FamilyEldest child in Thai
The eldest child in Thai is ลูกคนโตlûuk kon-dtoo; the youngest is ลูกคนเล็กlûuk kon-lék and a middle child ลูกคนกลางlûuk kon-glaang.
eldest child noun
- lûuk falling
- kon mid
- dtoo mid
- Falling: start high and drop clearly, like a firm “No!”
youngest child noun
- lûuk falling
- kon mid
- lék high
- Falling: start high and drop clearly, like a firm “No!”
- High: start high and go a little higher, a bit tense; don’t let it fall.
middle child noun
- lûuk falling
- kon mid
- glaang mid
- Falling: start high and drop clearly, like a firm “No!”
How to use it
Thai counts children in order: the eldest is ลูกคนโตlûuk kon-dtoo, "the big one", the youngest ลูกคนเล็กlûuk kon-lék, "the small one", and any in between ลูกคนกลางlûuk kon-glaang. The eldest is traditionally expected to help look after the younger ones, and among siblings everyone is พี่pîi or น้องnáwng by birth order, for life.
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:
- luk khon to
- look kon dto
- luk khon lek
- look kon lek
More family in Thai
All family
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Written by the Learn Thai For Free team
Audio: AI voices, quality-checked for tones