PeopleGirl in Thai
“Girl” in Thai is เด็กผู้หญิงdèk-pûu-yǐng; you'll also hear สาวsǎao (young woman).
girl (a child) noun
- dèk low
- pûu falling
- yǐng rising
- Low: flat and lower than your normal voice, dropping a little at the end.
- Falling: start high and drop clearly, like a firm “No!”
Classifier: คนkon · person, people
young woman, girl noun
- sǎao rising
- Rising: start low, dip, then rise to the top, like a doubtful “Really?”
You'll hear สาวsǎao in Tao Ngoi (เต่างอย).
How to use it
A girl, the child, is เด็กผู้หญิงdèk-pûu-yǐng, "child woman", and a young woman is สาวsǎao. As in English, ผู้หญิงpûu-yǐng works for girls and women of any age.
Your daughter is ลูกสาวlûuk-sǎao, and to call a girl or a young woman over, say 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:
- dek phu ying
- dek pu ying
- dekpuying
- sao
More people in Thai
All people
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Written by the Learn Thai For Free team
Audio: AI voices, quality-checked for tones