FamilyAdopt in Thai
To adopt in Thai is รับเลี้ยงráp-líang, and an adopted child is a ลูกบุญธรรมlûuk-bun-tam.
รับเลี้ยง ráp-líang
to adopt, to take in (a child, a pet) verb
- ráp high
- líang high
- High: start high and go a little higher, a bit tense; don’t let it fall.
Parts: รับráp to receive, to take เลี้ยงlíang to raise, to look after
ลูกบุญธรรม lûuk-bun-tam
adopted child noun
- lûuk falling
- bun mid
- tam mid
- Falling: start high and drop clearly, like a firm “No!”
How to use it
รับเลี้ยงráp-líang is "take in to raise", used for children and pets alike. An adopted child is a ลูกบุญธรรมlûuk-bun-tam, and the legal process is รับบุตรบุญธรรมráp bùt bun-tam, with the formal word for child, บุตรbùt.
Other spellings you'll see
There's no single official way to write Thai in English letters. We mark the tone of every syllable; online you'll also find:
- rub leang
- luk bun tham
- look bun tam
More family in Thai
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Written by the Learn Thai For Free team
Audio: AI voices, quality-checked for tones