Sister-in-law in Thai

Thai names a sister-in-law by age: พี่สะใภ้pîi-sà-pái is your older brother's wife and น้องสะใภ้náwng-sà-pái your younger brother's wife.

พี่สะใภ้ pîi-sà-pái

sister-in-law (your older brother's wife) noun

pîi falling
sà low
pái high

Falling: start high and drop clearly, like a firm “No!”
Low: flat and lower than your normal voice, dropping a little at the end.

น้องสะใภ้ náwng-sà-pái

sister-in-law (your younger brother's wife) noun

náwng high
sà low
pái high

High: start high and go a little higher, a bit tense; don’t let it fall.
Low: flat and lower than your normal voice, dropping a little at the end.

How to use it

Your older brother's wife is พี่สะใภ้pîi-sà-pái and your younger brother's wife น้องสะใภ้náwng-sà-pái: พี่pîi or น้องnáwng by your brother's age, plus สะใภ้sà-pái, a woman who married in. Your partner's sisters are พี่pîi if they're older than your partner and น้องnáwng if younger.

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:

phi saphai
pee sa pai
nong saphai
norng sa pai

More family in Thai

All family

ครอบครัว krâwp-krua Family
พ่อ pâw Father
father, dad
แม่ mâe Mother
mother, mum
ภรรยา pan-rá-yaa Wife
wife (polite)
สามี sǎa-mii Husband
husband (polite)
แฟน faen Boyfriend or girlfriend
boyfriend, girlfriend

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Written by the Learn Thai For Free team
Audio: AI voices, quality-checked for tones