Brother-in-law in Thai

Thai names a brother-in-law by age: พี่เขยpîi-kǒei is your older sister's husband and น้องเขยnáwng-kǒei your younger sister's husband.

พี่เขย pîi-kǒei

brother-in-law (your older sister's husband) noun

  • pîi falling
  • kǒei rising
  • Falling: start high and drop clearly, like a firm “No!”
  • Rising: start low, dip, then rise to the top, like a doubtful “Really?”

น้องเขย náwng-kǒei

brother-in-law (your younger sister's husband) noun

  • náwng high
  • kǒei rising
  • High: start high and go a little higher, a bit tense; don’t let it fall.
  • Rising: start low, dip, then rise to the top, like a doubtful “Really?”

How to use it

Your older sister's husband is พี่เขยpîi-kǒei and your younger sister's husband น้องเขยnáwng-kǒei: พี่pîi or น้องnáwng by the age of your sister, plus เขยkǒei, a man who married in. Your partner's brothers have no word of their own: they're พี่pîi if they're older than your partner and น้องnáwng if younger.

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 khoei
  • pee koei
  • nong khoei
  • norng koei

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

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