Editing Thai script (section)

===Vowels===
Thai vowel sounds and diphthongs are written using a mixture of vowel symbols on a consonant base. Each vowel is shown in its correct position relative to a base consonant and sometimes a final consonant as well. Vowels can go above, below, left of or right of the consonant, or combinations of these places. If a vowel has parts before and after the initial consonant, and the syllable starts with a consonant cluster, the split will go around the whole cluster.

Twenty-one vowel symbol elements are traditionally named, which may appear alone or in combination to form compound symbols.

{|class="wikitable"
! rowspan="2" | Symbol || colspan="2" | Name || rowspan="2" width= 300pt| Combinations
|-
! Thai || RTGS
|-
|style="font-size: 150%; text-align:center"| ะ || วิสรรชนีย์, นมนาง || wisanchani, nom nang<br>(from Sanskrit [[visarga|{{IAST|''visarjanīya''}}]]) || ◌'''ะ'''; ◌ัว'''ะ'''; เ◌'''ะ'''; เ◌อ'''ะ'''; เ◌า'''ะ'''; เ◌ีย'''ะ'''; เ◌ือ'''ะ'''; แ◌'''ะ'''; โ◌'''ะ'''
|-
|style="font-size: 150%; text-align:center"| ◌ั || ไม้หันอากาศ, ไม้ผัด, หางกังหัน || mai han akat, mai phat, mai kanghan ||'''◌ั'''◌; '''◌ั'''ว; '''◌ั'''วะ
|-
|style="font-size: 150%; text-align:center"| ◌็ || ไม้ไต่คู้ || mai tai khu ||'''◌็'''; '''◌็'''อ◌; เ'''◌็'''◌; แ'''◌็'''◌
|-
|style="font-size: 150%; text-align:center"| า || ลากข้าง || lak khang || ◌'''า'''; ◌'''า'''◌; ◌ํ'''า'''; เ◌'''า'''; เ◌'''า'''ะ
|-
|style="font-size: 150%; text-align:center"| ◌ิ || พินทุ์อิ, พินทุอิ || phin i, phinthu i ||'''◌ิ'''; เ'''◌ิ'''◌; '''◌ี'''; '''◌ี'''◌; เ'''◌ี'''ย; เ'''◌ี'''ยะ; '''◌ื'''◌; '''◌ื'''อ; เ'''◌ื'''อ; เ'''◌ื'''อะ
|-
|style="font-size: 150%; text-align:center"| ◌̍ || ฝนทอง || fon thong{{efn|name=vowels-1.1}} ||'''◌ี'''; '''◌ี'''◌; เ'''◌ี'''ย; เ'''◌ี'''ยะ
|-
|style="font-size: 150%; text-align:center"| ◌̎ || ฟันหนู, มูสิกทันต์ || fan nu{{efn|name=vowels-1.1}} ||'''◌ื'''◌; '''◌ื'''อ; เ'''◌ื'''อ; เ'''◌ื'''อะ
|-
|style="font-size: 150%; text-align:center"| ◌ํ || นิคหิต, นฤคหิต, หยาดน้ำค้าง  || nikkhahit, naruekhahit, yat namkhang ||'''◌ึ'''; '''◌ึ'''◌; '''◌ํ'''า
|-
|style="font-size: 150%; text-align:center"| ◌ุ || ตีนเหยียด, ลากตีน || tin yiat, lak tin ||'''◌ุ'''; '''◌ุ'''◌
|-
|style="font-size: 150%; text-align:center"| ◌ู || ตีนคู้ ||  tin khu ||'''◌ู'''; '''◌ู'''◌
