PeopleGentleman in Thai
“Gentleman” in Thai is สุภาพบุรุษsù-pâap-bù-rùt; you'll also hear คุณผู้ชายkun pûu-chaai (polite address).
gentleman, gentlemen (formal; on signs) noun
- sù low
- pâap falling
- bù low
- rùt low
- Low: flat and lower than your normal voice, dropping a little at the end.
- Falling: start high and drop clearly, like a firm “No!”
sir, the gentleman (polite: how staff address a man) noun
- kun mid
- pûu falling
- chaai mid
- Falling: start high and drop clearly, like a firm “No!”
How to use it
สุภาพบุรุษsù-pâap-bù-rùt, "polite man", is the word on toilet doors and in announcements, next to สุภาพสตรีsù-pâap-sàt-dtrii for ladies. In conversation it praises a man's manners. Shop and restaurant staff call a male customer คุณผู้ชายkun pûu-chaai, sir.
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:
- suphap burut
- supap burut
- sup parp bu rut
- khun phu chai
More people in Thai
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Written by the Learn Thai For Free team
Audio: AI voices, quality-checked for tones