I've decided to take a different track with my Thai studies. Now, I find and learn a single words in Thai all at one time. "A single words"? Yes: One word (as we would define it in English) can be pronounced many different ways in Thai, each individual word having several meanings based on whether it used as a noun or a verb.
For example, the common Thai word "soi" actually has many words associated with it in Thai.
If it is ซอย with a long S in the front (as in "s...soi"), as a noun it means "sidestreet", and as a verb it means "to trim"*.
If it is สร้อย with a short S and a high emphasis (as in "soi!"), as a noun it means "necklace", and as a verb, it means "to be sad"**.
If it is สอย with a short S and no emphasis (just plain "soi"), as a noun it is a stick used to get fruit out of a tree, and as a verb, it means "to hem" or "to stitch"***.
Somebody was telling me recently that Thai is listed as one of the hardest languages to learn. Doesn't seem that hard to me: There is only about one percent of the words to memorize that English has. You know "soi" and you know at least 6 different words. Just remember which ones they are, and you are all set.
* Actually it means lane, sidestreet or alley as a noun, and to pare down, snip, trim, shuffle, slice, or mince as a verb.
** Actually it means necklace, chorus, hackles, and rarely woman, or flower as a noun, and to grieve or be sad as a verb.
*** Actually it means to hem, stitch, use, or utilize as a verb.
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