Mid
Level, in the middle of your normal voice.
มาMaa, to come
THAI TONES
The five Thai tones, and how to hear them
To practise Thai tones, learn to hear them first: listen to each tone in many real Thai voices until your ear can tell them apart. Then say the word out loud and check your pitch against the shape the tone needs.
First lesson and tone practice free, no card.
ONE SOUND, FIVE WORDS
Midไมค์Maimicrophone
Lowใหม่Màinew
Fallingไม่Mâino, not
Highไม้Máiwood
RisingไหมMăi?question word
TRY IT · THE TONE LISTENING TEST
Which tone did you hear?
A real Thai voice says a word. You pick the tone, without reading any Thai. This demo is 3 words; the app has 50, in rounds of 10 or 20. Every answer is marked, your weak tones are tracked, and the next round gives you more of them.
- 50 recorded words, 10 for each tone, in five kinds of test
- Several native speakers, so you learn the tone, not one voice
- A score for each tone as you improve
HOW TO LEARN THEM
How do you practise Thai tones?
Hear them first, then learn them in words, say them out loud and check the shape, and drill the ones you mix up. A few minutes often beats one long session.
- 1Hear them first
Before you try to say a tone, learn to tell it apart. Short listening rounds, often, work better than long ones; it is the first step of learning Thai in the right order.
- 2Learn words, not tones alone
A tone sticks when it belongs to a word you use: ไม่ Mâi, “no”, is falling every time you say it.
- 3Say them out loud
Repeat after a native voice, then check the shape. Seeing your pitch shows what your ear cannot yet.
- 4Practise your weak ones
Most learners mix up one or two tones. Find yours, and drill those until they stop being a guess.
THE FIVE TONES
What are the five Thai tones?
In Thai, the pitch of your voice changes the word: say mai five ways and you have said five different words. Every Thai syllable carries one of five tones. The line shows the pitch across the syllable; the dotted line is your normal speaking voice.
Low
Starts a little below your normal voice and stays low, steady.
ไก่Gài, chicken
Falling
Starts high, then drops clearly, like a firm “no”.
บ้านBâan, house, home
High
Starts above your normal voice and stays up, slightly rising.
ม้าMáa, horse
Rising
Dips down first, then climbs, like a surprised “oh?”.
หมาMăa, dog
Examples from the Kruu Jaidee course, spoken by native Thai speakers.
Speak Mandarin? Thai has five tones, not Mandarin’s four, and to Chinese ears Thai’s high and rising tones sound alike, so listen for the difference. More in Thai for Chinese speakers.
TONE TRAINERlistening
ไม่Mâino, not · falling
the shape the word needsyour voice
THE TONE TRAINER
Practise your own tones
Open the Tone Trainer and say the word. It draws your pitch beside the shape the word needs, so you can see a falling tone that did not fall, or a rising one that never climbed. Use it on the words in every lesson.
It is tuned to your own voice during setup, so a low voice and a high voice are measured fairly. Aim for the shape: it matters more than a perfect score.
The Tone Trainer measures your pitch and shows you exactly what to change, while Kruu Jaidee teaches you the words and talks them through with you.
THE TONE DRILL
Hear it again and again, until your ear knows it
Choose a tone and the drill plays word after word in it, in real Thai voices. Listen, repeat out loud, and the shape starts to feel natural.
MidLowFallingHighRising
Any of the five tones, 10 words each
AND THERE IS MORE
The tone tools are one part of Kruu Jaidee
Behind these demos is a full course, with the tone practice built into every lesson.
175lessons across 4 levels
From your first hello to real conversations.
1,137words to learn
Each with its sound, meaning and a line for every syllable’s tone.
1,951exercises
Marked as you go, with the answer explained.
3,064lines of conversation
The Thai you will hear every day, each line to hear.
Flashcardsdecks you build yourself
Rate each word 1 to 5, and the tricky ones come back.
Kruu Jaideeyour AI teacher, by voice or chat
She teaches the page you are on; the Tone Trainer shows your tones as you speak.
QUESTIONS
Thai tones: common questions
How many tones does Thai have?
Five: mid, low, falling, high and rising. The same syllable said with a different tone is a different word.
What is the best way to practise Thai tones?
Hear them first, in many real Thai voices, until you can tell them apart. Then say words out loud and check your pitch against the shape each tone needs. Short, frequent practice works better than long sessions.
Can I practise Thai tones for free?
Yes. The free plan has the tone drill, listening tests (1 a day) and the Tone Trainer (10 a day), with the first lessons. No card needed.
How do I check my tones?
With the Tone Trainer: say a word and it draws your pitch beside the shape the word needs, so you can see exactly what to fix. Kruu Jaidee teaches you the words and practises them with you.
Train your ear with Kruu Jaidee
The drill, listening tests and the Tone Trainer are all in the free plan, with daily limits, and the first lessons. No card needed.