คนสวย
khon suai
The phrase "pretty lady" in Thai is คนสวย (khon suai).
While it literally means 'pretty person', it is the standard way to refer to a beautiful woman in Thai.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the word for person and the word for beautiful.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Using คนสวย as a direct address to a woman can be seen as flirtatious or overly familiar depending on the context.
How do you pronounce it?
khon suai
Did you know?
- To call someone 'too beautiful' in a way that suggests they are intimidating, Thais might use the phrase สวยสังหาร, which literally means 'killer beauty'.
- In Thai markets, vendors often call female customers คนสวย to be friendly and encourage sales, regardless of the woman's actual appearance.
- The word สวย can be used to describe not just people, but also landscapes, handwriting and even the quality of a well-executed task.
Examples in context
- เขาเป็นคนสวยมากkhao pen khon suay maakShe is a very pretty lady.
- คนสวยอยู่ไหนครับkhon suay yuu nai khrapWhere is the pretty lady?
Example conversation
Chonsit is complimenting Sirin at a party.
- ชลสิทธิ์ Cholasitสวัสดีครับคนสวย วันนี้แต่งตัวสวยมากเลยsa-wat-di khrap khon suai, wan ni taeng tua suai mak loeiHello, pretty lady. You are dressed very beautifully today.
- สิรินทร์ Sirinขอบคุณค่ะ ชลสิทธิ์ก็ดูดีเหมือนกันkhop khun kha, Chon-la-sit ko du di muean kanThank you, Chonsit. You look good too.
- ชลสิทธิ์ Cholasitผมดีใจที่ได้เจอคนสวยอย่างคุณphom di chai thi dai choe khon suai yang khunI am glad to meet a pretty lady like you.
- สิรินทร์ Sirinคุณพูดจาน่ารักจังเลยนะคะkhun phut cha na-rak chang loei na khaYou are speaking so sweetly.