|-
|style="font-size: 150%; text-align:center"| เ || ไม้หน้า || mai na ||'''เ'''◌; '''เ'''◌◌; '''เ'''◌็◌; '''เ'''◌อ; '''เ'''◌อ◌; '''เ'''◌อะ; '''เ'''◌า; '''เ'''◌าะ; '''เ'''◌ิ◌; '''เ'''◌ีย; '''เ'''◌ีย◌; '''เ'''◌ียะ; '''เ'''◌ือ; '''เ'''◌ือ◌; '''เ'''◌ือะ; '''แ'''◌; '''แ'''◌◌; '''แ'''◌็◌; '''แ'''◌ะ
|-
|style="font-size: 150%; text-align:center"| โ || ไม้โอ || mai o ||'''โ'''◌; '''โ'''◌◌; '''โ'''◌ะ
|-
|style="font-size: 150%; text-align:center"| ใ || ไม้ม้วน || mai muan ||'''ใ'''◌
|-
|style="font-size: 150%; text-align:center"| ไ || ไม้มลาย || mai malai ||'''ไ'''◌
|-
|style="font-size: 150%; text-align:center"| อ || ตัว อ || tua o || ◌'''อ'''; ◌็'''อ'''◌; ◌ื'''อ'''; เ◌'''อ'''; เ◌'''อ'''◌; เ◌'''อ'''ะ; เ◌ื'''อ'''; เ◌ื'''อ'''ะ
|-
|style="font-size: 150%; text-align:center"| ย || ตัว ย || tua yo || เ◌ี'''ย'''; เ◌ี'''ย'''◌; เ◌ี'''ย'''ะ
|-
|style="font-size: 150%; text-align:center"| ว || ตัว ว || tua wo || ◌ั'''ว'''; ◌ั'''ว'''ะ
|-
|style="font-size: 150%; text-align:center"| ฤ || ตัว ฤ || tua rue ||'''ฤ'''
|-
|style="font-size: 150%; text-align:center"| ฤๅ || ตัว ฤๅ || tua rue ||'''ฤๅ'''
|-
|style="font-size: 150%; text-align:center"| ฦ || ตัว ฦ || tua lue ||'''ฦ'''
|-
|style="font-size: 150%; text-align:center"| ฦๅ || ตัว ฦๅ || tua lue ||'''ฦๅ'''
|-
|colspan=4|
; Notes
{{Notelist|refs=
{{efn|name=vowels-1.1|These symbols are always combined with ''phinthu i'' (◌ิ).}}
}}
|-
|}

The [[inherent vowel]]s are {{IPA|/a/}} in [[open syllable]]s (CV) and {{IPA|/o/}} in [[closed syllable]]s (CVC). For example, {{color|#007000|ถนน}} transcribes {{IPA|/}}{{color|#007000|{{IPA|tʰ}}}}{{IPA|à}}{{color|#007000|{{IPA|n}}}}{{IPA|ǒ}}{{color|#007000|{{IPA|n}}}}{{IPA|/}} "road". There are a few exceptions in Pali loanwords, where the inherent vowel of an open syllable is {{IPA|/ɔː/}}. The [[circumfix]] vowels, such as {{color|#700000|เ–าะ}} {{IPA|/ɔʔ/}}, encompass a preceding consonant with an inherent vowel. For example, {{IPA|/}}{{color|#007000|{{IPA|pʰ}}}}{{color|#700000|{{IPA|ɔʔ}}}}{{IPA|/}} is written {{color|#700000|เ}}{{color|#007000|พ}}{{color|#700000|าะ}}, and {{IPA|/}}{{color|#007000|{{IPA|tɕʰ}}}}{{IPA|a}}{{color|#007000|{{IPA|pʰ}}}}{{color|#700000|{{IPA|ɔʔ}}}}{{IPA|/}} "only" is written {{color|#700000|เ}}{{color|#007000|ฉพ}}{{color|#700000|าะ}}.

