Family Relationships and Names

Thai families are often big and confusing.  The names we use to address each person in family are based from the fathers 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! Thai language is not that difficult. Now you can talk with your Thai friends about their families…..

Hope you enjoyed speaking Thai!!

Kru Mulan J (Thai Language Teacher)

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