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Family

Brother in Thai

“Brother” in Thai is พี่ชายpîi-chaai; you'll also hear น้องชายnáwng-chaai (younger).

พี่ชาย pîi-chaai

older brother noun

  • pîi falling
  • chaai mid
  • Falling: start high and drop clearly, like a firm “No!”
Parts: พี่pîi older sibling ชายchaai male

Add ชายchaai (male) or สาวsǎao (young woman) for brother or sister: พี่สาวpîi-sǎao older sister, น้องชายnáwng-chaai younger brother.

น้องชาย náwng-chaai

younger brother noun

  • náwng high
  • chaai mid
  • High: start high and go a little higher, a bit tense; don’t let it fall.

Classifier: คนkon · person, people

Taught in Unit 20 · Lesson 1: The family of the free course.

Practise it free

How to use it

Thai names a brother by age first: พี่ชายpîi-chaai is older, น้องชายnáwng-chaai younger, from พี่pîi (older sibling) and น้องnáwng (younger sibling) plus ชายchaai, male. When gender doesn't matter, Thais just say พี่pîi or น้องnáwng.

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:

  • phi chai
  • pee chai
  • pi chai
  • nong chai
  • norng chai

More family in Thai

All family
  • ครอบครัว krâwp-krua Family
  • พ่อ pâw Father

    father, dad

  • แม่ mâe Mother

    mother, mum

  • ภรรยา pan-rá-yaa Wife

    wife (polite)

  • สามี sǎa-mii Husband

    husband (polite)

  • แฟน faen Boyfriend or girlfriend

    boyfriend, girlfriend

Learn this word in Unit 20, free

Unit 20 · Fon's family · The family. Short lessons with audio for every word, speaking practice and spaced review. No sign-up needed.

Practise it free (2 min) See Unit 20

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