Family words in Thai

What are the words for family members in Thai?

The words for family members in Thai start with ครอบครัวkrôrp-krua, family, and these are the closest relatives.

• แม่mothermâe
• พ่อfatherpôr
• ลูกชายsonlûuk chaai
• ลูกสาวdaughterlûuk sǎao
• ทารกbabytaa-rók

How do you say brother and sister in Thai?

You say brother and sister in Thai by age first: พี่pîiis older and น้องnórngis younger, for either sex. Add chaai for male or sǎao for female when it matters.

• พี่ชายolder brotherpîi chaai
• พี่สาวolder sisterpîi sǎao
• น้องชายyounger brothernórng chaai
• น้องสาวyounger sisternórng sǎao
• พี่น้องsiblingspîi nórng

What do phi and nong mean?

Phi and nong mean older sibling and younger sibling, and in everyday Thai they also mean anyone a bit older or younger than you. A coworker a few years ahead of you is pîi, and the student working at the café may be nórng.

Why do Thai people say P before names?

Thai people say P before names because it is pîi, a respectful way to address someone older: P'Nok is someone called Nok who is older than the speaker. A younger person gets nórng in the same place. They use the word to speak to each other and of themselves, so someone may say "pîi will do it".

How do you say grandmother, aunt and uncle in Thai?

You say grandmother, aunt and uncle in Thai with different words depending on which side of the family they are on, and for aunts and uncles whether they are older or younger than your parent.

• ยายgrandmother (mother's side)yaai
• ตาgrandfather (mother's side)dtaa
• ย่าgrandmother (father's side)yâa
• ปู่grandfather (father's side)bpùu
• ป้าaunt (parent's older sister)bpâa
• ลุงunclelung
• น้าaunt / uncle (mother's younger sibling)náa
• อาaunt / uncle (father's younger sibling)aa
• ลูกพี่ลูกน้องcousinlûuk pîi lûuk nórng

How do you say husband, wife and boyfriend in Thai?

You say husband in Thai with สามีsǎa-miiand wife with ภรรยาpan-rá-yaa, while เมียmiais the everyday word for wife. แฟนfaencovers boyfriend, girlfriend and partner, and many married people use it too.

What do you call people you don't know in Thailand?

You call people you don't know in Thailand by a family word that fits their age: pîi or nórng for someone near your age, and ลุงlungor ป้าbpâafor someone older. To be neutral and polite, use คุณkun. If you aren't sure, ask เรียกว่าอะไรดีrîak wâa à-rai dii.

• เพื่อนFriendpûean

Why do Thai people have nicknames?

Thai people have nicknames because formal names are often long, so nearly everyone gets a short ชื่อเล่นchûue lênas a child and uses it for life. Friends and coworkers often know each other only by it, and it may be a word with nothing to do with the formal name.

Is there an app for learning Thai family words?

Yes, there is an app for learning Thai family words: Mooteach, whose family page lays out relatives by age and side of the family, with audio in a male and a female voice.

See how Mooteach compares with other Thai apps.