14 ways to say "I" in Thai
What should you use in in which situation? What are the most common expressions?
Content
Share article:
6 min read
· published May 4, 2021
· last update August 22, 2021
In this article we will explore the different words and ways to say "I" in Thai:
- ผม I (for men); hair
See in Dictionary, ดิฉัน I (formal; for female speakers)
See in Dictionary, ฉัน I (for women; informal)
See in Dictionary are the minimum words every Thai learner should know. - หนู mouse, rat
See in Dictionary, เรา we; I (informal)
See in Dictionary, พี่ you (polite; for older people)
See in Dictionary, น้อง you (for a younger person than the speaker)
See in Dictionary, using nicknames, titles, or leaving out the pronouns are words/concepts which are used very often. Thai learners should at least understand them. - เค้า I, he (informal, cute)
See in Dictionary, อั๊ว I (used only by Chinese Thais)
See in Dictionary, ข้าพเจ้า I
See in Dictionary are either not used that often or only in very specific situations. It's ok if you don't know these words. - กู I
See in Dictionary and ข้า I; slave, servant
See in Dictionary are vulgar. You should not use them.
Which way you use depends on your sex and the situation you are in. Usually, you would mix the appropriate pronouns during a conversation, not only use one.
Want to learn Thai for free?
Lingo Ninja
The best way to learn Thai
Overview of the different types of situations
In this article, and the entire Thai Grammar, we will distinguish between four different situations:
- Formal situations: when you are talking to a person of high status (see below), or you are in a meeting, government office, etc. It is seen as impolite to interrupt each other, and there is no joking.
- Consultative situations: E.g. among work colleagues. Interruptions are seen as impolite, jokes are made with regard to the audience.
- Casual situations: when you are among friends. Colloquial language is commonly used, it is ok to interrupt each other and to make jokes.
- Intimate situations: an informal, private situation when you are alone with your spouse, partner, or lover.
Informal situations: If a situation is either consultative, casual, or intimate it belongs into the group of "informal situations".
People of high status can be, for example, Thai officials, doctors, monks, university professors, your boss, or simply older people. Those people deserve to be treated very politely because of their social status, occupation, function, authority, or age. We are assuming that you approach these people as a "normal person", and not as someone else of high status.
Overview of the different ways to say "I" in Thai
- ผม I (for men); hair
See in Dictionary - "I" for men, all situations - ดิฉัน I (formal; for female speakers)
See in Dictionary - "I" for women in formal situations - ฉัน I (for women; informal)
See in Dictionary - "I" for women in informal situations - หนู mouse, rat
See in Dictionary - mouse. "I" for women in informal situations - เรา we; I (informal)
See in Dictionary - both sexes, in informal situations - leave out the pronoun - both sexes, all situations
- your nickname - both sexes, informal situations
- polite pronouns: พี่ you (polite; for older people)
See in Dictionary (older person) and น้อง you (for a younger person than the speaker)
See in Dictionary (younger person) - both sexes, informal situations - your title, e.g. ครู teacher
See in Dictionary (teacher) - both sexes, formal and normal situations - เค้า I, he (informal, cute)
See in Dictionary - less common - used with close friends - กู I
See in Dictionary - less common - vulgar - ข้า I; slave, servant
See in Dictionary - less common - vulgar - อั๊ว I (used only by Chinese Thais)
See in Dictionary - less common - used only by Chinese-Thai - ข้าพเจ้า I
See in Dictionary - less common - used in contracts and speeches
Let's look at each way in more detail.
1. ผม - for men
| ผม | Speaker | ||
| female | male | ||
|
Situation
|
intimate | tomboy | ok |
| casual | tomboy | ok | |
| consultative | tomboy | ok | |
| formal | tomboy | ok | |
- As a man, you have it relatively easy. ผม I (for men); hair
See in Dictionary can be used in most situations by male speakers. - If you use ผม I (for men); hair
See in Dictionary intimate situations, it can be seen as (overly) formal. Another interpretation is that it conveys maturity and respect for your partner. - If a woman were to use ผม I (for men); hair
See in Dictionary, she would be immediately considered a tomboy.
