The /ay/ sound can be written with two different symbols ไ (/máy máˑlaay/) and ใ (/máy múan/).
Both are written before the consonant to which they relate. Almost all words written with
ไ and ใ do not have a final consonant. One obvious exception is ไทย (/thay/, Thai). The final
ย has no effect upon the pronunciation.
ใ is only used for 20 words, though some of them are very common, such as
ใช้ (/cháy/, to use), ใน (/nay/, in) and ให้ (/hây/, to give/let/allow/have someone do something, &c.).
Now try reading these words:
ไก่\/kày/\chicken\1^
ไต\/tay/\kidney\1^
ไร่\/rây/\rai, unit of area equal to 1,600 square metres\1^
ไข่\/khày/\egg\1^
ไม่\/mây/\not\1^
ไว้\/wáy/\to keep\1^
ไป\/pay/\to go\1^
ไฟ\/fay/\fire\1^
ไทย\/thay/\Thai\1^
ไม้\/máy/\wood\1^
ใจ\/cay/\heart\1^
ให้\/hây/\to give\1^
ใน\/nay/\in\1^
ใส่\/sày/\to put on (e.g. clothes)\1^
ใบ\/bay/\leaf\1^
ใบ้\/bây/\mute\1^
ใส\/sǎy/\transparent\1^
