32 Vowels and vowel combinations

Vowels are set in the Thai script either before or after the preceding consonant or below or above. Together with an additional tone mark can thus be assigned up to two levels above the consonants. Vowels are written never alone without consonants. If necessary, as in the tables and charts, the consonant O ANG is used as a silent vowel carrier.

In Thai there are 32 vowels. However, there are 28 main vowel forms. The 4 we don’t learn anymore. There are 28 simple vowels, including 12 each in a short and a long version. Not for each vowel is an own vowel sign available so that some are composed of several characters. In this case, it is important that the vowel characters are regarded as a unit. A decomposition into individual characters is not permitted, as in part the result of the individual characters have a completely different sound.