How to Say "Sister-in-law" in Thai

พี่สะใภ้

phi saphai

The Thai way to say sister-in-law is พี่สะใภ้ (phi saphai).

This phrase is used specifically to refer to the wife of one's older brother or older sister.

What does it mean word for word?

The term is composed of phi (older sibling) and saphai (daughter-in-law/wife of a son or sibling).

While พี่สะใภ้ refers to the wife of an older brother, น้องสะใภ้ refers to the wife of a younger brother.

The term is a noun and does not change its form based on grammatical number or case.

phi saphai

If a person is referred to as พี่สะใภ้, they are automatically accorded the social respect due to an older sibling, regardless of their actual biological age compared to the speaker.
In Thai culture, พี่สะใภ้ is not just a title but a way to address the person directly, whereas English speakers usually call their sister-in-law by her first name.
The term phi at the start of the phrase functions as a social marker of respect. Even if the person is not your biological sibling, addressing her this way acknowledges her elder status within the family unit.

พี่สะใภ้ของฉันใจดีมาก
phi saphai khong chan chai di mak
My sister-in-law is very kind.
คุณเจอพี่สะใภ้หรือยัง
khun choe phi saphai rue yang
Have you met the sister-in-law yet?
พี่สะใภ้กำลังทำอาหารอยู่ในครัว
phi saphai kamlang tham a-han yu nai khrua
The sister-in-law is cooking in the kitchen.

Teerapat and Sirin are talking about family members at a party.

ธีรภัทร Theeraphat

สิรินทร์ พี่สะใภ้ของคุณสวยมากเลย
Sirin, phi saphai khong khun suai mak loei
Sirin, your sister-in-law is very beautiful.
สิรินทร์ Sirin

ขอบคุณค่ะ เธอเป็นคนน่ารักด้วย
Khop khun kha, thoe pen khon na rak duai
Thank you, she is also a lovely person.
ธีรภัทร Theeraphat

พวกคุณสองคนดูสนิทกันมาก
Phuak khun song khon duu sanit kan mak
The two of you seem very close.
สิรินทร์ Sirin

ใช่ค่ะ เราเข้ากันได้ดีเสมอ
Chai kha, rao khao kan dai di samer
Yes, we always get along well.

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