I asked ChatGPT for a breakdown of how to read วัว (meaning cow), here’s what he said:
The Thai word "วัว" is pronounced approximately as "wua." Here's a breakdown of how it's read:
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ว (wo waen): This is the first consonant and it represents the sound "w."
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ั (sara u): This is a vowel mark placed above the first consonant. It represents the short vowel sound "u," as in the English word "put."
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ว (wo waen) again: This second occurrence of the same consonant typically represents the sound "w," but in the context of this word, it serves as a final consonant, ending the syllable.
In Thai, the final consonants often are not pronounced fully, especially in syllables with a short vowel. In the case of "วัว," the final "ว" is not pronounced as a full "w" sound but rather serves to close off the syllable. The result is a word that sounds like "wua," where the final "a" is more of a closing sound rather than a distinct vowel.
So, "วัว" is pronounced with an initial "w" sound, followed by a short "u" vowel, and ends in a sound that is a very soft or almost silent "w," making it sound like "wua." This word means "cow" in Thai.