Tone Rules
~6 minThe master decision tree. Answer 3–4 questions about any Thai syllable and arrive at its exact tone.
Step 1 — Consonant class
What class is the initial consonant?
Mid: ก จ ด ต บ ป อ ฎ ฏ (9) · High: ข ฃ ฉ ฐ ถ ผ ฝ ศ ษ ส ห (11) · Low: all others (24)
Example walkthrough: หมา (dog)
- Initial consonant: ม = low class
- Silent ห leading? Yes → acts like high class
- Tone mark? None
- Syllable type? Live (long vowel า)
- High class + no mark + live = rising tone → maa (rising)
How live vs dead changes tone (no tone mark):
Steps 1, 3 and 3b above, laid out as one table. Live or dead is the third input to tone after consonant class and tone mark; it decides every unmarked syllable.
Mid classlive syllablemid tone
Mid classdead syllablelow tone
High classlive syllablerising tone
High classdead syllablelow tone
Low classlive syllablemid tone
Low classdead syllable, short vowelhigh tone
Low classdead syllable, long vowelfalling tone
Where this goes next
Next lessonSilent ห Tone Raiser
Related lessons on the same skill
Part of the guideThai tones explained (and how to practice them)