สามี
sǎa-mii/saː˩˩˦.miː˧/
The Thai word for husband is สามี (sǎa-mii). Wiktionary also lists ผัว (pǔua).
Meaning: male partner in marriage (noun)
Ways to say it
| Thai | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| สามี | sǎa-mii | /saː˩˩˦.miː˧/ |
| ผัว | pǔua | /pʰua̯˩˩˦/ |
The term refers to a male partner in a marriage.
Which one should you use?
สามี is the formal and polite way to say husband, while ผัว is an informal and colloquial way to say husband, often used among close friends or in casual settings.
How does it change in a sentence?
To say 'husband of [person]', use the structure สามีของ [person].
How do you pronounce it?
sǎa-mii
Did you know?
- Thai speakers often avoid using the word สามี when talking to their husband directly, preferring nicknames or terms like 'papa' for the children's sake.
- The word สามี is a loanword from Pali, a liturgical language of Theravada Buddhism, rather than being native to the Tai language family.
- Because สามี has roots in 'mastery', it carries a sense of dignity that is absent from the more common, colloquial versions of the word.
Examples in context
- โทรหาสามีของฉันCall my husband.This sentence shows how to use สามี to refer to one's own husband.Tatoeba #8703227 by pastelite, translation #1730012 by CM
- สามีของฉันเป็นคนดีMy husband is a good man.This sentence demonstrates how to use สามี to describe a husband's character.Tatoeba #8850977 by pastelite, translation #2230333 by Hybrid
- สามีของคุณมีศัตรูมากไหม?Did your husband have many enemies?This sentence shows how to use สามี when asking a question about someone else's husband.Tatoeba #4284542 by Spanger, translation #4278192 by Mofli
- ฉันรักสามีของฉันI love my husband.
- วันนี้ผัวของฉันทำอาหารMy husband cooked today.
- 7 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about their spouses at a cafe.
- ณิชา Nichaสามีของคุณทำงานที่ไหนคะ?sa-mi khong khun tham-ngan thi-nai kha?Where does your husband work?
- วิทวัส Witthawatสามีของผมเป็นหมอครับsa-mi khong phom pen mor khrapMy husband is a doctor.
- ณิชา Nichaสามีคุณเก่งมากเลยค่ะsa-mi khun keng mak loei khaYour husband is very talented.
- วิทวัส Witthawatขอบคุณครับ ณิชาkhop khun khrap, Ni-chaThank you, Nisha.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “husband” translations and entries สามี, ผัว, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ผัว, สามี, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
