By Jacob M in LBL-EN-TH —

Pronunciation: /s/ vs /z/

For many Thai speakers, these two sounds are difficult because the "buzzing" /z/ isn't common in the Thai language.

Pronunciation: /s/ vs /z/

1. The Quiet Snake (/s/) 🤫

The /s/ sound is "unvoiced." This means your vocal cords do not move at all.

  • How to make it: Place your tongue behind your teeth and blow air out.
  • The Sound: It sounds exactly like a snake: Hsssssssss!
  • The Test: Touch your throat with your fingers. When you say "Ssss," your throat should be perfectly still.

2. The Busy Bee (/z/) 🐝

The /z/ sound is "voiced." This is the secret "buzz" sound.

  • How to make it: Keep your mouth in the same position as the /s/, but turn on your voice.
  • The Sound: It sounds like a bee: Bzzzzzzzzz!
  • The Test: Touch your throat again. When you say "Zzzz," you should feel a strong vibration (a buzz) under your fingers.

Practice with a Story

[ { "original": "Part 1: The Zebra at the Zoo", "highlightIndex": 3, "fullTranslation": "ตอนที่ 1: ม้าลายที่สวนสัตว์", "translationOptions": ["ม้าลาย", "สวนสัตว์", "ซู", "งู"], "correctTranslationIndex": 0 }, { "original": "We went to visit the big city zoo.", "highlightIndex": 7, "fullTranslation": "พวกเราไปเยี่ยมชมสวนสัตว์ในเมืองใหญ่", "translationOptions": ["ซู", "โรงเรียน", "สวนสัตว์", "รถบัส"], "correctTranslationIndex": 2 }, { "original": "Sue wanted to see the animals.", "highlightIndex": 0, "fullTranslation": "ซูต้องการดูสัตว์ต่างๆ", "translationOptions": ["สวนสัตว์", "ซู", "เห็น", "เธอ"], "correctTranslationIndex": 1 }, { "original": "We saw a funny zebra in the grass.", "highlightIndex": 7, "fullTranslation": "พวกเราเห็นม้าลายตลกๆ ในสนามหญ้า", "translationOptions": ["งู", "ม้า", "หญ้า", "ม้าลาย"], "correctTranslationIndex": 2 }, { "original": "The zebra tried to zip up his coat.", "highlightIndex": 4, "fullTranslation": "เจ้าม้าลายพยายามรูดซิปเสื้อโค้ทของเขา", "translationOptions": ["จิบ", "รูดซิป", "เสื้อ", "ซู"], "correctTranslationIndex": 1 }, { "original": "He was thirsty and took a sip of water.", "highlightIndex": 6, "fullTranslation": "เขากระหายน้ำและจิบน้ำไปหนึ่งอึก", "translationOptions": ["จิบ", "ซิป", "ดื่ม", "เรือ"], "correctTranslationIndex": 0 }, { "original": "The tour bus arrived at the gate.", "highlightIndex": 2, "fullTranslation": "รถบัสทัวร์มาถึงที่ประตู", "translationOptions": ["เสียงหึ่งๆ", "รถบัส", "ประตู", "แมลง"], "correctTranslationIndex": 1 }, { "original": "The engine made a loud buzz.", "highlightIndex": 5, "fullTranslation": "เครื่องยนต์ส่งเสียงดังหึ่งๆ", "translationOptions": ["รถบัส", "ระเบิด", "เสียงหึ่งๆ", "เสียงดัง"], "correctTranslationIndex": 2 }, { "original": "The zebra felt a cool breeze.", "highlightIndex": 5, "fullTranslation": "เจ้าม้าลายรู้สึกถึงสายลมเย็นๆ", "translationOptions": ["สายลม", "แข็ง", "ผึ้ง", "เข่า"], "correctTranslationIndex": 0 }, { "original": "He did not want to freeze outside.", "highlightIndex": 5, "fullTranslation": "เขาไม่อยากหนาวจนแข็งอยู่ข้างนอก", "translationOptions": ["สายลม", "ฟรี", "แข็ง", "หนี"], "correctTranslationIndex": 2 }, { "original": "Part 2: The Snake and the Rose", "highlightIndex": 3, "fullTranslation": "ตอนที่ 2: งูและดอกกุหลาบ", "translationOptions": ["งู", "ดอกกุหลาบ", "ตอนที่", "จมูก"], "correctTranslationIndex": 0 }, { "original": "A green snake lived under a rose.", "highlightIndex": 6, "fullTranslation": "งูเขียวตัวหนึ่งอาศัยอยู่ใต้ดอกกุหลาบ", "translationOptions": ["จมูก", "ข้าว", "ขึ้น", "ดอกกุหลาบ"], "correctTranslationIndex": 3 }, { "original": "He liked to hiss at the insects.", "highlightIndex": 3, "fullTranslation": "เขาชอบส่งเสียงขู่ฟ่อใส่แมลง", "translationOptions": ["ของเขา", "ขู่ฟ่อ", "จูบ", "ตี"], "correctTranslationIndex": 1 }, { "original": "A