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The American accent for Thai speakers

Your English is already good. If Thai is your first language, these are the American patterns worth your time first, and why.

Start with these patterns

Thai words end in few sounds, and a last sound is easy to say when it starts the next word.

1. A consonant joins the next word

   consonant + next vowel → joins

   The last consonant starts the next word: “pick up” becomes “pi-kup”.

Then, for clear pronunciation

Thai words end in few sounds and add no -ed, Thai uses tones, not a strong part, and R often sounds like L.

1. Finish the word, add no vowel

   last sound → said

   Without its T, note is no. With an added vowel, sport is support.

   If you speak Thai, keep the first sounds together: smoke, not “suh-moke”. Keep the last sound too: nice, not “nye”.

2. Light or right?

   L tip touchesR touches nothing

   For L, the tip of your tongue touches just behind your top teeth.

   If you speak Thai, R often becomes L in everyday Thai. In English, keep them apart: right, light.

3. Two-part words start strong

   two parts → strong-quick

   This is true about 3 times in 4, so when you’re not sure, start strong.

4. -ed has three sounds

   P · K · F · S · SH · CH + -ed → tother sounds + -ed → dT · D + -ed → id

   Look at the sound before it, not the letter: laugh ends in an F sound.

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