Kru learns: English family vocabulary — for talking about relatives, family background, and home life.
Sora learns: Thai family terms — which are much more specific than English, with different words for older/younger siblings, maternal/paternal grandparents, and more.
🌟 Thai family terms — older vs younger matters
Thai doesn't have one word for "sibling." You must specify: พี่ (phîi) = older sibling, น้อง (nâawng) = younger sibling. The same applies to cousins, and many other relatives. Age hierarchy is built into the vocabulary itself.
| English | ภาษาไทย | Romanized | Note |
|---|
| Father | พ่อ | phâaw | Informal. Formal: บิดา (bì-daa) |
| Mother | แม่ | mâae | Informal. Formal: มารดา (maan-daa) |
| Older sibling | พี่ | phîi | Used as title too: พี่ + name |
| Younger sibling | น้อง | nâawng | Used as title: น้อง + name |
| Older brother specifically | พี่ชาย | phîi-chaai | ชาย = male |
| Older sister specifically | พี่สาว | phîi-sǎao | สาว = female |
| Grandpa (maternal) | ตา | dtaa | Mother's father |
| Grandma (maternal) | ยาย | yaai | Mother's mother |
| Grandpa (paternal) | ปู่ | bpùu | Father's father |
| Grandma (paternal) | ย่า | yâa | Father's mother |
| Aunt / Uncle (older than parent) | ลุง / ป้า | lung / bpâa | Older than your parent |
| Aunt / Uncle (younger than parent) | น้า / อา | náa / aa | Younger than your parent |
Family Conversations
01
How many people are in your family?
ครอบครัวมีกี่คน?
khrâawp-khrua mii gìi khon?
Sora: ครอบครัว (khrâawp-khrua) = family. กี่ (gìi) = how many. กี่คน = how many people.
02
I'm the oldest of three — two younger sisters.
ฉันเป็นลูกคนโตในสามคน — มีน้องสาวสองคน
chǎn bpen lûuk khon dtoo nai sǎam khon — mii nâawng-sǎao sǎawng khon
Sora: ลูกคนโต (lûuk khon dtoo) = the oldest child. ลูกคนเล็ก (lûuk khon lék) = the youngest child. ลูกคนกลาง (lûuk khon glaang) = the middle child.
03
In Thai culture, taking care of your parents when they're older is very important.
ในวัฒนธรรมไทย การดูแลพ่อแม่ตอนแก่สำคัญมาก
nai wát-thá-na-tham thai — gaan duu-lae phâaw-mâae tawn gàe sǎm-khan mâak
Kru: This is a deeply held value. Many Thai adults support their parents financially and physically into old age. Understanding this explains a lot about how Thais prioritise family over personal goals.
Kru learns: Romantic English — for understanding students who talk about relationships.
Sora learns: Thai romantic vocabulary and how Thai people express affection (often indirectly).
💕 Thai romance — indirect and sweet
Thais tend to express love less directly than Western cultures. แอบชอบ (secretly like someone) is extremely common. Public declarations are less typical. Understanding this makes Thai romance vocabulary more meaningful — and funnier.
| English | ภาษาไทย | Romanized | Note |
|---|
| To like (romantically) | ชอบ | châawp | Also used for general liking |
| To love | รัก | rák | Stronger — I love you = ฉันรักคุณ |
| To secretly like someone | แอบชอบ | àaep châawp | แอบ = secretly. Very commonly used! |
| Boyfriend / Girlfriend | แฟน | faaen | Same word for both genders |
| To date / go out with | คบ | khóp | คบกัน = to be in a relationship |
| To break up | เลิกกัน | lôek gan | เลิก = to stop/quit |
| I miss you | คิดถึง | khít-thǔeng | Literally: think of / miss |
| Cute / adorable | น่ารัก | nâa-rák | One of the most used Thai compliments |
| Handsome / good-looking | หล่อ | làw | For men |
| Beautiful / pretty | สวย | sǔay | For women — also means "beautiful" technique in Muay Thai! |
Romantic Phrases
01
I think I have a crush on someone.
ฉันแอบชอบใครบางคนอยู่
chǎn àaep châawp khrai baang khon yùu
Sora: แอบ (àaep) = secretly/sneakily. It's in แอบชอบ, แอบดู (secretly watch), แอบหัวเราะ (secretly laugh). A very useful prefix for slightly hidden feelings!
02
I've missed you so much.
คิดถึงมากเลย
khít-thǔeng mâak looei
Sora: คิดถึง (khít-thǔeng) covers both missing people AND places. คิดถึงบ้าน = homesick (literally: miss home). No separate word needed.
03
Are you seeing anyone at the moment?
ตอนนี้มีแฟนหรือเปล่า?
tawn níi mii faaen rǔe bplào?
Sora: รึเปล่า / หรือเปล่า (rǔe bplào) = or not? A gentle yes/no question tag. มีแฟนไหม also works but รึเปล่า feels slightly softer.
Kru learns: English for talking about friendship — trust, loyalty, shared history.
Sora learns: Thai friendship vocabulary — and the concept of เพื่อน (phûean), which goes deeper than "friend."
| English | ภาษาไทย | Romanized | Note |
|---|
| Friend | เพื่อน | phûean | Deeper than casual acquaintance |
| Best friend | เพื่อนสนิท | phûean sà-nìt | สนิท = close/intimate |
| Classmate | เพื่อนร่วมชั้น | phûean rûam chán | — |
| Colleague / workmate | เพื่อนร่วมงาน | phûean rûam ngaan | — |
| Acquaintance | คนรู้จัก | khon rúu-jàk | Someone you know (not close) |
| To get along well with | ถูกกัน | thùuk gan | Literally: click/match with each other |
| To trust | ไว้ใจ | wâi-jai | ไว้ = to place + ใจ = heart |
| Loyal / faithful | ซื่อสัตย์ | sûea-sàt | Highly valued quality in Thai friendships |
Friendship Conversations
01
We've been friends since we were kids.
