lesson 21 leading consonant

The leading consonant is the very first consonant comes before the other consonants of the word.

For example:

ขนาด
ข (kh) is a leading consonant because it comes before น (n) and the vowel -า (-aa).

ตลก
ต (t) is a leading consonant because it comes before ล (l) and the changed form of vowel โ-ะ (-o)

สมัย
ส (s) is a leading consonant because it comes before ม (m) and the vowel -อ (-ɔɔ)

The rules for the leading consonant

  1. There is a hidden ‘-ะ (a)’ after the leading consonant.
  2. The tone rule should be based on the class of the leading consonant.

For example:

ขนาด ​(khanàat) = This word is pronounced in low tone because ข (kh) is a high class consonant. The closed syllable of a high class consonant produces ‘low tone’.

ตลก (talòk) = This word is pronounced in low tone because ต (t) is a middle class consonant. The closed syllable of a middle class consonant produces ‘low tone’.

สมัย (samǎy) = This word is pronounced in rising tone because ส (s) is a high class consonant. The open syllable of a high class consonant produces a ‘rising tone’.

Reading 1

ขนมถนนสนมผสม
องุ่นขนุนสมุนสถุล
จริตสนิทผลิตคณิต

Reading 2 Words with meaning

ThaiMeaningThaiMeaningThaiMeaning
ขนมsnackถนนroadสนุกenjoyable
ผสมTo mixสนามField, yardตลาดmarket
สรุปTo summarizeขยะtrashจรวดrocket
ผลิตTo produceอร่อยdeliciousองุ่นgrape
จมูกnoseฝรั่งwesternerฉลาดIntelligent, smart
อร่อยdeliciousฉลองTo celebrateสมองbrain
สนิทTo be closeเจริญprosperousเฉลยTo reveal answer
ตลกfunnyเตลิดrun wildเขมรCambodia

The Exception

1. The อ (ʔ) before ย (y) (อย่า อยู่ อย่าง อยาก)

The rule is that อ (ʔ) is silent and the tone is base on อ(ʔ) which is middle class consonant tone’s rule.

2. The ห (h) leading consonant (หย่า หมอ หลอก หนี etc.)

The rule is that ห (h) is silent and the tone is base on ห (h) which is the high class consonant tone’s rule.]

(You have already learnt these first 2 special leading consonants in lesson 11 and lesson 12.)

3. The general rule of leading consonant is that the tone’s rule is base on the 
leading consonant’s class. However, there are some words that do not follow this rule. You just need to memorize them.

For example: ทหาร (tháhǎan), มหา (mahǎa), สมาชิก (samaachík), ขโมย (khamooy)

4. Even though the general rule of the leading consonant is that there is a hidden -ะ (-a) vowel after the leading letter, there are words that has hidden –อ (ɔɔ) instead. Again, there is no rule. You just have to memorize them.

For example: บริษัท (bɔɔrisàt), บริการ (bɔɔrikaan), บริบท (bɔɔribòt), จระเข้  (cɔɔrakhêe)