Thai letter pho phan

Start with p and a puff of air, not f. In Thai romanization—writing Thai with Latin letters—พ becomes ph at the start of a syllable and p at the end.

Its “low-class” label is a spelling category, not a command to use a low pitch. The consonant class works with the vowel’s length, the syllable’s ending, and any tone mark to determine tone: the voice’s pitch pattern.

Where did Thai พ come from?

It developed within Thai writing, which adapted Old Khmer forms. The script was adapted to record Thai speech; later writing from the Ayutthaya period developed toward modern Thai.

Sukhothai Inscription 1, a stone text dated 1292, is an early witness to this Thai writing tradition. That date belongs to the inscription, not to the invention of the exact modern shape พ.

How do I type พ?

Select Thai Kedmanee input and press R without Shift.

The 2026 Windows Thai Kedmanee mapping gives พ on R and ฑ on Shift+R. Pattachote is a different Thai keyboard layout, so check which layout you have selected.

Some Thai vowel signs appear to the left of พ; that is normal spelling order. Fonts can also change its appearance without changing the letter.