If you have watched lots of Thai dramas, you will definitely have come across these terms. It is good to know what they mean in English and hopefully, this encourages you to learn Thai! 🥰
| Thai Word | English Meaning |
| Ah | Aunt/Uncle (younger brother/sister of father) |
| Ai | Derogatory title used before the names of men or when referring to men * |
| Chai | Yes , affirmative |
| Chan | “I”, “Me” for mostly females and sometimes males. ` |
| Da-ra | Celebrity |
| Ee | Derogatory title used before the names of women or when referring to women * |
| Faen | Girlfriend/Boyfriend |
| Gu | Rude way to say “I” ` |
| Hia | F word in Thai Language * |
| Hi-So | People from rich/high society |
| Jae | Elder sister |
| Ka / Krub | Polite ending. Ka for females and Krub for males. ^ |
| Keng | Capable |
| Khun | “You” or Polite title used before names “ |
| La-korn | Drama |
| Lung | Uncle. Polite term for older males. |
| Mae / Maa | Mother. Mae is formal and Maa is informal |
| Mai | No, negative |
| Meung | Rude way to say “you” in Thai “ |
| Mia / Pa-ra-yaa | Wife. Mia is informal, Pa-Ra-Yaa is formal |
| Naa/Na | Aunt/Uncle (younger brother/sister of mother) |
| Nang-Ek | Leading actress, heroine |
| Nong | Younger sibling, younger person “ |
| Nuu | I (for girls, when speaking to someone older than themselves) ` |
| Phee | Ghost |
| Phii | Older sibling, older person “ |
| Phor / Paa | Father. Phor is formal and Paa is informal |
| Phuu-Chaay | Males |
| Phuu-Ying | Females |
| Pra-Ek | Main actor, hero |
| Ruk | Love ^^ |
| Sa-mee | Husband |
| Sa-dthu | Means “Amen” |
| Sa-wa-dee | A polite greeting. ** |
| Su-Su | Means jiayou in Chinese, fighting in Korean. Words of encouragement. |
References:
* How to scold in Thai easily
` The many different ways to say “I” in Thai Language
^ What do ‘krub’ and ‘ka’ mean in Thai?
`` How to Say You in Thai Language
^^ How to Say I Love You in Thai Language
** What does Sawadee mean in Thai Language?Interested to learn the Thai Language? Here’s what you can explore!
Practice your Thai speaking skills and learn how to use Thai language to express everyday small talk.
A serious Thai learner aiming to master Thai reading and writing? Start off by learning to text in Thai!
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Want to self learn Thai from Thai media?
Self learning Thai from Thai media (Thai dramas, variety shows and songs) is an economical and practical way to pick up the Thai language. This are some helpful blogs I wrote which can help get you started! 💪
- How to Self Learn Thai from watching Thai Dramas on Netflix – if you are watching lots of Thai dramas on Netflix, know some basic vocabulary and want to take your Thai language to the next level 😎
- The Pros & Cons of Watching Thai Variety Shows – if you are wondering whether you should learn Thai from Thai Lakorns or variety shows 😋
- How to Learn Thai Vocab from Thai Songs – if you are listening to lots of Thai songs and want to take your Thai language to the next level 🥳
Get help with learning to read, write and text in Thai today! 🥰
About the author – see the About page for more information
Joanne Tan is an aspiring polyglot and has so far mastered English, Chinese and Thai languages. She first started learning Thai in 2015 before staying in Bangkok for 5 months, and then continued studying Thai up to Advanced Levels at the National University of Singapore. In 2017, Joanne was awarded ‘Advanced Thai Proficiency’ by the Sirindhorn Thai Language Institute of Chulalongkorn University. Today, Joanne continues to teach her friends basic Thai speaking and helps her Thai friends actively promote Thai culture.
