Common Problems of Thai-English

Main Problems

Pronunciation

The r / l sounds

really leally

r is spoken with lips pursed together. l is spoken with the tongue.

Pronunciation

The v / w sounds

very wery

v is spoken by biting the bottom lip. w is spoken by the pursing the lips together (same as r).

Pronunciation

The sh / ch sounds

cheat sheet

ch is spoken by forcing more air out. sh is spoken by softly blowing air out.

Pronunciation

The t / d sounds

but bud

Pronunciation

The ed sound at the end of words is missing

demanded demand

Pronunciation

The s sound at the end of words is missing

cats cat

Tone problems

The final syllable pronunciation is too strong

(UK) Computer Comput-uh (US) Computer Comput-uhr

(Thai) Computer Comput-errRR !!

Verb tense Tone problems

Basic verb tenses are often wrong or missing

I will not go I not go Yesterday, I went home Yesterday, I go home

Wrong phrases

Repeating inaccurate non-English phrases

It’s the same Same, same but different

(This phrase is technically wrong, on many levels)