Phayan Blog
Honest guides on learning to read Thai — the alphabet, the tones, the vowels, and how the tools actually work.
5 articles
The 5 Thai Tones with Audio: Hear Them, Don't Memorize Them
The five Thai tones with audio: mid, low, falling, high, rising — what they sound like, why they change meaning, and how to train your ear.
Thai Vowels: All 32 Forms in 9 Easy Groups
All 32 Thai vowel forms in 9 short–long groups, plus the diphthongs and specials — and why Thai vowels surround the consonant.
Thai Script for Beginners: Where to Start — Letters & Tones
The Thai script for beginners: 42 letters in everyday use, 21 sounds, 32+ vowel forms, 5 tones — and the order that makes it learnable.
Thai Letter Stroke Order: The 42 Letters in Use
The correct stroke order for Thai letters — head circle first, then body, then appendages — for the 42 letters in everyday use.
Thai Transliteration: Reading Thai with English Letters
How Thai transliteration works — Paiboon vs RTGS, why “khao” can mean rice, news, or “he”, and when English letters actually help.