Episode 39 : Thai personal promouns part 1

Thai grammar
  • Sharebar

This is the first lesson of  the new series on “Thai personal pronouns”, many more pronouns are used in Thai than in English. Therefore, this subject is very complicated because it depends on age, gender, social status, the relationship between speaker and formality of situations.

Some pronouns can be used in a variety of ways depending on the context. And they don’t change with part of speech, you will find that some words are both “I/me” or “He/him”

In Thai, pronouns are often omitted in informal conversation, especially “I” and “You”, but also “she/he/they” if understood in context whom you are referring to.


Personal pronoun for male speakers

ผม/ pǒm

I/me

ผม/phǒm is the most convenient word for men and can be used on any occasion and with almost everybody. It’s neither too formal nor informal.

For example

Learn Thai

 ผมชอบไปเที่ยว

phǒm chôb bpai tîew

I like to go out, I like to travel.

(ผม/phǒm is being used as “I”)

learn Thai

เขาชอบผม

Khǒo chôb phǒm

She likes me.

(ผม/phǒm is being used as “ME”)


Personal pronoun for female speakers

 ดิฉัน/dì-chăn

Most commonly used in written Thai. It’s more formal , could be used, for example, in a meeting you don’t know the people well. Too formal for everyday conversation. In a spoken Thai is changed to ดิชั้น/dì-chán.

In everyday conversation women prefer to use ฉัน/chăn or ชั้น/chán instead. It’s more informal and intimate when used by men.

For example

how to speak Thai

(Formal situation )

คุณพูดอะไร? ดิชั้นไม่เข้าใจค่ะ

Khun pôod à-rai? dì-chán mâi kâo jai kâ

What did you say? I don’t understand.

(Informal situation)

อะไรนะ ? ชั้นไม่เข้าใจ

à-rai ná? chán mâi kâo jai

What ? I don’t understand.

If you want to learn more about the use of อะไร/à-rai  please click here


Personal pronoun for young children or girls

หนู

nǒo

I/me

It can be used as the 1st or the 2nd person pronoun and it is mostly used by young children or young girls when speaking to their elders.

Note : หนู/nǒo  literally means mouse

Example

how to speak Thai

คุณครูคะ หนูมีคำถามค่ะ

khun kru ká, nǒo mee kamtǎam kâ.

Teacher, I have a question.

(หนู/noo is being used as “I”)

หนูมีคำถามอะไรครับ

nǒo mee kamtǎam a-rai krub?

What is your question?

หนู/noo is being used as “YOU”)

Did you know that มี/mee is not only have the meaning as to have or to has?  มี/mee can be used as verb to be in Thai language as well.


Personal pronoun for similar age

เรา

rao

I/me

it’s can be used by women or men in informal or intimate conversation.

For example

how to speak Thai

เราชอบกินขนม

rao chôb gin kâ-nôm

I like to eat snack.

เราก็ชอบกินขนม

rao gôr chôb gin kâ-nôm

I like to eat snack too.

(เรา is being used as “I”)

Vocabulary

ก็ /gôr /also, too

ขนม / kâ-nôm /snack

Now, let’s see how “เรา” works as “me” in a Thai sentence.

how to speak Thai

เค้ามาหาใคร?

káo ma hǎa krai

Who is she looking for?

 เค้ามาหาเรา

 káo maa hǎa rao

She is looking for me.

Vocabulary

มาหา /maa hǎa/ to come, to visit, to look for

ใคร/ krai / who


First name or nick name as a personal pronoun

Thai people call each other by first names. Therefore when you ask someone’s name, only the first name is usually given. Thai people normally will not give their last names, unless asked specifically.

Most Thais have nicknames or ชื่อเล่น /chêu lên. Nicknames are used in informal situations or among friends and family.

Thais nicknames are usually have one syllable, for example

เมย์/may

เอ๋/

ดา/daa

จ๋า/jǎa

They are often nonsense words and seldom related to the registered name.

If someone has a first name as เจนจิรา/Jenjira  she maybe has the nickname as เจน/Jen

Below are an example of nonsense Thai nickname :

how to speak Thai

แพนเค้ก/pancake

 

 

 

 


 

how to speak Thai

แตงกวา/dtaeng-gwaa/cucumber

 

 

 


 

 

how to speak Thai

มิ้วค์/milk

 

 

 

 

 


 

Read an interesting article about weird Thai nickname written by Kaewmala

 

Example

how to speak Thai

A : คุณชื่ออะไร

kun chêu à-rai?