2. ดิฉัน - for women, formal
| ดิฉัน | Speaker | ||
| female | male | ||
|
Situation
|
intimate | very formal, distant | very formal, distant. ladyboy |
| casual | |||
| consultative | distant | distant, ladyboy | |
| formal | ok | ladyboy | |
- ดิฉัน I (formal; for female speakers)
See in Dictionary is used by female speakers in formal situations, and when you talk to someone of high status. - If a man were to use it, he would be immediately considered a ladyboy.
- If a woman uses ดิฉัน I (formal; for female speakers)
See in Dictionary in intimate situations, it can be seen as (overly) formal. Another interpretation is that it does not necessarily convey distance, but it can be out of respect for the partner's high social status.
Learn Thai for free
3. ฉัน - for women, informal
| ฉัน | Speaker | ||
| female | male | ||
|
Situation
|
intimate | ok | in songs, not in real life |
| casual | ok | in songs, not in real life | |
| consultative | ok | ladyboy | |
| formal | not respectful | not respectful. ladyboy | |
- ฉัน I (for women; informal)
See in Dictionary is used by women in everyday life. - But ฉัน I (for women; informal)
See in Dictionary has also a more interesting aspect: Did you know that ฉัน I (for women; informal)
See in Dictionary can also be used by men? You mainly hear that in songs. If a man uses ฉัน I (for women; informal)
See in Dictionary to refer to himself (in a song), he would use it in combination with เธอ she; you
See in Dictionary for "you". - If a man uses ฉัน I (for women; informal)
See in Dictionary in real life (outside songs), it gives the impression he is a ladyboy.
Lingo Ninja
The best way to learn Thai
4. หนู - female, informal
| หนู | Speaker | ||
| female | male | ||
|
Situation
|
intimate | ok | ladyboy |
| casual | ok | ladyboy | |
| consultative | ok | ladyboy | |
| formal | not respectful | not respectful. ladyboy | |
- หนู mouse, rat
See in Dictionary literally means "mouse". It is used by women in everyday life, especially in casual and intimate situations or when talking to kids. - It is also used by young girls when talking to anyone older
- If a man were to use it, he gives the impression of being a ladyboy.
5. เรา - both sexes, informal
- เรา we; I (informal)
See in Dictionary is interesting, as it is often translated as "we", not as "I". But in informal situations, it is completely fine for both sexes to use เรา we; I (informal)
See in Dictionary for "I". - If you use it in formal or consultative situations, it might be seen as inappropriate or disrespectful.
6. dropping the pronoun - both sexes, all types of situations
- Appropriate for all types of situations.
Dropping pronouns is something Thai people do very often. The simple rule is, if you can derive the pronoun out of context, you can drop it.
For example, instead of
For example, instead of
A: How are you? - คุณ Ms, Mrs, Mr; you
See in Dictionaryสบายดี fine
See in Dictionaryไหม yes/no question
See in Dictionaryครับ polite word for men
See in Dictionary?
B: I am fine. - ฉัน I (for women; informal)
See in Dictionaryสบายดี fine
See in Dictionaryค่ะ polite word for women
See in Dictionary
you often only hear:
A: How are? - สบายดี fine
See in Dictionaryไหม yes/no question
See in Dictionaryครับ polite word for men
See in Dictionary?
B: fine. - สบายดี fine
See in Dictionaryค่ะ polite word for women
See in Dictionary
In the short conversation above it is clear from the context, that A is asking B, and B is talking about herself.
Note: As a Thai beginner, you might think you simply should adapt this technique and always drop all pronouns, as this technique can be used in all types of situations. But that conclusion would be wrong. This technique will only get you through part of the conversation. As soon as topics get more complicated you still need to use pronouns for clarity and to avoid ambiguity.
Note: As a Thai beginner, you might think you simply should adapt this technique and always drop all pronouns, as this technique can be used in all types of situations. But that conclusion would be wrong. This technique will only get you through part of the conversation. As soon as topics get more complicated you still need to use pronouns for clarity and to avoid ambiguity.
