How to say “grandma” in Thai

Yai or ya? It depends on the side

English has one grandma; Thai has two, named by side of the family:

• Mum's side: ยายyaai (grandma) and ตาdtaa (grandpa)
• Dad's side: ย่าyâa (grandma) and ปู่bpùu (grandpa)

A handy anchor is the set phrase ปู่ย่าตายายbpùu yâa dtaa yaai, which always lists Dad's parents first, then Mum's. Thais use it for "grandparents" in general and for "our ancestors". If you're not sure which grandma someone means, ask ยายหรือย่าyaai rǔue yâa, "mum's side or dad's?".

Three words that sound alike

ยายyaai (grandma, mum's side) is level, with a long "aa" that glides into a y. ย่าyâa (grandma, dad's side) falls. And ยาyaa, level with no y at the end, means medicine. They're a classic listening test, so play the audio a few times.

Grandparents in Thai family life

Grandparents are at the heart of many Thai families. It's common for a ยายyaai to help raise her grandchildren, especially when the parents work in the city, and many children grow up spending school holidays บ้านยายbâan yaai, at Grandma's house in the provinces. Grandparents get the first wai, the best seat and the first taste of the food, and the young are expected to visit, especially at Songkran, when families pour scented water over their elders' hands to ask for a blessing.

Calling strangers grandma

Thais use family words for everyone. A very old lady selling sweets at the market is ยายyaai, an old man ตาdtaa, and children are taught to greet elderly neighbours that way. It's friendly and respectful, not rude. Be careful with age, though: call a woman in her fifties or sixties ป้าbpâa (auntie) instead. Calling someone ยายyaai too early stings in any language.

Pronunciation

ตาdtaa starts with an unaspirated t, halfway between d and t, and ปู่bpùu with an unaspirated p, halfway between b and p. That's why the spellings ta/da and pu/bu both exist.