The characters '''ฤ ฤๅ''' (plus '''ฦ ฦๅ''', which are obsolete) are usually considered as vowels, the first being a short vowel sound, and the latter, long. The letters are based on vocalic consonants used in Sanskrit, given the one-to-one letter correspondence of Thai to Sanskrit, although the last two letters are quite rare, as their equivalent Sanskrit sounds only occur in a few, ancient words and thus are functionally obsolete in Thai. The first symbol 'ฤ' is common in many Sanskrit and Pali words and 'ฤๅ' less so, but does occur as the primary spelling for the Thai adaptation of Sanskrit 'rishi' and ''treu'' ({{langx|th|ตฤๅ}} {{IPA|/trɯ̄ː/}} or {{IPA|/trīː/}}), a very rare Khmer loan word for 'fish' only found in ancient poetry. As alphabetical entries, ฤ ฤๅ follow '''ร''', and themselves can be read as a combination of consonant and vowel, equivalent to รึ (short), and รือ (long) (and the obsolete pair as ลึ, ลือ), respectively. Moreover, '''ฤ'''  can act as '''ริ'''  as an integral part in many words mostly borrowed from [[Sanskrit]] such as ก'''ฤ'''ษณะ  (''kritsana'', not ''kruetsana''), '''ฤ'''ทธิ์ (''rit'', not ''ruet''), and ก'''ฤ'''ษดา (''kritsada'', not ''kruetsada''), for example. It is also used to spell อังก'''ฤ'''ษ ''angkrit'' England/English. The word '''ฤ'''กษ์ (''roek'') is a unique case where '''ฤ''' is pronounced like '''เรอ'''. In the past, prior to the turn of the twentieth century, it was common for writers to substitute these letters in native vocabulary that contained similar sounds as a shorthand that was acceptable in writing at the time. For example, the conjunction 'or' ({{langx|th|หรือ}} {{IPA|/rɯ̌ː/}} ''rue'', cf. {{langx|lo|ຫຼຶ/ຫລື}} {{IPA|/lɯ̌ː/}} ''lu'') was often written {{langx|th|ฤ}}. This practice has become obsolete, but can still be seen in Thai literature.

The pronunciation below is indicated by the [[International Phonetic Alphabet]]<ref name="Tingsabadh 1993">{{cite journal|last=Tingsabadh|first=Kalaya|author2=Arthur S. Abramson |title=Thai|journal=Journal of the International Phonetic Association|year=1993|volume=23|issue=1|pages=24̂–28|doi=10.1017/S0025100300004746|s2cid=249403146 }}</ref>  and the Romanisation according to the [[Royal Thai General System of Transcription|Royal Thai Institute]] as well as several variant Romanisations often encountered. A very approximate equivalent is given for various regions of English speakers and surrounding areas. Dotted circles represent the positions of consonants or consonant clusters. The first one represents the initial consonant and the latter (if it exists) represents the final.

''Ro han'' (ร หัน) is not usually considered a vowel and is not included in the following table. It represents the ''sara a'' {{IPA|/a/}} vowel in certain Sanskrit loanwords and appears as ◌รร◌. When used without a final consonant (◌รร), {{IPA|/n/}} is implied as the final consonant, giving {{IPA|/an/}}.

{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="7" style="width:49%"| Short vowels || rowspan="2" | || colspan="7" style="width:49%"|Long vowels
|-
! colspan="2" | Name || Symbol || IPA || RTGS || Variants || Similar Sound <br/>(English RP pronunciation) || colspan="2"| Name || Symbol || IPA || RTGS || Variants || Similar Sound <br/>(English RP pronunciation)
|-
! colspan="15" | Simple vowels
|-
