Thai families are often big and confusing. The names we use to address each person in the family are based on the father’s side, the mother side and seniority.
Many foreign students at my Thai Language School find it complicated and hard to understand as the father and mothers side of the family have different names or titles depending on their relationship. The table below will help you to understand the relationships and vocabulary of the Thai family better. Check it out!
Mother Side
Father Side
Mother
Maê แม่
Father
Porพ่อ
Grandmother
Yaai ยาย
Grandmother
Yaâ ย่า
Grandfather
Dtaaตา
Grandfather
Poò ปู่
Uncle (elder brother of mother)
Lungลุง
Uncle (elder brother of father)
Lung ลุง
Uncle (younger brother of mother)
Naáน้า
Uncle (young brother of father)
Aa อา
Aunt (elder sister of mother)
Paâป้า
Aunt (elder sister of father)
Paâ ป้า
Aunt (younger sister of mother)
Naâ น้า
Aunt (younger sister of father)
Aa อา
Family= krawb-kruaครอบครัว
Daughter
Loôk-saăoลูกสาว
Son
Loôk-chaaiลูกชาย
Elder sister
Peê-saăoพี่สาว
Elder brother
Peê-chaaiพี่ชาย
Younger sister
Náwng-saăoน้องสาว
Younger brother
Náwng-chaai น้องชาย
Siblings / brothers & sisters= peê-náwngพี่น้อง
Cousins = loôk-peê-loôk-náwng ลูกพี่ลูกน้อง
Relatives = yaâdญาติ
Grandchildren = laănหลาน
Niece/ granddaughter
Laăn-saăoหลานสาว
Nephew/ grandson
Laăn-chaai หลานชาย
Mother-in-law (of the bride)
Maê-saă-meeแม่สามี
Father-in-law (of the bride)
Pôr-saă-meeพ่อสามี
Mother-in-law (of the gloom)
Maê-yaaiแม่ยาย
Father-in-law (of the gloom)
Pôr-dtaaพ่อตา
Daughter-in-law
Loôk-sà-páiลูกสะใภ้
Son-in-law
Look-koĕiลูกเขย
Sister-in-law (older one)
Peê-sà-páiพี่สะใภ้
Brother-in-law (older one)
Pee-koĕiพี่เขย
Sister-in-law (younger one)
Nâwng-sà-pái น้องสะใภ้
Brother-in-law (younger one)
Náwng-koĕiน้องเขย
The bride
Jâo-saăoเจ้าสาว
The groom
Jâo-baàoเจ้าบ่าว
Miss
Naang-saăoนางสาว
Mr.
Naai นาย
Mrs.
Naang นาง
Polite Title for both men and women
Khunคุณ
It might look complicated…just take your time! The Thai language is not that difficult. Now you can talk with your Thai friends about their families…..
Hope you enjoyed speaking Thai!!
Kru Mulan Thai Language Teacher
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