Want to learn Thai for free?
Lingo Ninja
The best way to learn Thai
7. nickname- both sexes, not formal
| your nickname | Speaker | ||
| female | male | ||
|
Situation
|
intimate | ok | ok |
| casual | ok | ok | |
| consultative | ok | ok | |
| formal | not appropriate | not appropriate | |
- Using your nickname is fine in most - except in very formal - situations.
- It is also one of the few ways men can refer to themselves in intimate situations.
For more details, please read names as personal pronouns
8. น้อง and พี่ - polite pronouns - both sexes, all types of situations
One way to get around the complications of finding the right pronoun for the situation is to rely on pronouns that depend on your age difference.
If you are older, you can refer to yourself as พี่ you (polite; for older people)
See in Dictionary (older person) and to the other party as น้อง you (for a younger person than the speaker)
See in Dictionary (younger person).
If you are younger, you flip it around and refer to yourself as น้อง you (for a younger person than the speaker)
See in Dictionary (younger person) while referring to the other party as พี่ you (polite; for older people)
See in Dictionary (older person).
Words like พี่ you (polite; for older people)
See in Dictionary and น้อง you (for a younger person than the speaker)
See in Dictionary belong to the group of family terms. You can read more on them here: Family terms as personal pronouns
This is appropriate in most informal situations.
If you are older, you can refer to yourself as พี่ you (polite; for older people)
See in Dictionary (older person) and to the other party as น้อง you (for a younger person than the speaker)
See in Dictionary (younger person).
If you are younger, you flip it around and refer to yourself as น้อง you (for a younger person than the speaker)
See in Dictionary (younger person) while referring to the other party as พี่ you (polite; for older people)
See in Dictionary (older person).
Words like พี่ you (polite; for older people)
See in Dictionary and น้อง you (for a younger person than the speaker)
See in Dictionary belong to the group of family terms. You can read more on them here: Family terms as personal pronouns
This is appropriate in most informal situations.
9. using your title - both sexes, formal & normal
If you have a title like อาจารย์ professor, teacher
See in Dictionary (professor) or ครู teacher
See in Dictionary (teacher), you can use it in formal situations and e.g. when talking to colleagues. It might sound overly formal when talking to friends, though.
For more examples, please read here: using titles as personal pronouns
See in Dictionary (professor) or ครู teacher
See in Dictionary (teacher), you can use it in formal situations and e.g. when talking to colleagues. It might sound overly formal when talking to friends, though.
For more examples, please read here: using titles as personal pronouns
10. เค้า - by young people with close friends
- can be used by both sexes
- Also means he/she/they, as เค้า I, he (informal, cute)
See in Dictionary is a variation of เขา he; she, they
See in Dictionary. - Should only be used with close friends, boyfriends/girlfriends/partners.
- Paired with the pronoun ตัว body; animals, clothing, furniture
See in Dictionaryเอง by oneself
See in Dictionary for "you".
11. กู - vulgar
- กู I
See in Dictionary is seen as vulgar. You should not it unless you are ready to pick a fight. It is used by both sexes, mainly by teenagers or mobsters who try to be tough.
Learn Thai for free
12. ข้า - vulgar and outdated
- similar to กู I
See in Dictionary, ข้า I; slave, servant
See in Dictionary is seen as vulgar. It is seldom used in modern Thai, you mainly find it in literature. So only if you want to sound like an old-fashioned mobster, ready to get beaten up, go ahead and use it. Or better not.
13. อั๊ว - only if you are Chinese-Thai
- อั๊ว I (used only by Chinese Thais)
See in Dictionary is of Chinese origin and used by some Chinese-Thai speakers of both sexes in informal situations. It can sound harsh if used by non-Chinese-Thai. If a Thai learner would use it, it definitely would confuse people why you are using it. So better don't.
14. ข้าพเจ้า - in contracts and speeches
- ข้าพเจ้า I
See in Dictionary is used by both sexes in formal speeches or contracts. It is more often seen in written form than heard aloud. You don't use it in day-to-day life.