yellow bee flew near his nose.", "highlightIndex": 6, "fullTranslation": "ผึ้งสีเหลืองตัวหนึ่งบินมาใกล้จมูกของเขา", "translationOptions": ["รู้", "ดอกกุหลาบ", "จมูก", "ไม่มี"], "correctTranslationIndex": 2 }, { "original": "The bee made a loud buzz.", "highlightIndex": 5, "fullTranslation": "ผึ้งส่งเสียงหึ่งๆ ดังลั่น", "translationOptions": ["รถบัส", "แมลง", "เสียงหึ่งๆ", "เสียงดัง"], "correctTranslationIndex": 2 }, { "original": "The snake made a scary face.", "highlightIndex": 5, "fullTranslation": "งูทำหน้าตาน่ากลัว", "translationOptions": ["หน้า", "แจกัน", "สถานที่", "เฟส"], "correctTranslationIndex": 0 }, { "original": "He moved across the ground with grace.", "highlightIndex": 6, "fullTranslation": "เขาเลื้อยไปบนพื้นด้วยความสง่างาม", "translationOptions": ["เกรด", "หน้า", "หญ้า", "สง่างาม"], "correctTranslationIndex": 3 }, { "original": "He decided to close his eyes to sleep.", "highlightIndex": 3, "fullTranslation": "เขาตัดสินใจปิดตาเพื่อหลับ", "translationOptions": ["เสื้อผ้า", "ปิด", "ใกล้", "จมูก"], "correctTranslationIndex": 1 }, { "original": "He wanted to eat some rice later.", "highlightIndex": 5, "fullTranslation": "เขาต้องการกินข้าวในภายหลัง", "translationOptions": ["ขึ้น", "ไรฝุ่น", "ข้าว", "ราคา"], "correctTranslationIndex": 2 }, { "original": "He waited for the sun to rise.", "highlightIndex": 6, "fullTranslation": "เขารอให้พระอาทิตย์ขึ้น", "translationOptions": ["ข้าว", "ขึ้น", "ขี่", "เขียน"], "correctTranslationIndex": 1 }, { "original": "Part 3: The Farmer’s Lunch", "highlightIndex": 4, "fullTranslation": "ตอนที่ 3: อาหารกลางวันของชาวนา", "translationOptions": ["อาหารกลางวัน", "ชาวนา", "ตอนที่", "สาม"], "correctTranslationIndex": 0 }, { "original": "The farmer wanted some peace and quiet.", "highlightIndex": 4, "fullTranslation": "ชาวนาต้องการความสงบและความเงียบ", "translationOptions": ["ถั่ว", "ชิ้น", "ความสงบ", "ราคา"], "correctTranslationIndex": 2 }, { "original": "He sat down to eat a bowl of peas.", "highlightIndex": 8, "fullTranslation": "เขานั่งลงกินถั่วลันเตาหนึ่งชาม", "translationOptions": ["ความสงบ", "ถั่วลันเตา", "ผึ้ง", "ชิ้น"], "correctTranslationIndex": 1 }, { "original": "He balanced the bowl on his knees.", "highlightIndex": 6, "fullTranslation": "เขาวางชามทรงตัวไว้บนหัวเข่าของเขา", "translationOptions": ["หลานสาว", "ห่าน", "หัวเข่า", "ความต้องการ"], "correctTranslationIndex": 2 }, { "original": "Suddenly, he felt a big sneeze.", "highlightIndex": 5, "fullTranslation": "ทันใดนั้น เขาก็รู้สึกอยากจามออกมาอย่างแรง", "translationOptions": ["งู", "เข่า", "จาม", "ลมหายใจ"], "correctTranslationIndex": 2 }, { "original": "He dropped a piece of his bread.", "highlightIndex": 3, "fullTranslation": "เขาทำขนมปังหล่นไปชิ้นหนึ่ง", "translationOptions": ["ถั่ว", "ความสงบ", "พิซซ่า", "ชิ้น"], "correctTranslationIndex": 3 }, { "original": "A flock of white geese ran over.", "highlightIndex": 4, "fullTranslation": "ฝูงห่านสีขาววิ่งเข้ามาหา", "translationOptions": ["ห่าน", "หัวเข่า", "แก๊ส", "ผี"], "correctTranslationIndex": 0 }, { "original": "They ate the green peas with ease.", "highlightIndex": 6, "fullTranslation": "พวกมันกินถั่วลันเตาสีเขียวอย่างง่ายดาย", "translationOptions": ["ตะวันออก", "ง่ายดาย", "กิน", "ดวงตา"], "correctTranslationIndex": 1 }, { "original": "The lunch cost him a high price.", "highlightIndex": 6, "fullTranslation": "อาหารกลางวันมื้อนี้ราคาแพงสำหรับเขา", "translationOptions": ["รางวัล", "ข้าว", "ราคา", "ไพร"], "correctTranslationIndex": 2 }, { "original": "He did not get a prize for sharing.", "highlightIndex": 5, "fullTranslation": "เขาไม่ได้รับรางวัลสำหรับการแบ่งปัน", "translationOptions": ["ราคา", "รางวัล", "ข้าว", "ไพร"], "correctTranslationIndex": 1 } ]
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