Differences in Some Thai Words Used by Men and Women Thai language reflects the speaker’s identity, showing gender and politeness. Some words, especially pronouns, are chosen differently by men and women. Pronouns for men and women in Thai In Thai, pronouns are one of the clearest indicators of gender in language use. The choice of a pronoun does not only show who is speaking, but also reflects politeness, personality, and gender at the same time. Part 1: First-Person Pronouns 1. Phom (/pʰǒm/, ผม) This pronoun is used by men and is appropriate for speaking to both people they know and strangers. It can be used naturally in both formal and informal situations. 2. Chan (/tɕʰǎn/, ฉัน) – Dichan (/dì.tɕʰǎn/, ดิฉัน) This pronoun can be used by both women and men, but it is more commonly used by women. “Chan” is informal and suitable for speaking with most people in daily life. “Dichan” is more formal and polite. 3. Nu (/nǔː/, หนู) This pronoun is often used by children to refer to themselves when speaking to elders. It is also widely used by women in the same context. It sounds polite, soft, and humble. Some boys may use it too, but usually only with their own family or familiar elders. 4. Gu (/kūː/, กู) This pronoun is highly informal and used only among very close friends. It should never be used with strangers, acquaintances, or elders. 5. Kha (/khâ/, ข้า) This pronoun is archaic and rarely used in modern Thai, except in some local areas, classical literature, or historical dramas. 6. Khaprachao (/kʰâ.pʰá.tɕʰaʔ/, ข้าพเจ้า) This pronoun is very formal and often used in official contexts, governmental writing, speeches, or ceremonies. It is not used in casual daily conversation. 7. Kha phra bat (/kʰâ.pʰrá.bàt/, ข้าพระบาท) This pronoun is used exclusively by a subject when speaking to royalty. It may also be seen in historical dramas related to the royal family or the king.