Grandfather in Thai

“Grandfather” in Thai is ตาdtaa; you'll also hear ปู่bpùu (father's side).

ตา dtaa

grandfather (your mother's father) noun mother's side

dtaa mid

Mid: level, in your normal speaking voice.

ปู่ bpùu

grandfather (your father's father) noun father's side

bpùu low

Low: flat and lower than your normal voice, dropping a little at the end.

How to use it

Thai names grandparents by side of the family: your mother's father is ตาdtaa and her mother ยายyaai; your father's parents are ปู่bpùu and ย่าyâa. A polite, affectionate form adds คุณkun, as in คุณปู่kun bpùu, and children call any old man คุณตาkun dtaa or ปู่bpùu.

ตาdtaa is also the everyday word for eye, with the same sound and spelling. All four together, ปู่ย่าตายายbpùu yâa dtaa yaai, are your grandparents, and also "our ancestors".