The predisposed vowels เ-, แ-, โ-, ใ-, and ไ- usually present some difficulty to the beginner when they are immediately followed by two or more consonants as it is not always easy to decide where they should be pronounced.

Generally speaking, if the two consonants following the predisposed vowel can be pronounced together without the introduction of an inherent vowel, they are so pronounced and the vowel sound comes after them.

	เกรง	GRAYNG	Fear
	โคลน	KLON	Mud
	แปลก	PLAAK	Strange
	ใคร	KRY	Who?

If the two consonants cannot be pronounced together, the predisposed vowel is generally pronounced after the first consonant as in,

	เล่น	LEN	Play
	แขก	KAAK	Guest
	โมง	MONG	O’clock
	ไพศาล	PYSAHN	Extensive

but occasionally the first two consonants are pronounced with an inherent vowel between them and then followed by the predisposed vowel.

	แมลง	MALAANG	Insect
	โสน	SANO	A small plant
	ไฉน	CHANY	How

Apart from knowing the word there is no certain way of determining the vocal position of these predisposed vowels.

Generated by Lyndon Hill on Thu Jul 20 18:40:31 BST 2006.

Copyright remains with the original authors.