Basic Rule for Syllables that

Start with HighClass Consonants:

If there is no tone mark, then:
Dead Syllable = Low Tone
Live Syllable = Rising Tone

* Special Spellings

A silent ห can appear before the following eight low class consonants:

ง น ย ล ญ ม ร ว

When it does, the low class syllable takes on the rules of high class syllables. If a tone mark is used, it also follows the rule for high class, but the mark itself is placed of the low class consonant, not the silent ห.

Although the class of the initial consonant is officially considered low, in our lessons we will treat these words as high class syllables, since they follow the high class tone rules and it will be less confusing for you.