Family Tree in Thai: Complete Guide to Thai Family Vocabulary
- Jirabhorn S.
- Jan 22
- 3 min read
Updated: 3 days ago
Don’t want to feel confused when talking about family members in Thai?
This guide explains the family tree in Thai and essential Thai family vocabulary, so you can use the right family member terms naturally.
What Is a Family Tree in Thai?
A Thai family tree is divided into two main sides:
Father’s side
Mother’s side
Each side uses different words, even when the relationship looks the same in English. This is one of the biggest differences between Thai and English family terms.
Father’s Side of the Thai Family
Core Family Members
พ่อ /pâaw/ = father
ปู่ /bpùu/ = father’s father
ย่า /yâa/ = father’s mother
Father’s Siblings
ลุง /lung/ = father’s older brother
ป้า /bpâa/ = father’s older sister
อา /aa/ = father’s younger brother or sister
💡 Thai family terms always show whether someone is older or younger.
Mother’s Side of the Thai Family
Core Family Members
แม่ /mâae/ = mother
ตา /dtaa/ = mother’s father
ยาย /yaai/ = mother’s mother
Mother’s Siblings
ลุง /lung/ = mother’s older brother
ป้า /bpâa/ = mother’s older sister
น้า /náa/ = mother’s younger brother or sister
💡 Even though ลุง /lung/ and ป้า /bpâa/ appear on both sides, อา /aa/ is only for the father’s younger siblings, while น้า /náa/ is only for the mother’s younger siblings.
Brothers and Sisters in Thai Family
You must know whether someone is older or younger than you to choose the correct word.
พี่ชาย /pîi chaai/ = older brother
พี่สาว /pîi săao/ = older sister
น้องชาย /náawng chaai/ = younger brother
น้องสาว /náawng săao/ = younger sister
ลูกพี่ลูกน้อง /lûuk pîi lûuk náawng/ = cousin
Spouse and Children in Thai Family
สามี /săa-mii/ – husband
ภรรยา /pan-rá-yaa/ – wife
💡 In spoken Thai, people may say ผัว /pǔa/ (husband) and เมีย /mia/ (wife) in casual conversations with close friends or family. With people you’re not close to or in formal situations, these words can sound impolite, so you should use สามี /săa-mii/ ภรรยา /pan-rá-yaa/ instead.
ลูก /lûuk/ = child / children
ลูกคนโต /lûuk khon dtoo/ = eldest child
ลูกคนกลาง /lûuk khon glaang/ = middle child
ลูกคนเล็ก /lûuk khon lék/ = youngest child
Example: ฉันเป็นลูกคนโต /chǎn bpen lûuk khon dtoh/
= I’m the eldest child.
In-Law & Step in Thai Family
ลูกเขย /lûuk khǒei/ = son-in-law
ลูกสะใภ้ /lûuk sà-pái/ = daughter-in-law
แม่เลี้ยง /mâae líiang/ = stepmother
พ่อเลี้ยง /pâaw líiang/ = stepfather
ลูกเลี้ยง /lûuk líiang/ = stepchild
Example: ลูกเขยของฉันเป็นคนเกาหลี /lûuk-khǒi khǎawng chǎn bpen khon gào-lǐi/
= My son-in-law is Korean.
Using Family Words as Pronouns in Thai
In daily life, Thai people often use family terms as polite pronouns, even for people who are not relatives.
For example:
Calling an elderly man คุณตา /khun dtaa/ (Grandpa)
Calling an elderly woman คุณยาย /khun yaai/ (Grandma)
This shows respect, warmth, and friendliness an important part of Thai culture.
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