Practice the nasal sounds
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| This is ง (ng), this is น (n), and this is ม (m) |
| By the end of this lesson, you'll be able to tell them apart, PLUS you'll be practicing them and on your way to perfect pronunciation! |
| I'm Earn, and this is Thai Pronunciation Through Minimal Pairs. |
| ง (ng) is in words like งาน (ngaan) "work," เงิน (ngoen) "money" |
| น (n) is in words like นอน (naawn) "to sleep," น้ำ (náam) "water" |
| ม (m) is in words like มี (mii) "to have," แมว (maaeo) "cat" |
| These three sounds are called nasal consonants or simply nasals. |
| To make the ง (ng) sound, place the back of your tongue against the soft palate (velum) and let the air flow through your nose. This sound is similar to the ng in English words like sing or long. Unlike in English, ง (ng) can occur at the beginning of a word in Thai. |
| ง (ng) |
| [3 sec pause] |
| ง (ng) (enunciated) |
| [3 sec pause] |
| ง (ng) |
| ง (ng) |
| [3 sec pause] |
| ง (ng) (enunciated) |
| [3 sec pause] |
| ง (ng) |
| To make the น (n) sound, place the tip of your tongue against the alveolar ridge (the bumpy area behind your upper front teeth) and let the air flow through your nose. This sound is similar to the n in English words like name or note. |
| น (n) |
| [3 sec pause] |
| น (n) (enunciated) |
| [3 sec pause] |
| น (n) |
| น (n) |
| [3 sec pause] |
| น (n) (enunciated) |
| [3 sec pause] |
| น (n) |
| To make the ม (m) sound, press your lips together and let the air flow through your nose. This sound is similar to the m in English words like man or mom. |
| ม (m) |
| [3 sec pause] |
| ม (m) (enunciated) |
| [3 sec pause] |
| ม (m) |
| ม (m) |
| [3 sec pause] |
| ม (m) (enunciated) |
| [3 sec pause] |
| ม (m) |
| The key difference lies in the articulation point: |
| ง (ng) is produced with the back of the tongue against the soft palate, น (n) by tapping the tongue tip on the slightly raised spot behind the upper teeth, and ม (m) with the lips pressed together. |
| Listen and repeat or speak along with me. |
| Ready? |
| งา (ngaa) (นา) (naa) |
| "sesame" / "rice paddy" |
| (space for repetition) |
| งา (ngaa) (นา) (naa) |
| "sesame" / "rice paddy" |
| เงา (ngao) (เมา) (mao) |
| "shadow" / "drunk" |
| (space for repetition) |
| เงา (ngao) (เมา) (mao) |
| "shadow" / "drunk" |
| แน่ (nâae) (แม่) (mâae) |
| "sure, certain" / "mother" |
| (space for repetition) |
| แน่ (nâae) (แม่) (mâae) |
| "sure, certain" / "mother" |
| ง่วง (ngûuang) (ม่วง) (mûuang) |
| "sleepy" / "violet, purple" |
| (space for repetition) |
| ง่วง (ngûuang) (ม่วง) (mûuang) |
| "sleepy" / "violet, purple" |
| Now listen to the following sentences. |
| (3 sec pause) |
| เขาทำงานนานมากวันนี้ |
| (khǎo tham-ngaan naan mâak wan-níi.) |
| "He worked for a long time today." |
| (3 sec pause) |
| งาน, นาน |
| ขอบตากลายเป็นสีม่วงเวลาง่วงนอน |
| (khàawp-dtaa glaai bpen sǐi-mûuang wee-laa ngûuang-naawn.) |
| "The under-eye area turns purple when feeling sleepy." |
| (3 sec pause) |
| ง่วง, ม่วง |
| Read the following sentences out loud, focusing on the different sounds. |
| หนูกำลังเล่นกับหมูในสวน |
| (nǔu gam-lang lên gàp mǔu nai sǔuan.) |
| "The mouse is playing with the pig in the garden." |
| (3 sec pause) |
| หนู, หมู |
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