What is your name?

B: ชื่อ พัชราวลัย

chêu Patcharawalai

I am Patcharawalai

A : มีชื่อเล่นมั้ย

mee chêu lên mái?

Do you have any nick name?

Learn more about question word มั้ย/mái

B : เมย์/ May

A: เราชื่อฟู

rao chêu  Foo

I am Foo.

how to speak Thai

 B :  เมย์เบื่อ

May bùa

I am bored

(Nickname is used as  “I”)

B : ให้เมย์เหรอ?

hâi May rěu ?

(is this) for me?

(Nickname is used as  “ME”)

B : ขอบใจนะ

kòb jai ná

Thanks

ขอบใจนะ/kòb jai means thank you but mostly the speaker will use this word with younger people, subordinates or friends. When ขอบคุณ/kòb kun is more commonly used with everybody and every occasion.

Don’t miss  my podcast on the subject of “Thai word of appreciation


Impolite/cursing personal pronoun in Thai language

 Well, in Thai, there are not only the formal or informal words for the personal pronouns but there are also some vulgar words used. Which we call คำหยาบคาย/kaam yaab kaii in Thai.

Please note : it’s not recommend to use

กู goo

(as I/me)

 “กู” is the 1st personal pronoun. It is considered a very impolite way to address oneself. Most of the time it will be used in informal situations, such as showing anger. But, it is also used among close friends when they talk to each other or in the family when the elderly people talk to the younger one. However, foreigners should not use this word.

Example.

want to learn Thai

กูบอกว่า กูจะรออยู่ที่นี่ มาหากูที่นี่

goo bòk wâa, goo jà ror yòo tîi nîi, maa hǎa goo tîi nîi.

I said, I’ll wait here. Come to see me here!!

Vocabulary

บอก – Bok – to describe

จะ – ja –  will

ที่นี่ – tee nee – here


Now, it’s your turn to answer my question

คุณมีชื่อเล่นว่าอะไร?

kun mii chêu lên wâa à-rai?

what is your nickname?

For those of you who don’t have a nickname or would like to have a Thai nickname please leave your name, thing that you like or tell me about yourself. I will give you a Thai nickname and, of course, it will have a good meaning


 

58 thoughts on “Episode 39 : Thai personal promouns part 1

  1. Well, my name is Patrick and I ‘go by’ Pat, usually. this sounds like goat in Thai. When people ask my name and I say Pat I get some strange looks. What does this mean to Thais , is it an unfortunate name or something?

    • Pat,
      páe with high tone sounds like a goat in Thai and if you make it low tone as pàt, it means stir-fried.
      pát with high tone if pronounced as pád means a fan but it’s not a common nickname in Thai.

      The strange look maybe came from stir-fried meaning or it’s doesn’t mean a thing.

      Try this, if you want to stay with “goat” meaning, it should sound like the English word “pair” and make it high tone and shorten the sound. Trick to make high tone, it must sound like shocking, surprising or questioning tone.

      Or, I have a suggestion. First say the word “chat” in English 5 times. Then, replace “C” with “P” that is the sounds you should try to master. Phat/แพท is a nickname for a Thai Celebrity. Google him ” แพท พัสสน “

      • thanks, very informative, what a good teacher. I’ll go with แพท. In fact, I have seen the name transliterated as แพทริก , I think.

  2. ผมมีชื่อเล่น ” Gordo” ( spanish word for อ้วน ). Now I’m thin, but the nickname remains. (is ok ผม ผอม บัดนี้ แต่ ชื่อเล่น ยังคง ?)

    • อ้วน is a common Thai nickname even with thin person.
      ผอม on the other hand, it is not common nickname and it sounds unhealthy.
      I think you should stay with อ้วน because when its contradict with your body, it’s bring an attention and could work as an ice breaker.

