How to say “my love” in Thai

Tee rak: darling, honey, my love

ที่tîi means "the one that" and รักrák means love, so ที่รักtîi-rák is "the one I love". Thais use it the way English speakers use "darling", "honey" or "babe": to call a partner, at the start of a message, at the end of a goodnight. It works in both directions, for men and women, and you'll hear it in countless love songs. Add "my" for something more poetic: ที่รักของผมtîi-rák kǎwng pǒm (said by a man) or ที่รักของฉันtîi-rák kǎwng chǎn (said by a woman).

Pet names Thai couples use

• เบบี๋bee-bǐi (baby), borrowed from English, with a cute rising end.
• หวานใจwǎan-jai (sweetheart), คนดีkon dii (my dear) and สุดที่รักsùt-tîi-rák (beloved), sweeter and more old-fashioned.
• Nicknames. Every Thai has a short nickname, and couples often just use that, sometimes with พี่pîi or น้องnáwng in front.
• Teasing names like อ้วนûan ("chubby") are common between close couples and in families. Between people who love each other they're affectionate, not insults.

Pee and nong: love by age

Thai pronouns follow age, and that carries into romance. The older partner (traditionally the man) is พี่pîi, "older sibling", and the younger is น้องnáwng, "younger sibling", so พี่รักน้องpîi rák náwng means "I love you". Couples of any gender use the same system, and it sounds warm, not strange.

Faen, husband and wife

แฟนfaen comes from the English "fan" and means boyfriend, girlfriend or partner; in casual talk people use it for a husband or wife too. มีแฟนหรือยังmii faen rǔue yang ("do you have a partner yet?") is a normal question from new acquaintances, aunties and taxi drivers alike. Formal words for spouse are สามีsǎa-mii (husband) and ภรรยาpan-rá-yaa (wife); the everyday ผัวpǔa and เมียmia are very informal and can sound crude.

Pronunciation

ที่รักtîi-rák is two syllables: tîi falls (start high, drop), and rák is high and short, ending in an unreleased k. Spellings like tee rak and ti rak both mean this phrase; just don't say it like the English "tea rack".