Pronunciation
The Thai letter เ◌ีย is a vowel symbol, it represents a vowel combination that produces a specific sound. It's commonly found in both spoken and written Thai, especially in more formal words or names.
Pronunciation Details:
1. Vowel Combination:
• เ◌ีย is made up of the vowel เ◌ี (pronounced "ii" as in "see") followed by the diacritic ◌ีย, which slightly modifies the sound into a diphthong, resulting in a sound like "ia".
• The combination of เ◌ี and ◌ีย results in a sound that’s like a slightly elongated "ee" followed by a quick "a".
2. Sound Type:
• The sound is like the combination of "ee" (as in "see") and "ah" (as in "father"), but the "ah" part is somewhat reduced and quicker.
• The "ia" sound is pronounced slightly longer than the short version in เ◌ียะ.
3. English Comparison:
• It's similar to saying "ee-ah" quickly, but with the "ee" being more prominent and the "ah" being more subtle.
• You can think of it as blending the sounds of "ee" and "ah" from the word "idea", but with the "ah" being less pronounced and faster.
4. IPA Representation:
• /ia/ (a combination of the "ee" and "ah" sounds).
Examples of Words with เ◌ีย:
• เพียร /phian/: to persevere
• เสียใจ /sǐa-jai/: to be sad
• เทียม /thiam/: artificial, imitation
Tips for Pronunciation:
1. Tongue Position:
• Start by saying the "ee" sound, similar to the "ee" in "see".
• Then glide quickly into the "ah" sound, but keep the transition smooth and fast.
2. Lips:
• Keep your lips unrounded while producing both the "ee" and "ah" sounds.
Summary:
• เ◌ีย is a combination of "ee" and "ah" sounds, producing a smooth "ia" sound.
• It is used in common words and names.