Differences in Some Thai Words Used by Men and Women
Part 2 : Second-Person Pronouns
Second-person pronouns in Thai reflect social relationships, politeness, and familiarity, and choosing the right form depends heavily on context.
1. Khun (/kʰun/, คุณ)
This is the most common and safest second-person pronoun. It is polite, neutral, and can be used to address both men and women. “Khun” is suitable for both formal and informal situations, especially when speaking to strangers or people you are not close to.
2. Thoe (/tʰəː/, เธอ)
This pronoun is informal and is mainly used to address women. It is commonly used by women when speaking to other women, or to men in close and casual contexts.
Men usually use “thoe” when speaking to women, especially in friendly or romantic situations. Men generally do not use “thoe” to address other men, as it sounds unnatural in everyday Thai. However, some men may use “thoe” when addressing gay men or third-gender individuals who present themselves in a feminine way, depending on mutual understanding and social context.
This pronoun should not be used in formal situations or when speaking to elders.
3. Kae (/kɛː/, แก)
This pronoun is very informal and is used only among close friends. If used with the wrong person or in the wrong situation, it can sound rude or disrespectful.
4. Mueng (/mɯŋ/, มึง)
This pronoun is extremely informal and often sounds rude or aggressive. It is used only among very close friends who are comfortable with this style of speech. It should never be used in polite conversation or with elders.
5. Using names instead of pronouns
In Thai, it is very common to avoid second-person pronouns and use the listener’s name or nickname instead.
Because of this, choosing how to address someone in Thai depends more on social relationships and context than on fixed grammar rules.
