Learn Thai the Easy Way > Speak Thai > Women


Most people when they start to learn Thai find some things confusing. It's just because there are some special words which are used by women and men. Lots of people have been asking me about this. For example, for the word "I" the men use "phom" and the women will use "chan". Actually the word "chan" can be used with both sexes but not many men say it. But you might hear some boys say "chan", that's not wrong. It's just because they are being polite not because they are using it wrong.

Ajarn Lawan
Sriwittayapaknam School

/
"kaa"*
I, My = "chan", "dii chan"**
   
She, Her = "ter"
Hi = "sawatdee kaa"

* kaa is usually used at the end of sentences when you want to be polite.
**dii chan is more polite to use.


Example phrases:

My name is Lawan.
dii chan chue Lawan kaa
 
Her name is Lawan.
chue khong ter kue Lawan
 
She is a teacher.
ter ben kru