Family Relationships and Names
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