  3. The nickname I usually use is pronounced somewhere between เมะซี่ and แมซี่. In English, it often gets cut down to “Mez.” I’m guessing in Thai that would be pronounced closer to เม็ด (could I spell it เม็ซ ?) Hopefully that doesn’t mean anything bad. :)

  4. doline stephanie says:

    my first name is doline i like singing and i will like to have a thai nickname because i have to study here.thanks

  5. My name is Tyler, I’m 17 years old. Currently learning Thai, because I think it’s a beautiful language. I like to dance, read, and sing. I also love love love watermelon! :)

  6. Mukhamad zacky says:

    Hi! My name is zacky. I think i have a nickname. I like number 10 and my nickname is สิบ, it’s given from my close friend but not thais. How do you think?

    • Hi Zacky,

      I never heard of anybody named as สิบ. From your first name ” Zacky” I have 3 Thai names for you to consider :

      -ศักดิ์/sàk means prestige ; power ; honour. It’s has a great meaning and very common name for male.
      -สัก/sàk means teak (wood), teak is a very valuable and most expensive wood to built a house, as teak house is very popular in Thailand.However, it’s can also mean tattoo.
      -สักขี/sàk-kĕe means witness. It’s has a closest sound to your name but not very a common among Thais.
      What do you think?

      • Mukhamad zacky says:

        Some People already call me สิบ, krab. Some called me P’ sib and nong sib. But i like สัก that you recomended. Is it common in thai people have 2 nicknames?

  7. Alain SORMAIN says:

    Sa wat dii Khrap,
    Phom Chûu Alain (phaasaa Thai = อาแลง)
    ขอ ชื้อเล่น ดี ได้มัย ครับ
    โชคดี ครับ…

  8. ตามปกติคนเรียกผมว่า คีธ แต่บางคนสะกดเป็น คีท แทนครับ มีเพื่อนคนนึงชื่อ Cornell ที่มีชื่อเล่น ข้าวเหนียว ยาวนิดหน่อยแต่ตลกดีนะครับ :-)

  9. สวัสดีค่ะ!
    My name is Ekaterina. It’s a Russian name and is pronounced as Уekaterina with the stress on on i-letter. All Ekaterinas in Russian language have a short version of the name which is Katya. It’s not a nickname, though. I love Thailand and visit it very often and now I started to learn Thai language because I want to understand people better and be able to read and speak something some simple everyday life things. My name is a little bit tricky for many not-russian speakers, also in Thailand people can’t really pronounce my name. So what could be my Thai nickname?
    ขอบคุณค่ะ

  10. Hello,
    My Thai teacher gave me JARIYA as my Thai name.
    My Chinese name named Jiazhen, and English name is Claire.
    I would like to have a nickname.
    Would you please give me a nice nickname?
    Thank you.

  11. kinda appreciated the article that you published . it really isnt that simple to discover even remotely good stuff toactually read (you know READ and not just browsing through it like some uniterested and flesh eating zombie before moving on), so cheers mate for really not wasting my time on the god forsaken internet.
    herve leger uk http://www.easyonline.store

  12. people.My puntare finora valentino castel romano è stato quello di descrivere le conseguenze di questa guerra, inparticolare, le conseguenze per la cultura libera. Ma il mio obiettivo è ora quello di ex tendere questa descrizione di conseguenze in un argomento. E ‘questo warjustified? A mio avviso, non lo è. Non vi è alcuna buona ragione per cui questa volta, per thefirst tempo, la legge dovrebbe difendere il vecchio contro il nuovo, proprio quando thepower della proprietà denominata proprietà intellettuale è al suo massimo inour history.Yet senso comune non vede in questo modo. Il senso comune è ancora onthe lato della Causby e l’industria dei contenuti. Le rivendicazioni estreme ofcontrol in nome della proprietà risuonano ancora; il rifiuto acritico ofpiracy ha ancora play.There saranno molte conseguenze di continuare questa guerra. Voglio de-scrivano solo tre. Tutti e tre si potreb abiti valentino outlet be dire di essere

