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🔍 Learn the difference between สระไอ and สระใอ with fun examples & a traditional Thai song!
Many Thai learners get confused between สระไอ (ai) and สระใอ (ai) because they sound exactly the same but are used differently.
The good news? There’s a simple way to remember when to use each one! Let’s break it down with easy explanations, examples, and a fun Thai song to help you memorize 20 words with สระใอ (and the rest is with สระไอ) 🎶
Table of Contents
Learn these two vowels
Both สระไอ (ai) and สระใอ (ai) are diphthongs, meaning they combine two vowel sounds into one. (-a and -i)
They produce the same “-ai” sound, but:
✅ สระไอ (ไอ) – Commonly used in everyday words and can be combined with many consonants.
✅ สระใอ (ใอ) – Used in only 20 words, and there’s a song to memorize them!
So if you remember the 20 words in the song, you can assume that the rest of the words with -ai sound is with สระไอ
💡 Be careful:
Another way to create a word with -ai sound is (สระอะ + ย) but there are only a few of them such as พระทัย (heart), สงสัย(curious, wonder), วัย(age), etc.
Song with 20 vowels - สระใอ
Since สระใอ is only used in 20 Thai words, Thai people often memorize them using the famous song:
Song Lyrics with translation
| Thai Sentence | Transliteration | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| ผู้ใหญ่หาผ้าใหม่ | Phûu-yài hǎa phâa mài | The elder looks for new cloth |
| ให้สะใภ้ใช้คล้องคอ | Hâi sà-phái chái khlâwwng-khaw | For the daughter-in-law to wear around her neck |
| ใฝ่ใจเอาใส่ห่อ | Fài-jai ao sài hàw | Be mindful and wrap it up |
| มิหลงใหลใครขอดู | Mí lǒng-lǎi khrai khâaw duu | Don’t be fascinated by anyone who asks to see it |
| จะใคร่ลงเรือใบ | Jà khrâi long reua-bai | (One) wishes to go on a sailboat |
| ดูน้ำใสและปลาปู | Duu nám-sǎi láe plaa-bpuu | To see the clear water, fish, and crabs |
| สิ่งใดอยู่ในตู้ | Sìng dai yùu nai dtûu | Whatever is inside the cabinet |
| มิใช่อยู่ใต้ตั่งเตียง | Mí châi yùu tâi dtâng dtiiang | Is not under the table or the bed |
| บ้าใบ้ถือใยบัว | Bâa-bâi thʉ̌ʉ yai buua | A foolish mute holds a lotus fiber |
| หูตามัวมาใกล้เคียง | Hǔu taa mua maa glâi-khiiang | His ears and eyes are blurred as he comes near |
| เล่าท่องอย่าละเลี่ยง | Lâo thâawng yà lá-lîang | Recite and don’t skip a word |
| ยี่สิบม้วนจำจงดี | Yîi-sìp mûan jam jong dii | Remember all twenty words well! |
List of 20 words with สระใอ
| Thai Word | Transliteration | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| ผู้ใหญ่ | Phûu-yài | Elder / Adult |
| ใหม่ | Mài | New |
| สะใภ้ | Sà-phái | Daughter-in-law |
| ใช้ | Chái | Use |
| ใฝ่ใจ | Fài-jai | To be interested in |
| ใส่ | Sài | Put in / Wear |
| หลงใหล | Lǒng-lǎi | Fascinated |
| ใคร | Khrái | Who |
| ใคร่ | Khrâi | To desire |
| เรือใบ | Reua-bai | Sailboat |
| น้ำใส | Nám-sǎi | Clear water |
| ใด | Dai | Any / Which |
| ใน | Nai | In / Inside |
| มิใช่ | Mí-châi | Is not |
| ใต้ | Tâi | Under |
| ใบ้ | Bâi | Mute |
| ใย | Yai | Fiber |
| ใกล้ | Glâai | Near / Close |
| ให้ | Hâi | To give |
| ใจ | Jai | Heart |
💡 Pro Tip: Memorizing this list along with the song will help you recall all 20 words using สระใอ! 🎶
Highlighted Words
Highlighted words for สระใอ
These words are commonly used in formal language, literature, and older Thai expressions.
✅ 5 Key Words & Example Sentences:
- ใคร (Krái) – Who
- คุณเป็นใคร (Kun bpen krái?) = Who are you?
- ใจ (jai) – Heart
- ใจของฉันเป็นของเธอ (jai kǎawng chǎn bpen kǎawng tuuh) = My heart is yours.
- ใส (sǎi) – Clear
- ทะเลที่นี่น้ำใสมาก (Thá-lee thîi-nîi nám-sǎi mâak.) = The sea here has very clear water.
- สะใภ้ (Sà-phái) – Daughter-in-law
- แม่สะใภ้ของฉันใจดีมาก (Mâe sà-phái khǎawng chǎn jai-dii mâak.) = My mother-in-law is very kind.
- ใน (Nai) – In / Inside
- เธออยู่ในห้อง (Thoe yùu nai hɔ̂ŋ.) = She is inside the room.
💡 Remember: These are fixed words—you cannot make new words using สระใอ!
Highlighted words for สระไอ
Unlike สระใอ, สระไอ is used in a much larger variety of words and is more common in daily Thai.
✅ 5 Key Words & Example Sentences:
- ไทย (Thai) – Thai / Thailand
- ฉันเป็นคนไทย (Chǎn bpen khon Thai.) = I am Thai.
- ไข่ (Khài) – Egg
- ฉันกินไข่ทุกเช้า (Chǎn gin khài thúk cháo.) = I eat eggs every morning.
- ไม่ (Jai) – Not
- ฉันไม่ชอบกินอาหารเผ็ด (chǎn mâi châawp gin aa-hǎan pèt) = I don’t like to eat spicy food.
- ไกล (Glai) – Far
- บ้านของฉันอยู่ไกลจากที่นี่ (Bâan khǎawng chǎn yùu glai jàak thîi-nîi.) = My house is far from here.
- ไฟ (Fai) – Fire / Light
- เปิดไฟหน่อย (Bpèrt fai nòi.) = Turn on the light, please.
💡 Pro Tip: If it’s not in the list of 20 words, use สระไอ!
Summary
✔ สระไอ (ไอ) is used in many words, while สระใอ (ใอ) is limited to only 20 words.
✔ You can memorize สระใอ words with the famous Thai song. 🎶
✔ สระไอ words appear more frequently in daily life, like ไทย (Thai), ไข่ (Egg), and อะไร (What?)
✔ When in doubt, check if it’s in the song! If not, it’s probably สระไอ.
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