Pronunciation
The Thai letter ◌ิ is a vowel symbol, it represents the sound /i/, similar to the "ee" sound in English, as in "see" or "bee."
When written above a consonant, it indicates the vowel sound that is pronounced after that consonant.
Pronunciation Details:
1. Sound Type:
• Short Vowel: ◌ิ represents a short /i/ sound, unlike the long /ii/ vowel sound in Thai (represented by ◌ี).
• The sound is similar to the English "ee" sound, but pronounced in a shorter duration.
2. English Comparison:
• It is the same sound as the "ee" in English words like "see", "bee", or "tree".
• However, in Thai, this vowel sound is typically shorter and more clipped than the English long "ee."
3. IPA Representation:
• /i/ (short "ee" sound, like in "see").
Examples of Words with ◌ิ:
• นิด /nít/: a little
• พิษ /pʰít/: poison
• กิจกรรม /kìt.tà.kam/: activity
Tips for Pronunciation:
1. Short Vowel Sound:
• The ◌ิ sound is short and quick. It is pronounced quickly, unlike the English "ee" in "see", which is usually held for a longer time.
• To practice, say the English "see", but make it much quicker and more clipped.
2. Mouth Position:
• The mouth should be in the same position as when pronouncing the English "ee" sound, but again, the sound should be produced quickly and without holding the vowel.
Summary:
• ◌ิ represents the short /i/ sound (similar to the "ee" in "see").
• It is used to modify a consonant to create a syllable with this vowel sound.
• It is shorter than the English "ee," so be sure to pronounce it quickly.