  13. e leggere un brano del libro sacro, da lui con reverenza LIF-ted alla testa. La congregazione burberry outlet londra si è unito in coro, devota ma unintelli-Gent; per la Parola, scritta in cinese antico, è come oscuro per il fedele giapponese ordin-ario come le liturgie latine ad un alto cappedNorman contadina. Mentre il suo gregge avvolto contanti di rame in pa-per, e li gettò davanti al tavolo come offerte, il prete prossimo recitato apassage da solo, e l’impiegato laico irriverente stipulato un disputewith forte uno della congregazione, toccando burberry outlet londra un po ‘di pagamento o altro. Le cerimonie pre-liminari è conclusa, un ragazzino rasato-pato ha portato in un tè cupof, tre volte poi essere reintegrati, per le sue riverenze mento refresh-; e lui, avendo sciolto il suo volto, ha dato un largo sorriso, si schiarì histhroat, inghiottito il suo tè,

  14. les avantages de foreignpatents à des prix inférieurs. Ceci est une stratégie prometteuse pour les pays en développement withinthe ADPIC framework.72.For une analyse de l’impact économique de la technologie de la copie, voir Stan Liebowitz, Repenser l’économie en réseau New York: Amacom, 2002 144 90?. Dans certains en-stances … l’impact du piratage sur la capacité des détenteurs de droits d’auteur s’approprier TheValue du travail sera négligeable. Un exemple évident est le cas où l’indi-individuelle se livrer à la piraterie aurait pas acheté un original, même si piratingwere pas une option. Ibid., 149.65property droits, le droit d’auteur donne au propriétaire le droit de desConditions décider en vertu de laquelle le contenu est partagé. Si le propriétaire du droit d’auteur doesntwant de vendre, elle n’a pas à. Il y a des exceptions: les licences de stat-utory importants qui appliquent

  15. punto. Controversiesbetween la nazione ei suoi membri o cittadini, non può che essere adeguatamente ri-Ferred ai tribunali nazionali. Qualsiasi altro piano sarebbe toreason contrario, al precedente, e per decorum.The quarto punto si basa su questa proposizione semplice, che la pace di thewhole non dovrebbe essere lasciato a disposizione di una parte. L’Unione willundoub golden goose sconto tedly responsabile nei confronti di potenze straniere per lo svolgimento delle itsmembers. E la responsabilità di un infortunio dovrebbe mai essere accompa-gnato con la Facoltà di prevenzione. Come la negazione o perversione di giustizia da parte delle sentenze di tribunali, cos golden goose red ì come in qualsiasi altro modo, è withreason classificato tra le giuste cause di guerra, ne consegue che la magistratura FEDER-al dovrebbe avere conoscenza di tutte le cause in cui il citizensof altri paesi sono interessati.

  16. trasparente come le pagine di un vecchio Corano. Il bambino stava morendo. Tre ora, forse quattro? si chiese. Un bambino morente il cui volto aveva un sorriso di coraggio e di dolore e di amore. Perch茅 Allah deve visitare la sua rabbia sui pi霉 piccoli? Gir貌 la foto di affrontare gli ufficiali. Tuo figlio? chiese in russo. Morto. Cancro, l’uomo ha spiegato, poi ha visto che questo non ha ancora bandito capire. Malattia. La malattia lunga. Per un brevissimo istante il suo volto si schiar矛 di dolore e ha mostrato solo il dolore. Che gli salv貌 la vita. Era stupito di vedere il bandito rinfoderare il coltello, ma anche profondamente il dolore di reagire in modo visibile. Page 104 No. Non visiter貌 un’altra morte su questa decisione woman.The anche stupito l’Arciere. Era come se la voce di

  17. scarpe le louboutin christian louboutin prices usa christian louboutin milano email louboutin sneakers uomo saldi outlet louboutin milano christian louboutin v praze christian louboutin romaine louboutin official scarpe tacco louboutin, scarpe louboutin vendita milano, louboutin outlet uk stores, louboutin trovaprezzi net a porter christian louboutin louboutin plateau christian louboutin pigalle christian louboutin shoes online louboutin tronchetti christian louboutin glitter heels scarpe louboutin outlet recensioni christian louboutin ss13, christian louboutin j string shoes, louboutin pumps prezzo christian louboutin shoes black christian louboutin rossetti prezzo louboutin originali christian louboutin montecarlo christian louboutin v praze christian louboutin barcelona scarpe louboutin vendita scarpe simili alle louboutin christian louboutin i danmark christian louboutin shoes nyc christian louboutin shoes review christian louboutin scarpe louboutin outlet las vegas christian louboutin logo louboutin prezzi italia christian louboutin boutique roma sabyasachi x christian louboutin louboutin originali christian louboutin shoes girl louboutin spaccio christian louboutin shop on line christian louboutin i norge christian louboutin 70 christian louboutin new york louboutin a roma louboutin outlet so kate christian louboutin x star wars christian louboutin shoes 6 christian louboutin shoes online shop christian louboutin gold shoes christian louboutin luisa via roma.

