The 4rth consonant in the Thai language is Khor Kwai ค (water buffalo).
Thai consonants were developed with a word association (Kwai = Water Buffalo) to help in learning the language only. What is important to learn is the sound you hear when Khor Kwai ค is used in a Thai script word (ควาย). Khor Kwai ค makes the Kh/K sound when verbally spoken in Thai.
The Thai consonant Khor Kwai ค is named after a water buffalo for ease in learning. Please do not try to associate the consonant Khor Kwai ค when used in a word to meaning an actual water buffalo. The water buffalo reference is only to assist you in learning and recognizing the consonant shape in a word. What is important to remember is the Kh/K sound the consonant Khor Kwai ค makes when used in a Thai word.
Here is an example:
The Thai Script word ควาย means water buffalo in English. Pronounced orally in Thai as Kwai (Khwāy). The K sounds like K in Kind.
You can listen to the sound in the Google Translator by entering the word water buffalo in English and translating to Thai and clicking on the speaker button. To learn how to correctly pronounce these words, use the google translator HERE
ควาย Kwai =Buffalo. You can see the Thai script word ควาย has the Thai consonant Khor Kwai ค in the 1st position.
Now you have recognized the consonant Kor Kwai ค is contained in the Thai script word (ควาย). This means that the spoken Thai word Kwai (Khwāy) will have the strong K sound – Kwai (Khwāy).
Kor Kwai is a very common consonant in Thai, and it is used in many different words. It is important to learn how to pronounce Kor Kwai correctly, as it can make a big difference in the meaning of a word.
How to write Kor Kwai:
To learn how to correctly pronounce Kor Kwai, use the google translator HERE.
Download and save this image below and print a few copies to practice tracing the Thai consonant Khor Kwai ค.
DO NOT MOVE ON TO THE NEXT CONSONENT UNTIL YOU HAVE MASTERED THIS ONE!