FOOT
This is For Fun. It has a "f" sound.		This is Tor Tow. It has a hard "dt" sound.
	This is a vowel. It has a short "oo" sound.

We start this week with some new letters though you should have the idea by now on how to read the word. The first letter is "f" with the vowel below it. You might remember a similar vowel to this for the word "menu". Both of them are "oo" sounds though this one is shorter. Easy to remember as this one looks like it has been cut in half compared to the other one. When people transliterate Thai words into English they usually write a "u" for this vowel and "oo" for the longer version. That is why some people think the motorised tricycle "tuk tuk" should be pronounced "tuck tuck". Really it should be "took took" with a short "oo" sound. Anyway, the final letter is usually written as a "t" but is more of a harder sound like a cross between a "d" and a "t". Together it makes "foot" though don't forget it is a short "oo" sound. Also don't forget you mustn't have the little explosion at the end of the "t" sound. Keep your tongue up against the top of your mouth.

CLUB	This is a vowel. It has an "uh" sound.
This is Kor Kwai. It has a "k" sound.		This is Bor Baimai. It has a "b" sound.
	This is Lor Ling. It has a "l" sound.

This word is in two parts. The first letter is "k". The vowel above the next two letters connects them both together. Together they make "lub". Put the "k" at the start and you will get "klub". Don't forget what I mentioned before. Keep your lips closed for the final sound. This is quite normal in most Thai words.

BRANDY
This is a vowel. It has an "uh" sound.	This is a tone mark. Don't worry about it yet.	This is a vowel. It has an "ee" sound.
This is Bor Baimai. It has a "b" sound.		This is Dor Dek. It has a "d" sound.
This is Ror Rua. It has a "r" sound. This is Nor Noo. It has a "n" sound.

You should have already met all of these letters. Like the previous example, split the word up into groups. This time there are two sections. The "b" comes first followed by "run" and finishes with "dee". Yes, the Thai people say "brun-dee". Make the emphasis on the "dee".

NYLON
	This is Lor Ling. It has a "l" sound.
This is a vowel. It has an "ai" sound.		This is Nor Noo. It has a "n" sound.
	This is Nor Noo. It has a "n" sound. This is Or Ang. It has a "oh" sound.

This word is split up into two parts. The first letter is a vowel and it acts a bit like a "y" though we have written it as "ai". Just to confuse you, it comes before the consonant but the sound comes after it! So, the first part is "nai". The next part you saw last week for the word "Connie". This time it is "lon". Together it makes "nai-lon". Easy!

TENNIS
This is Tor Tahan. It has a "t" sound.	This is a vowel. It has a short "ih" sound.	This is Sor Sua. It has a "s" sound at the start and a "t" sound at the end!
This is a vowel. It has an "eh" sound.
	This is Nor Noo. It has a "n" sound. This is Nor Noo. It has a "n" sound.

Just in case you were finding this easy, I decided to throw this one in to confuse you. This word splits up into two groups. The vowel proceeds the consonant, but as usual start with the second letter which is a "t". Next comes the vowel before it and the "n" after it to make "ten". The next letter is "n" with the vowel above it. Sor Sua is usually a "s" but when it comes at the end of it's group it then becomes a "t" sound. So, this is "nit". So, Thai people will say "ten-nit" instead of "tennis". I don't think there is any Thai word with a "s" at the end. Which explains why my students never pronounce the "s" at the end of English words. Like other words, make the second part a little louder.

In the next lesson I have put an exercise together for you of English sentences written out with Thai letters. See if you can work out what they are! [Go to Lesson 04]

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