  18. Sa wat dii khrap. I would like to have a nickname. It seems fun. My name is Keifer. I love eating, having fun with friends, travelling, and studying as well. I also have this thing with cats and Pokemon. HAHAHA! It would be my pleasure to have a nickname suggested by you, guys. Khawp khun khrap.

  19. mormorò; o, in altre parole, lo spettatore vede più del gioco che il giocatore. Cosa vorresti dare per sapere cosa so, mi chiedo! Aspetta solo che arrivi il momento giusto; poi scoprirai che ‘è il peggiore che ha imbrogliato, che si imbroglia’. ‘Un miglio più avanti, le sue pozioni iniziarono a farsi sentire, scoppiò improvvisamente, con una risatina e un sorriso brillo: -’ Man kan ei drage haardt med brudet Reb, ‘il mio eccellente dottore, non puoi tirare duro con una corda spezzata! Ha! ah!’ E, anche se il suo imbarazzato volo dalla presenza di Bergan, il secondo giorno, potrebbe

  20. fondo di lui che piangeva per lei, qualcosa che non aveva mai commosso o pianto in lui prima. Nonostante la sua mancanza di bellezza e di ingannevolezza, nonostante la sua ostilità verso tutti i suoi schemi cari, c’era qualcosa in lui a cui Alice apparteneva in realtà e completamente. Non lo capiva, non poteva analizzarlo, lo capiva a malapena, tutto ciò che provava era l’enorme sconvolgimento, il conflitto che provocava, tutte le grida e le difficoltà della disperazione disperata e priva di motivazioni che provava per lei- una fame in lui che chiama giorni e notti, nonostante la sua

  21. ブランド コピー 安心 says:

    スタイリッシュなシュプリーム激安通販スウェットパーカー。カジュアル感仕上げで、春先に活躍すること間違い無し。http://www.kidying.com/ブランド コピー 安心程よい量感のフードで、カモフラージュ柄がアクセントしたコートやデニムジャケットなどの春アウターとのレイヤードスタイルとも相性抜群。http://www.kidying.com/brand-190.htmlシュプリーム コピー程よくゆとりのあるシルエットと、柔らかな生地感でリラックスして快適に着用頂けます。 http://qbwho.com/copy-52-c0/FRANCK MULLER スーパー コピー

  22. 抱き枕 自作 https://www.jpadd.com/product/dakimakura/ クッションのオリジナルプリント,好きな方を抱き枕にして安らかなねむりを!ご相談の方法は簡単,ラインで友達登録後,トーク画面で話しかけて頂きますと,お返事させ頂きます,親切丁寧な対応,印刷がきれい,納品がはやい,等身大抱き枕の制作もOK!

  23.  アリババのバイス・プレジデント兼「Tモール」アパレルファッションビジネス部門のジェネラル・マネジャーを務めるウェイション・フー(Weixiong Hu)は、「デジタル化を推進しているラグジュアリーブランドにとって、『独身の日』セールは“練習の場”として最適だ。http://www.cibbuzz.com/ ブランド コピー 優良 店アリババの優れた技術力やプラットフォームを活用してブランド価値を高め、『Tモール』上でのオフィシャルストアをECにおける成長戦略の核として位置付けることができる」と語った。

     アリババのライバルで、中国第2位のEC企業JDドットコム(JD.com)でも「独身の日」セールの取扱高は大幅に増加しており、初日の11月1日には前年の138%増となった。 VALENTINO コピー http://www.cibbuzz.com/brand-203.htmlセール期間全体では、アパレルが同116%増、シューズが同132%増だった。

  24. 1. What is the video supposed to tell people about Thai culture in which this language is embed?
    2. How does the language structure described differ from US English usage in comparison?

Leave a Reply to dove comprare louboutin in italia Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

You may use these HTML tags and attributes: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <strike> <strong>

CommentLuv badge