Pronouns

Thai pronouns are fascinating because their usage is heavily influenced by factors like formality, the relationship between speakers, age, gender, and the desired level of politeness. While there are direct equivalents for “I,” “you,” “he/she,” etc., choosing the right one is crucial for natural and appropriate communication. In informal contexts, pronouns are also frequently omitted if the meaning is clear.

1. Personal Pronouns

First Person (I / Me / We / Us)

• ผม (phǒm): “I” / “Me” - Used by male speakers in formal and general polite contexts.

  • Examples: ผมไปตลาด (phǒm bpai dtà-làat) - I go to the market.

• ฉัน (chǎn): “I” / “Me” - Used by female speakers in general polite and informal contexts. Can be used by males in very informal or affectionate contexts, but generally avoid this as a male learner.

  • Examples: ฉันชอบกินข้าว (chǎn chɔ̂ɔp gin kâao) - I like to eat rice.

• ดิฉัน (dì-chǎn): “I” / “Me” - Used by female speakers in very formal contexts (e.g., public speaking, addressing elders, formal letters). Less common in everyday conversation.

• เรา (rao): “We” / “Us” - Can also mean “I” / “Me” in informal, casual, or sometimes affectionate contexts, especially when speaking to children or close friends.

  • Examples: ฉันชอบกินข้าว (chǎn chɔ̂ɔp gin kâao) - I like to eat rice.

  • เราไม่รู้ (rao mâi rúu) - I don't know (informal “I”).

• หนู (nǔu): “I” / “Me” - Used by young children speaking to adults, or by females speaking to someone older and respected (showing humility). Also means “mouse.”

Second Person (You)

• คุณ (khun): “You” - The most common and polite general term for “you,” regardless of gender. Use this in most situations when you're unsure.

  • Examples: คุณสบายดีไหม (khun sà-baai dii mái) - Are you well?

• เธอ (thoe): “You” - Generally used to address females or among close friends (male to female, or female to female). Can also mean “she.”

  • Examples: คุณสบายดีไหม (khun sà-baai dii mái) - Are you well?

• นาย (naai): “You” - Can be used to address younger males or subordinates. Also means “boss” or “master.” Use with caution.

• แก (kaae): “You” - Very informal and familiar, typically used among very close friends of the same age or close family. Avoid with strangers or superiors.

• ท่าน (thâan): “You” - Very formal and respectful, used for highly respected individuals, monks, royalty, or in public address. Also means “he/she/they” (formal).

Third Person (He / She / It / They)

• เขา (káo): “He” / “She” / “They” (singular or plural) - The most common general pronoun for third person, regardless of gender.

  • Examples: เขาไปทำงาน (káo bpai tham-ngaan) - He/She goes to work.

  • พวกเขา (phûak káo): “They” (explicitly plural) - พวก (phûak) is a pluralizer.

    • Examples: พวกเขาเป็นคนไทย (phûak káo bpen khon thai) - They are Thai people.

• ท่าน (thâan): “He” / “She” / “They” - Very formal and respectful, used for highly respected individuals, monks, or royalty.

• มัน (man): “It” - Used for animals, inanimate objects, or sometimes disparagingly for people (avoid for people).

  • Examples: หมามันกินข้าว (mǎa man gin kâao) - The dog eats rice.

2. Demonstrative Pronouns (This / That / These / Those)

These refer to things based on their proximity.

• นี่ (nîi): “This” / “These” (close to the speaker)

  • Examples: นี่คืออะไร (nîi khue à-rai) - What is this?

• นั่น (nân): “That” / “Those” (far from speaker, closer to listener)

  • Examples: นั่นคืออะไร (nân khue à-rai) - What is that?

• โน่น (nôon): “That” / “Those” (far from both speaker and listener)

  • Examples: โน่นบ้านฉัน (nôon bâan chǎn) - That is my house (over there, far away).

• สิ่งนี้ (sìng níi): “This thing” - สิ่ง (sìng) means “thing.”

• สิ่งนั้น (sìng nán): “That thing.”

• สิ่งโน้น (sìng nóon): “That thing (far away).”

To explicitly pluralize demonstratives (e.g., “these things,” “those things”), you can use:

• เหล่านี้ (lǎo níi): These (things)

• เหล่านั้น (lǎo nán): Those (things)

3. Interrogative Pronouns (Who / What / Where / When / Why / How)

These are used to ask questions.

• ใคร (khrai): Who / Whom

  • Examples: ใครมา (khrai maa) - Who came?

• อะไร (à-rai): What

  • Examples: คุณชอบอะไร (khun chɔ̂ɔp à-rai) - What do you like?

• ที่ไหน (thîi nǎi):Where

  • Examples: ห้องน้ำอยู่ที่ไหน (hɔ̂ng-náam yùu thîi nǎi) - Where is the restroom?

• เมื่อไหร่ (mûa-rài): When

  • Examples: คุณจะมาเมื่อไหร่ (khun jà maa mûa-rài) - When will you come?

• ทำไม (tham-mai): Why

  • Examples: ทำไมคุณไม่กิน (tham-mai khun mâi gin) - Why don't you eat?

• อย่างไร (yàang-rai): How (more formal)

  • Examples: คุณสบายดีอย่างไร (khun sà-baai dii yàang-rai) - How are you? (more formal)

• ยังไง (yang-ngai): How (more informal, common)

  • Examples: ทำยังไง (tham yang-ngai) - How to do it?

4. Possessive Pronouns

Unlike English possessive pronouns (mine, yours, his), Thai typically forms possession in one of two ways:

1. Noun + ของ (kɔ̌ɔng) + Pronoun: This structure literally means “thing of [pronoun].”

   • Examples:

     • หนังสือของฉัน (nǎng-sǔu kɔ̌ɔng chǎn) - My book (book of me)

     • บ้านของเขา (bâan kɔ̌ɔng káo) - His/Her house (house of him/her)

2. Simply the Pronoun after the Noun: In many cases, if the context is clear, ของ (kɔ̌ɔng) can be omitted, especially for closer relationships or common possessions.

   • Examples:

     • หนังสือฉัน (nǎng-sǔu chǎn) - My book

     • บ้านเขา (bâan káo) - His/Her house

There are no direct equivalents for “mine,” “yours,” etc., as standalone words. You would use a phrase like “เป็นของฉัน” (bpen kɔ̌ɔng chǎn - it is mine) or “อันนี้ของฉัน” (an níi kɔ̌ɔng chǎn - this one is mine).