Ways to say it
| Thai | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| คุณ | kun | /kʰun˧/ /kʰun˧.na˦˥./ |
colloquial |
| เธอ | təə | /tʰɤː˧/ | polite |
| มึง | mʉng | /mɯŋ˧/ | familiar, vulgar |
| เอ็ง | eng | /ʔeŋ˧/ | familiar, vulgar |
| เจ้า | jâao | /t͡ɕaw˥˩/ | dated |
| ท่าน | tâan | /tʰaːn˥˩/ /tʰan˥˩/ |
colloquial |
| นาย | naai | /naːj˧/ | colloquial |
| หล่อน | lɔ̀n | /lɔn˨˩/ | colloquial |
| เรา | rao | /raw˧/ | |
| แก | gɛɛ | /kɛː˧/ | vulgar |
| โยม | yoom | /joːm˧/ | |
| ประสก | bprà-sòk | /pra˨˩.sok̚˨˩/ | |
| สีกา | sǐi-gaa | /siː˩˩˦.kaː˧/ | |
| ลื้อ | lʉ́ʉ | /lɯː˦˥/ | colloquial |
| สู | sǔu | /suː˩˩˦/ | archaic |
| เตง | dteeng | /teːŋ˧/ | childish |
| ลูก | lûuk | /luːk̚˥˩/ |
For general polite interactions with strangers, คุณ is a safe choice. In a religious context, Buddhist monks use โยม to address laypeople. Parents or elders may use ลูก, which literally means 'child', to address younger people. Among couples or very close friends, the slang term เตง is used as a cute or childish way to address a partner. The pronoun เรา is also used to mean 'you'.
Which one should you use?
While several forms mean 'you', they carry different connotations. เธอ is a polite way to address a girlfriend or a female friend, though it is also commonly used to mean 'she/her'. นาย can be used among friends or peers in a playful or casual manner. For high-status individuals like bosses, elders or officials, ท่าน is used to show great respect. The term ลื้อ is a colloquial way to say 'you'. The archaic form สู is used. The dated form เอ็ง is also used. In some contexts, ประสก and สีกา are used as colloquial terms.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
ท่าน is colloquial. คุณ and เธอ are polite. นาย is colloquial. ลื้อ, ประสก and สีกา are colloquial. เตง is childish slang. เอ็ง, แก and หล่อน are dated and can be considered derogatory or offensive. มึง is a vulgar and highly offensive term that should only be used between extremely close friends or when being intentionally rude. เจ้า and สู are archaic forms. โยม is a specific religious term used by monks.
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization for คุณ is kun.
Did you know?
- In many social interactions, Thai speakers avoid using any of these 'you' pronouns entirely by using the person's name or title instead.
- The word เธอ was once a third-person pronoun used specifically to refer to a monarch.
- The term ลื้อ is derived from Teochew Chinese and is often used by Thai-Chinese families.
Examples in context
- ขอบคุณThank you.This sentence shows how to use คุณ in a common phrase.Tatoeba #499081 by ojiisan, translation #1876041 by Asma
- คุณขับYou drive.This sentence demonstrates the use of คุณ as a subject.Tatoeba #8671201 by pastelite, translation #2549830 by CK
- รักคุณLove you.This sentence shows how คุณ can be used as an object of affection.Tatoeba #8673172 by pastelite, translation #6586655 by Eccles17
- คุณเป็นครูที่ทุกคนยกย่องYou are a teacher that everyone respects.
- พี่เป็นหัวหน้าทีมYou are the team leader.
- เธอคือเพื่อนที่ดีที่สุดของฉันYou are my best friend.
- 849 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two acquaintances meet at a coffee shop.
- พิมล Pimonคุณสบายดีไหมคะkhun sa-bai di mai khaHow are you?
- วิทวัส Witthawatผมสบายดีครับ แล้วคุณล่ะครับphom sa-bai di khrap laeo khun la khrapI am fine, and you?
- พิมล Pimonคุณดูเหนื่อยนะวันนี้khun du nueai na wan niYou look tired today.
- วิทวัส Witthawatขอบคุณที่สังเกตครับkhop khun thi sang-ket khrapThank you for noticing.