| สระอะ || sara a || style="font-size:125%; text-align:center"| ◌ะ <br/>◌ <br/>◌ั◌ || style="text-align:center" | {{IPA|/aʔ/}}, {{IPA|/a/}} || style="text-align:center"| a || u || u in "nut" || rowspan="9"| || สระอา || sara a || style="font-size:125%; text-align:center"| ◌า <br/>◌า◌ || style="text-align:center" | {{IPA|/aː/}} || style="text-align:center" | a || ah, ar, aa || a in "father"
|-
| สระอิ || sara i || style="font-size:125%; text-align:center"| ◌ิ <br/>◌ิ◌ || style="text-align:center"| {{IPA|/i/}} || style="text-align:center"|i || || y in "greedy" || สระอี || sara i || style="font-size:125%; text-align:center"| ◌ี <br/>◌ี◌ || style="text-align:center"| {{IPA|/iː/}} || style="text-align:center"|i || ee, ii, y || ee in "see"
|-
| สระอึ || sara ue || style="font-size:125%; text-align:center"| ◌ึ <br/>◌ึ◌ || style="text-align:center"| {{IPA|/ɯ/}} || style="text-align:center"|ue || eu, u, uh || Can be approximated by pronouncing the oo in "look" with unrounded lips
| สระอือ || sara ue || style="font-size:125%; text-align:center"| ◌ือ <br/>◌ื◌ || style="text-align:center"| {{IPA|/ɯː/}} || style="text-align:center"|ue || eu, u || Can be approximated by pronouncing the oo in RP "goose" with unrounded lips
|-
| สระอุ || sara u || style="font-size:125%; text-align:center"| ◌ุ <br/>◌ุ◌ || style="text-align:center"| {{IPA|/u/}} || style="text-align:center"| u || oo || oo in "shoot" || สระอู || sara u || style="font-size:125%; text-align:center"| ◌ู <br/>◌ู◌ || style="text-align:center"| {{IPA|/uː/}} || style="text-align:center"| u || oo, uu || oo in "too"
|-
| สระเอะ || sara e || style="font-size:125%; text-align:center"|เ◌ะ <br/>เ◌็◌ || style="text-align:center"| {{IPA|/eʔ/}}, {{IPA|/e/}} || style="text-align:center"| e || &nbsp; || e in "neck" || สระเอ || sara e || style="font-size:125%; text-align:center"|เ◌ <br>เ◌◌ || style="text-align:center"| {{IPA|/eː/}} || style="text-align:center"| e || ay, a, ae, ai, ei || a in "lame"
|-
| สระแอะ || sara ae || style="font-size:125%; text-align:center"|แ◌ะ <br/> แ◌็◌ || style="text-align:center"| {{IPA|/ɛʔ/}}, {{IPA|/ɛ/}} || style="text-align:center"| ae || aeh, a || a in "at" || สระแอ || sara ae || style="font-size:125%; text-align:center"|แ◌ <br/>แ◌◌ || style="text-align:center"| {{IPA|/ɛː/}} || style="text-align:center"| ae || a || a in "ham"
|-
| สระโอะ || sara o || style="font-size:125%; text-align:center"|โ◌ะ <br/>◌◌ || style="text-align:center"| {{IPA|/oʔ/}}, {{IPA|/o/}} || style="text-align:center"| o || &nbsp; || oa in "boat" || สระโอ || sara o || style="font-size:125%; text-align:center"|โ◌ <br/>โ◌◌ || style="text-align:center"| {{IPA|/oː/}} || style="text-align:center"| o || or, oh, ô || o in "go"
|-
| สระเอาะ || sara o || style="font-size:125%; text-align:center"|เ◌าะ <br/>◌็อ◌ || style="text-align:center"| {{IPA|/ɔʔ/}}, {{IPA|/ɔ/}} || style="text-align:center"| o || aw || o in "not" || สระออ || sara o || style="font-size:125%; text-align:center"| ◌อ <br/>◌อ◌<br/>◌◌{{efn|name=orn}} <br/>◌็{{efn|name=ko}} || style="text-align:center"| {{IPA|/ɔː/}} || style="text-align:center"| o || or, aw || aw in "saw"
|-
| สระเออะ || sara oe || style="font-size:125%; text-align:center"|เ◌อะ || style="text-align:center"| {{IPA|/ɤʔ/}} || style="text-align:center"| oe || eu || e in "the" || สระเออ || sara oe || style="font-size:125%; text-align:center"|เ◌อ <br/>เ◌ิ◌ <br/>เ◌อ◌{{efn|name=limited}} || style="text-align:center"|  {{IPA|/ɤː/}} <br />{{IPA|/ɤ/}} || style="text-align:center"| oe || er, eu, ur || u in "burn"
