come), ไปbpai (go), ดีdii (good), กินgin (eat).

Low tone

Level and lower than mid, often dropping a little at the end. Keep it relaxed; don't growl or creak. ไก่gài (chicken), สี่sìi (four), หกhòk (six).

How to practise

• Find your range: say a comfortable mid, then go a few notes lower for low.
• Use your hand: flat at chest height for mid, flat and lower for low.
• Count the low-tone numbers: สี่sìi 4, หกhòk 6, เจ็ดjèt 7, แปดbpàet 8, สิบsìp 10.
• Then the pairs in this lesson: ปาbpaa and ป่าbpàa, ปูbpuu (crab) and ปู่bpùu (grandpa).

Record yourself and compare with the audio: your ear improves fastest when you hear yourself from the outside.

Typical mistake: letting the low tone sound sad or doubtful. It's simply lower, with no emotion attached.