Pronunciation Of ไม้

[zhilong]

I was looking through some words and came across ไม้. I would have expected it to be pronounced with a short vowel, mai. However, everywhere I check lists the pronunciation as that of a long vowel, maai. Why is this a long vowel ? Is it irregular ? Thank you for any help.

[loong]

น้ำ

náam

Water

Is another that you would expect a short vowel, but it is long.

They are both high tone, so I don't know if that has anything to do with it, but other high tone words are pronounced short.

I dont think that there are any rules, probably just irregular, but maybe somebody knows for sure?

Edited May 17, 2009 by loong

[zhilong]

Thank you very much, the reference page on irregulars at thai-language.com is great.

[Rikker]

It's pronounced long when it's stressed, but short when it's unstressed.

The final syllable of a compound or phrase is typically stressed, and thus long:

Pronounced long: ต้นไม้, ดอกไม้, กิ่งไม้, etc.

When ไม้ is the first syllable in a compound, it will usually be unstressed, and thus shortened:

Pronounced short: ไม้มลาย, ไม้เท้า, ไม้ล้มลุก, ไม้เอก, etc.