เราเป็นเพื่อนกันมาตั้งแต่เด็กเลย
rao bpen phûean gan maa dtâng-tàae dèk looei
Sora: ตั้งแต่ (dtâng-tàae) = since / from (a point in time). ตั้งแต่เด็ก = since childhood. ตั้งแต่มหาลัย = since university.
02
She's someone I can really trust.
เธอเป็นคนที่ฉันไว้ใจได้จริงๆ
thooe bpen khon thîi chǎn wâi-jai dâai jing-jing
Sora: ไว้ใจได้ (wâi-jai dâai) = can be trusted. ได้ (dâai) after a verb = can / able to. จริงๆ (jing-jing) = really / truly.
03
Training with the same people for years — those become real bonds.
ซ้อมกับคนเดิมมาหลายปี — กลายเป็นความผูกพันที่แท้จริง
sôm gàp khon derm maa lǎai bpii — glaai bpen khwaam phùuk-phan thîi tâae-jing
Kru: ความผูกพัน (khwaam phùuk-phan) = bonds / deep connection. This is the invisible thing training together builds — shared sweat creates trust faster than almost anything else.
Kru learns: Why Thai speakers sometimes struggle with English pronouns — and what's behind it.
Sora learns: Thai pronouns and how the right one signals your relationship with someone.
🌟 Thai pronouns — relationship is built in
Thai doesn't have just "I" and "you." Which pronoun you use signals your gender, status, and relationship to the person you're speaking with. Using the wrong one is socially meaningful — choosing the right one is a mark of fluency.
| Pronoun | Thai | Romanized | Used by / when |
|---|
| I (polite, female) | ฉัน | chǎn | Women in formal/polite contexts — Sora's default |
| I (polite, male) | ผม | phǒm | Men in polite contexts |
| I (informal, female) | หนู | nǔu | Women speaking to elders or seniors (endearing) |
| I (very casual) | เรา | rao | Among close friends — also means "we" |
| You (polite) | คุณ | khun | Safe default for strangers and colleagues |
| You (to elder/respected) | ท่าน | thâan | Very formal — monks, royalty, bosses |
| You (casual, to close friend) | แก / มึง | gae / mueng | Very casual — only with close friends |
| He / She / They | เขา | khǎo | Same word for all genders |
Addressing People by Relationship
01
Thais often address people by their role — "teacher," "older sibling," "boss" — rather than their name.
คนไทยมักเรียกคนด้วยบทบาท — ครู พี่ เจ้านาย — แทนที่จะใช้ชื่อ
khon thai mák rîak khon dûay bòt-bàat — khruu — phîi — jâo-naai — thaen thîi jà chái chûe
Kru: This is why students call me "Kru" — it's a title of respect for teacher/trainer, not just a name. Understanding this helps international students use Thai social address correctly from day one.
02
I use หนู (nǔu) with kru because it shows I respect the relationship.
หนูใช้ "หนู" กับครูเพราะมันแสดงความเคารพในความสัมพันธ์
nǔu chái "nǔu" gàp khruu phrâw man sà-daeng khwaam khao-róp nai khwaam sǎm-phan
Sora: หนู (nǔu) = literally "mouse/rat" — used as a humble first-person pronoun by women speaking to elders or respected figures. It's warm, respectful, and natural. Not infantile — it's appropriate.
Kru learns: English for everyday social moments — meeting people, making plans, being a good guest.
Sora learns: Thai social phrases for real life — inviting, declining politely, keeping in touch.
Making Plans
01
Are you free this weekend? Want to get something to eat?
สุดสัปดาห์นี้ว่างไหม? ไปกินข้าวกันไหม?
sùt-sàp-daa níi wâang mǎi? bpai gin khâao gan mǎi?
Sora: ไปกินข้าว (bpai gin khâao) = go eat rice / go have a meal. This is how Thais invite people out for any meal — not just rice. It's the universal social invitation.
02
Sorry, I already have plans — maybe next time?
ขอโทษนะ ติดธุระแล้ว — ครั้งหน้าได้ไหม?
khǎaw-thôot ná — tìt thú-rá láaew — khráng nâa dâai mǎi?
Sora: ติดธุระ (tìt thú-rá) = have something on / prior commitment. More natural than just "busy." ครั้งหน้า (khráng nâa) = next time.
03
Let's keep in touch!
ติดต่อกันด้วยนะ!
tìt-tàw gan dûay ná!
Sora: ติดต่อ (tìt-tàw) = to contact / stay in touch. ทักมาได้เลย (thák maa dâai looei) = feel free to message me anytime — even more casual and warm.
04
You're always welcome at our gym.
ยินดีต้อนรับเสมอที่ยิมของเรา
yin-dii tâwn-ráp sà-mǒe thîi yim khǎawng rao
Kru: ยินดีต้อนรับ (yin-dii tâwn-ráp) = welcome (literally: happy to receive). เสมอ (sà-mǒe) = always. A warm phrase for international students visiting a Thai gym.
Kru learns: English for everyday social moments — meeting people, making plans, being a good guest.
Sora learns: Thai social phrases for real life — inviting, declining politely, keeping in touch.