Learn Thai For Free
Start free
People

Adult in Thai

“Adult” in Thai is ผู้ใหญ่pûu-yài.

ผู้ใหญ่ pûu-yài

adults; elders, senior people noun

  • pûu falling
  • yài low
  • Falling: start high and drop clearly, like a firm “No!”
  • Low: flat and lower than your normal voice, dropping a little at the end.
Parts: ผู้pûu person (in compounds) ใหญ่yài big

'Big people': grown-ups, and anyone senior to you, whom you treat with extra respect.

Taught in Unit 19 · Lesson 1: New Year at the temple of the free course.

Practise it free

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:

  • phu yai
  • pu yai
  • puyai

More people in Thai

All people
  • ผู้หญิง pûu-yǐng Woman
  • ผู้ชาย pûu-chaai Man
  • คุณผู้หญิง kun pûu-yǐng Lady

    madam, the lady (polite: how staff address a woman)

  • ฝรั่ง fà-ràng Farang

    Westerner, a white foreigner

  • คนต่างชาติ kon dtàang-châat Foreigner

    foreigner, foreign people

  • ชื่อ chûue Name

Learn this word in Unit 19, free

Unit 19 · Songkran! · New Year at the temple. Short lessons with audio for every word, speaking practice and spaced review. No sign-up needed.

Practise it free (2 min) See Unit 19

Written by the Learn Thai For Free team
Audio: AI voices, quality-checked for tones