|-
! colspan="15" | Diphthongs
|-
| สระเอียะ || sara ia || style="font-size:125%; text-align:center"|เ◌ียะ || style="text-align:center"| {{IPA|/iaʔ/}} || style="text-align:center"| ia || iah, ear, {{not a typo|ie}} || ea in "ear" with glottal stop || rowspan="3"| || สระเอีย || sara ia || style="font-size:125%;text-align:center"|เ◌ีย <br/>เ◌ีย◌ || style="text-align:center"| {{IPA|/ia/}} || style="text-align:center"| ia || ear, ere, {{not a typo|ie}} || ear in "ear"
|-
| สระเอือะ || sara uea || style="font-size:125%; text-align:center"|เ◌ือะ || style="text-align:center"| {{IPA|/ɯaʔ/}} || style="text-align:center"| uea || eua, ua || ure in "pure" || สระเอือ || sara uea || style="font-size:125%; text-align:center"|เ◌ือ <br/>เ◌ือ◌ || style="text-align:center"| {{IPA|/ɯa/}} || style="text-align:center"| uea || eua, ua, ue || ure in "pure"
|-
| สระอัวะ || sara ua || style="font-size:125%; text-align:center"| ◌ัวะ || style="text-align:center"| {{IPA|/uaʔ/}} || style="text-align:center"| ua || &nbsp; || ewe in "sewer" || สระอัว || sara ua || style="font-size:125%; text-align:center"| ◌ัว <br/>◌ว◌ || style="text-align:center"| {{IPA|/ua/}} || style="text-align:center"| ua || uar || ewe in "newer"
|-
! colspan="15"|Phonemic diphthongs{{efn|name=diphthongs}}
|-
| สระอิ + ว || sara i + wo waen || style="font-size:125%; text-align:center"| ◌ิว || style="text-align:center"| {{IPA|/iw/}} || style="text-align:center"| io || iu, ew || ew in "few" || rowspan="13"| || colspan="7" |
|-
| สระเอะ + ว || sara e + wo waen || style="font-size:125%; text-align:center"|เ◌็ว || style="text-align:center"| {{IPA|/ew/}} || style="text-align:center"| eo || eu, ew || || สระเอ + ว  || sara e + wo waen || style="font-size:125%; text-align:center"| เ◌ว || style="text-align:center"| {{IPA|/eːw/}} || style="text-align:center"| eo || eu, ew || ai + ow in "rainbow"
|-
| colspan="7"| || สระแอ + ว  || sara ae + wo waen || style="font-size:125%; text-align:center"|แ◌ว || style="text-align:center"| {{IPA|/ɛːw/}} || style="text-align:center"|aeo || aew, eo || a in "ham" + ow in "low"
|-
| สระเอา || sara ao{{efn|name=extra diphthongs}} || style="font-size:125%; text-align:center"|เ◌า || style="text-align:center"| {{IPA|/aw/}} || style="text-align:center"|ao || aw, au, ow || ow in "cow" || สระอา + ว  || sara a + wo waen || style="font-size:125%; text-align:center"| ◌าว || style="text-align:center"| {{IPA|/aːw/}} || style="text-align:center"|ao || au || ow in "now"
|-
| colspan="7"| || สระเอีย + ว  || sara ia + wo waen || style="font-size:125%; text-align:center"|เ◌ียว || style="text-align:center"| {{IPA|/iaw/}} || style="text-align:center"| iao || eaw, iew, iow || io in "trio"
|-
| สระอะ + ย || sara a + yo yak || style="font-size:125%; text-align:center"| ◌ัย || rowspan="2" style="text-align:center"| {{IPA|/aj/}} || rowspan="2" style="text-align:center"|ai || rowspan="2" style="text-align:center"|ay || rowspan="2"|i in "hi" || rowspan="2"|สระอา + ย || rowspan="2"|sara a + yo yak || rowspan="2" style="font-size:125%; text-align:center"| ◌าย || rowspan="2" style="text-align:center"| {{IPA|/aːj/}} || rowspan="2" style="text-align:center"|ai || rowspan="2"|aai, aay, ay || rowspan="2"|ye in "bye"
|-
| สระไอ || sara ai{{efn|name=extra diphthongs}} || style="font-size:125%; text-align:center"| ใ◌,{{efn|name=mai muan}} ไ◌<br>ไ◌ย{{efn|name=Pali}}
|-
