Gor Gai is the first Thai consonant.
Thai consonants were developed with a word association (Gai = Chicken) to help in learning the language only. What is important is the sound you hear when Gor Gai is used in a Thai script word. Gor Gai ก makes the Hard G sound (like Go) when verbally spoken in Thai. At the start of a syllable, Gor Gai ก makes a “g” sound. At the end of a syllable, Gor Gai ก makes a “k” sound
Thai language has 44 Consonant word associations to aid in learning the language (i.e. horse (Mar), egg (Kai), chicken (Gai), etc.) each of these 44 consonants represents a sound. 2 of the Thai consonants are no longer used, therefore you only need to learn 42 Thai consonants.
- ฃ (kho khuat) OBSOLETE
- ฅ (kho khon) OBSOLETE
The Thai consonant Gor Gai is named after a chicken for ease in learning. Academics do NOT know why, except perhaps the consonant Gor Gai ก may resemble a chicken shape? Please do not try to associate the consonant Gor Gai ก when used in a word to meaning an actual chicken. The chicken reference is only to assist you in learning and recognizing the consonant in a word. What is important to remember is the Hard G sound the consonant Gor Gai ก makes when used in a Thai word. At the start of a syllable, Gor Gai ก makes a “g” sound. At the end of a syllable, Gor Gai ก makes a “k” sound
The Thai consonant ก (gor gai) is the first consonant in the Thai alphabet. It is pronounced as a hard “g” sound, as in the English word “go”. At the start of a syllable, it makes a “g” sound. At the end of a syllable, it makes a “k” sound
When you see the Gor Gai consonant ก่ in a thai script word, there will a sound of G if Gor Gai is the start of a syllable or a K at the end of the syllable; when pronouncing the word orally in Thai.
Here is an example:
กระต่าย = Krat̀āy =(rabbit) You can see Gor Gai ก is at the start/front of a syllable, there you can expect the spoken word to have a hard G sound.
The Thai script word, กระต่าย, means rabbit in English. ou can see Gor Gai ก is at the start/front of a syllable.
If you pronounce the Thai Script word (กระต่าย) orally, you will hear the word Krat̀āy (The K sounds like the G sound (ก) when pronounced in Thai). It sounds like the speaker is saying Gra-Thai but the Thai word is spelled with a K; Krat̀āy.
You can listen to the sound in the Google Translator by entering the word rabbit in English and translating to Thai and clicking on the Thai speaker button. To learn how to correctly pronounce these words, use the google translator HERE (instructions below)
The Thai Script word for chicken is Kị̀. When pronounced in Thai language orally, it sounds like Gi (or guy). The G sound comes from the consonant Gor Gai ก (Hard G sound) because the ก is in the starting symbol and the starting symbol always makes the hard G sound .
Gor Gai is a middle-class consonant. This means that it has a mid-tone when it is pronounced at the beginning of a syllable. However, if Gor Gai is pronounced at the end of a syllable, it has a low tone.
Here are some examples of words that start with the consonant Gor Gai:
- ไก่ (gai) – chicken (Gai sounds like guy)
- กิน (gin) – to eat. (Notice the Thai script word กิน has the Gor Gai consonant ก in the starting syllable (Hard G sound)). When the Thai script word กิน is verbally spoken, we can hear a G sound in the pronunciation of the word กิน; which is spoken in Thai (Sounds like G + in) Gin (to eat).
- กล้วย (kluai) – banana.(Notice the Thai script word has the Gor Gai consonant ก in the starting syllable (Hard G sound)). When the Thai script word กล้วย is verbally spoken, we can hear a G sound in the pronunciation of the word กล้วย; which is spoken in Thai (sounds like gue-aye (Kluai) where the K sounds like a G(ก), from the first consonant of the Thai script word กล้วย!
- เก้าอี้ (kao-yi) – chair. (Notice the Thai script word เก้าอี้ has the Gor Gai consonant ก in the starting syllable (Hard G sound)). When the Thai script word เก้าอี้ is verbally spoken, we can hear a G sound in the pronunciation of the word เก้าอี้; which is spoken in Thai (sounds like gow ee) (kao-yi).
- กางเกง (Kāngkeng) – trousers (Notice the Thai script word กางเกง has the Gor Gai consonant ก in the starting syllable (Hard G sound)). When the Thai script word กางเกง is verbally spoken, we can hear a G sound in the pronunciation of the word กางเกง; which is spoken in Thai as (sounds like gang-geng) (Kāngkeng).
To hear this pronunciation of these words, use the Google translator. To learn how to correctly pronounce these words, use the google translator HERE (instructions below)
Gor Gai is a very common consonant in Thai, and it is used in many different words. It is important to learn how to pronounce Gor Gai correctly, as it can make a big difference in the meaning of a word.
For example, the word กิน (gin) means “to eat”, while the word กิน (kin) means “to bite”. The only difference between the two words is the tone of the consonant Gor Gai.
This is how to write Gor Gai. Practice, Practice, Practice!
To learn how to correctly pronounce Gor Gai, use the google translator HERE
- Step one, click on the blue link above and open the Google Translator.
2. Step 2, select English Language and type the word Gor Gai in the box as shown below:
3. Step 3, click on the microphone over and over to hear the correct pronunciation of Gor Gai:
4. Repeat clicking the microphone icon over and over until you can pronounce Gor Gai with the correct tones.
5. Download and save this image below and print a few copies to practice tracing the Thai consonant Gor Gai ก.
In Summary – Lesson 1:
- Understand the Thai language has 44 consonants. 2 of the consonants are obsolete, so you only need to learn 42 consonants.
- The first consonant is Gor Gai ก resembles a chicken shape.
- Remember when you see the Thai consonant Gor Gai ก, in a word, that the Thai script word when spoken orally in the Thai Language will have a Hard G sound somewhere in the word. Refer to the examples above.
- Listen to the Google Translator to get the correct pronunciation for the consonant Gor Gai ก.
- Copy and print out the traceable worksheets and practice tracing Gor Gai ก, until you can write the Thai consonant Gor Gai perfectly on your own.