How it works
Four keys, and you’re reading Thai letters
The trainer does one thing: it shows you a Thai character and makes you recall it. Here is exactly what happens on each card, what the score means, and what else on the site is worth your time.
The four controls
What happens on each card
You grade yourself honestly, the trainer keeps score, and at the end you drill only the letters you missed — until the set is clean.
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1
See the letter
A single Thai character fills the card. Try to recall its name and sound before you look.
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2
Reveal the answer
The full name (like ล ลิง), the romanization, a “sounds like” clue and the consonant class.
Space or tap the card -
3
Hear it spoken
Your device reads the letter’s name aloud. A Thai voice gives the most accurate result.
S or the speaker -
4
Grade yourself
Be honest — the score is only for you. At the end you get a percentage and can drill the misses.
← missed it → got it
On a phone? Tap the card to reveal, then tap Got it right or Got it wrong. Same trainer, bigger buttons.
Try it nowEverything in one place
Everything you need to start reading Thai
The trainer builds recognition. These references fill in the rest — all free, all in your browser.
Why the letters first
Learn the script before the vocabulary
Thai is written without spaces between words, so recognising each character on sight is the step that makes everything after it easier.
Order what you actually want
Menus outside the tourist strips are Thai-only. Reading even a few letters turns guesswork into a choice.
Navigate real signs
Street names, bus destinations, soi numbers and shop fronts stop being decoration and start being information.
Get the tones right sooner
Each letter’s class — high, mid or low — drives the tone. Learn it with the letter and tone rules click into place.
Ready? Start with the consonants.
One round is 44 cards and takes about five minutes. Do it daily and the shapes stop being shapes.
Open the trainer No signup · no download · works offline once loadedLearning the Thai alphabet online
ThaiLetters.com is a free, browser-based way to learn the Thai alphabet: all 44 consonants, the vowel signs, and the Thai numerals. Every flashcard pairs the letter with its traditional name, a plain-English pronunciation clue, its consonant class, and spoken audio — so you can start reading Thai letters with confidence. There is no signup and nothing to install, and your practice progress stays on your own device.
What you can practise
The trainer covers the full everyday Thai writing system, split into focused decks so you can build up one piece at a time:
- 44 consonants — each shown with its acrophonic name (for example, ก ไก่, “gor gai”, the chicken) and its high, mid, or low class.
- Vowel signs — short and long vowels and common combinations, written around a placeholder so you can see where they attach.
- Thai numerals — the digits ๐ ๑ ๒ ๓ ๔ ๕ ๖ ๗ ๘ ๙ (0–9), still used on signs, menus, and official documents.
Thai consonant classes, explained
Every Thai consonant belongs to one of three classes — high, mid, or low. The class matters because, together with vowel length and any tone mark, it determines the tone of a syllable. Learning each letter’s class early makes reading tones far easier later on.
| Class | How many | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Mid | 9 | ก จ ด ต บ ป อ |
| High | 11 | ข ฉ ถ ผ ฝ ศ ส ห |
| Low | 24 | ค ง ช ซ ท น พ ฟ ม ย ร ล ว ฮ |
The tone marks page shows how those classes combine with the four marks, and the alphabet reference lists every letter with its class.
How many letters are in the Thai alphabet?
The Thai alphabet has 44 consonant letters (two of which are now obsolete) plus a set of vowel symbols and four tone marks. Vowels are written with around 15 basic signs that combine into roughly 30 written forms, appearing before, after, above, or below the consonant they modify. Thai also has its own set of ten numerals. Unlike English, Thai is normally written without spaces between words, which is part of why recognising each letter on sight is such a useful first step.
Tips for memorising Thai letters
- Practise in short, daily sessions rather than long, occasional ones.
- Say each letter’s full name out loud — the acrophonic word (like “gor gai”) anchors the sound in memory.
- Use the “sounds like” clue to tie each Thai sound to an English word you already know.
- Learn each consonant’s class as you go, so tone rules feel natural later.
- At the end of every round, use Drill the misses to focus on the letters that need work.
Pronunciation clues here are simplified approximations meant for learning, not a replacement for a teacher. For a deeper look at the writing system itself, the Thai script overview on Wikipedia is a good next step.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Is ThaiLetters.com free to use?
Yes. The trainer is completely free and runs entirely in your browser. There is no account to create and nothing to download; the site is supported by optional advertising.
Can I hear the Thai letters pronounced?
Yes. After you reveal a card, press the “Hear it” button or the S key to hear the letter’s name read aloud. Audio uses your device’s built-in speech voices; a Thai-language voice gives the most accurate result.
What are Thai consonant classes?
Thai consonants are grouped into high, mid and low classes. The class of the initial consonant combines with vowel length and tone marks to decide a syllable’s tone, so it is an essential part of reading Thai correctly.
Do I need to sign up or install anything?
No. ThaiLetters.com works instantly in any modern browser on desktop or mobile, with no sign-up and no installation.
How many letters are in the Thai alphabet?
The Thai alphabet has 44 consonant letters (two now obsolete) plus around 15 basic vowel symbols that combine into roughly 30 written forms, four tone marks, and its own set of ten numerals.
How long does it take to learn the Thai alphabet?
It varies by learner, but with focused daily practice many people recognise all 44 consonants within a few weeks. Spaced, repeated review — exactly what flashcards provide — is the most reliable approach.