| สระเอาะ + ย || sara o + yo yak || style="font-size:125%; text-align:center"| ◌็อย || style="text-align:center"| {{IPA|/ɔj/}} || style="text-align:center"| oi || oy || || สระออ + ย  || sara o + yo yak || style="font-size:125%; text-align:center"| ◌อย || style="text-align:center"| {{IPA|/ɔːj/}} || style="text-align:center"| oi || oy || oy in "boy"
|-
| colspan="7"| || สระโอ + ย  || sara o + yo yak || style="font-size:125%; text-align:center"|โ◌ย || style="text-align:center"| {{IPA|/oːj/}} || style="text-align:center"| oi || oy ||
|-
| สระอุ + ย || sara u + yo yak || style="font-size:125%; text-align:center"| ◌ุย || style="text-align:center"| {{IPA|/uj/}} || style="text-align:center"| ui || uy || || colspan="7" |
|-
| colspan="7"| || สระเออ + ย || sara oe + yo yak || style="font-size:125%; text-align:center"|เ◌ย || style="text-align:center"| {{IPA|/ɤːj/}} || style="text-align:center"| oei || oey || u in "burn" + y in "boy"
|-
| colspan="7"| ||สระอัว + ย   || sara ua + yo yak || style="font-size:125%; text-align:center"| ◌วย || style="text-align:center"| {{IPA|/uaj/}} || style="text-align:center"| uai || uay || uoy in "buoy"
|-
| colspan="7"| ||สระเอือ + ย || sara uea + yo yak || style="font-size:125%; text-align:center"|เ◌ือย || style="text-align:center"| {{IPA|/ɯaj/}} || style="text-align:center"| ueai || uai ||
|-
! colspan="15" | Extra vowels{{efn|name=extra}}
|-
| สระอำ || sara am || style="font-size:125%; text-align:center"| ำ || style="text-align:center"| {{IPA|/am/}} || style="text-align:center"| am || um || um in "sum" || rowspan="3"| || colspan="7"|
|-
|ฤ || rue || style="font-size:125%; text-align:center"|ฤ || style="text-align:center"| {{IPA|/rɯ/}} <br/>{{IPA|/ri/}} <br/>{{IPA|/rɤː/}} || style="text-align:center"| rue, ri, roe || ru, ri || rew in "grew", ry in "angry" || ฤๅ || rue || style="font-size:125%; text-align:center"|ฤๅ || style="text-align:center"| {{IPA|/rɯː/}} || style="text-align:center"| rue || ruu ||
|-
|ฦ || lue || style="font-size:125%; text-align:center"|ฦ || style="text-align:center"| {{IPA|/lɯ/}} || style="text-align:center"| lue || lu, li || lew in "blew" || ฦๅ || Lue || style="font-size:125%; text-align:center"|ฦๅ || style="text-align:center"| {{IPA|/lɯː/}} || style="text-align:center"| lue || lu ||
|}
{{Notelist|refs=
{{efn|name=orn|Only with ร (''ro ruea'') as final consonant, appearing as ◌ร {{IPA|/ɔːn/}}.}}
{{efn|name=ko|Only with the word ก็ {{IPA|/kɔ̂ʔ/}}, {{IPA|/kɔ̂ː/}}.}}
{{efn|name=limited|Used only in certain words.}}
{{efn|name=mai muan|''Mai malai'' (ไ◌) is used for the {{IPA|/aj/}} vowel in most words, while ''mai muan'' (ใ◌) is only used in twenty specific words.}}
{{efn|name=Pali|ไ◌ย is found in ไทย ''Thai'' and in Pali loanwords which contain ''-eyya''. The ย is redundant, but may be pronounced in a compound word when joined by samāsa.}}
{{efn|name=diphthongs|Traditionally, these sets of diphthongs and triphthongs are regarded as combinations of regular vowels or diphthongs with ''wo waen'' (ว, {{IPA|/w/}}) or ''yo yak'' (ย, {{IPA|/j/}}) as the final consonant, and are not counted among the thirty-two vowels.}}
{{efn|name=extra|Extra vowels are not distinct vowel sounds, but are symbols that represent certain vowel-consonant combinations. They are traditionally regarded as vowels, although some sources do not.}}
{{efn|name=extra diphthongs|''sara ai'' (ใ◌ and ไ◌) and ''sara ao'' (เ◌า) are also considered extra vowels.}}
}}