FamilyHusband in Thai
“Husband” in Thai is สามีsǎa-mii; you'll also hear ผัวpǔa (casual) and แฟนfaen (partner).
husband (polite) noun
- sǎa rising
- mii mid
- Rising: start low, dip, then rise to the top, like a doubtful “Really?”
Classifier: คนkon · person, people
husband (casual, blunt) noun
- pǔa rising
- Rising: start low, dip, then rise to the top, like a doubtful “Really?”
partner: boyfriend, girlfriend, or husband or wife noun
- faen mid
- Mid: level, in your normal speaking voice.
From English 'fan'. It also covers a husband or wife in casual talk; formally a husband is สามีsǎa-mii and a wife ภรรยาpan-rá-yaa.
แฟนfaen is taught in Unit 20 · Lesson 1: The family of the free course.
Practise it freeHow to use it
สามีsǎa-mii is the polite word for husband, the one to use with strangers and on forms. ผัวpǔa is the casual word: normal among friends and in villages, but blunt or crude in polite company.
Like wives, many husbands are simply แฟนfaen, "partner", in everyday talk, especially among younger couples.
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:
- samee
- sami
- sa mee
- sah mee
- phua
- poua
More family in Thai
All family- ครอบครัว krâwp-krua Family
- พี่ pîi Older brother or sister
- น้อง náwng Younger brother or sister
Learn this word in Unit 20, free
Unit 20 · Fon's family · The family. Short lessons with audio for every word, speaking practice and spaced review. No sign-up needed.
Written by the Learn Thai For Free team
Audio: AI voices, quality-checked for tones