ขอบคุณค่ะ
khop khun kha
The English phrase "thank you to a woman" is translated into Thai as ขอบคุณค่ะ (khop khun kha).
ขอบคุณค่ะ is a polite expression of gratitude used by a female speaker.
What does it mean word for word?
The core part of the phrase is the verb ขอบคุณ, which means "to thank" or "to express gratitude".
How do you pronounce it?
khop khun kha
Did you know?
- While the phrase is used for gratitude, the particle ค่ะ is a gender marker that identifies the speaker as female. A man saying this phrase would sound very strange unless he is using a specific feminine persona.
- When a woman says ขอบคุณค่ะ while performing a 'Wai', her thumbs should ideally touch the tip of her nose when thanking a highly respected elder.
- If you want to thank someone of much higher status, such as a monk or a royal, the phrase ขอบคุณค่ะ is actually too common and would be replaced by much more complex, formal vocabulary.
Example conversation
A woman is receiving a gift from a man.
- กนกวรรณ Kanokwanขอบคุณมากค่ะkhòop khun mâak khâThank you very much.
- ธีรภัทร Theeraphatไม่เป็นไรครับmâi pen rai krápYou're welcome.
- กนกวรรณ Kanokwanขอบคุณค่ะkhòop khun khâThank you.
- ธีรภัทร Theeraphatด้วยความยินดีครับdûay khwaam yin dee krápIt's my pleasure.
