People เลสเบี้ยน léet-bîan
lesbian noun
- léet high
- bîan falling
- High: start high and go a little higher, a bit tense; don’t let it fall.
- Falling: start high and drop clearly, like a firm “No!”
How to use it
เลสเบี้ยนléet-bîan is the general word, but Thai has its own pair. A ทอมtawm, from tomboy, is a woman with a masculine style, short hair and often men's clothes, and a ดี้dîi, from lady, is a feminine woman who dates toms. Both are everyday words that the women use about themselves. The respectful umbrella term for LGBTQ+ people is ความหลากหลายทางเพศkwaam làak-lǎai taang pêet.
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:
- let bian
- lesbien
- les bian
More people in Thai
All people
Learn Thai with the free course
A complete course from your first phrase to real conversations, with audio for every word and AI speaking practice. Free, no sign-up needed.
Written by the Learn Thai For Free team
Audio: AI voices, quality-checked for tones