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Understand

Thai family life, explained from the inside.

Thai family life runs on rules nobody says out loud: who you call พี่, why food is love, why the aunties comment on your weight and mean well (mostly).

We explain the why, from people who grew up inside it. When you want to say the words yourself, Reply Thai is there to practise.

An illustrated Thai family of three generations sharing dishes around a low wooden table.

Stories and guides

We’re writing these one at a time, and we’d rather get them right than get them out fast. The newsletter tells you when each one lands.

Being luk khrueng

The word, the feelings, the shared memories.

  1. What does luk khrueng mean? Half Thai, ลูกครึ่ง, explained

    Luk khrueng (ลูกครึ่ง) literally means “half child”. What the word means, how to spell it, whether it’s rude, and what it’s really like to be one.

  2. What do you call a Thai person? Thai, not Thailander

    People from Thailand are called Thai: one Thai, two Thais, Thai food, Thai language. Why not Thailander, where Siamese went, and who counts as Thai.

  3. Thai by family, in numbers: official data 2026

    Official, dated numbers on people who are Thai by family: Thai diaspora by country, Swedish-born children of Thai parents, mixed marriages, remittances.

Say it to your family

The Thai you actually need at home.

  1. Family words in Thai: mom, aunt, uncle, พี่ and น้อง

    Thai family words run on age, not just relation. Here’s the map, and the safe bets.

  2. Grandma in Thai: ยาย or ย่า, plus phrases for a video call

    Thai phrases for a video call with your Thai grandma, from hello and can you hear me to love you and I'll call next week, plus ยาย vs ย่า and easy tips.

  3. Kin khao reu yang meaning: why Thai families ask

    Why Thai families greet you with “have you eaten yet?”, what กินข้าวหรือยัง really means, how to reply, and how to say no to a third helping kindly.

  4. Hello in Thai: sawasdee khrap, sawasdee ka, and to Yai

    How to say hello in Thai to your family: sawasdee khrap or sawasdee ka, the wai, what to say to Yai, a casual hello for cousins, and the phone hello.

  5. Thank you in Thai: khorp khun khrap, khorp khun ka

    How to say thank you in Thai: ขอบคุณครับ or ขอบคุณค่ะ, when ขอบใจ is fine, how to thank Yai and elders, and what to say when someone thanks you.

  6. Sorry in Thai: khor thot, and how to apologise to family

    How to say sorry in Thai: ขอโทษ (khor thot) for sorry and excuse me, how to apologise to Yai and elders, sia jai vs khor thot, and how to reply.

  7. I love you in Thai: rak na, to Yai, mum and your kids

    How to say I love you in Thai: what รักนะ (rak na) means, how to say it to Yai, mum, your kids and a partner, plus I miss you, คิดถึง (khit thueng).

  8. How are you in Thai? Sabai dee mai, good morning and bye

    How are you in Thai is sa-baai dii mai. How to answer it, ask Yai, what Thai families say instead of good morning, and how to say goodbye and good night.

  9. Ka and khrap in Thai: what they mean and who says which

    What ka and khrap mean in Thai, who says which, ค่ะ vs คะ in questions, why it's about the speaker, and when to use them with Yai, aunties and cousins.

  10. What does noo mean in Thai? หนู as I, you and mouse

    What noo (หนู) means in Thai: mouse, the “I” kids and some women use with elders, how elders say “you” to a child, and when it can come across as rude.

  11. Mai pen rai and kreng jai: what they mean in Thai families

    What mai pen rai and kreng jai really mean, how they shape Thai family life, and how to offer help so a polite no thanks turns into a real yes.

  12. Thai swear words explained: know them, don't say them

    Thai curse words and rude words, explained for Thai families: what กู and มึง mean, why animal insults hit so hard, and what to say instead of them.

  13. Happy New Year in Thai: wishes for your Thai family

    Happy New Year in Thai for 1 January 2027: health wishes for Yai and the elders, how they bless you back, and how New Year differs from Songkran in April.

  14. Thai, literally: 30 phrases that make luk khrueng laugh

    A fridge is a “cold cupboard”, ice is “hard water”, a train is a “fire vehicle”. 30 Thai words taken literally, and why they make perfect sense.

  15. Thai slang dictionary 2026, and when you can actually use it

    Thai slang your cousins use, from 555 to ปัง and ฟิน. What each word means, who says it, and whether you can say it to your aunt (usually not).

Learning Thai as a heritage speaker

For people who understand more than they say.

  1. How to learn Thai to talk to your family: a heritage guide

    A guide for heritage speakers who understand more than they say. Start with replies, not grammar.

  2. Raising bilingual Thai kids abroad: what helps at home

    Saturday Thai school, home language and video calls with yai: what actually keeps Thai alive.

  3. Isan words for visiting family in Northeast Thailand

    A small, warm starter set of Isan words for visiting family in the Northeast: no, where, miss you, delicious. Plus why Central Thai still gets you far.

  4. Does Duolingo have Thai? An honest answer (2026)

    Duolingo has no Thai course as of 14 Oct 2026. What to use instead, by need: the Thai alphabet, talking with family, audio courses, teachers, free options.

  5. Best apps to learn Thai: an honest 2026 comparison

    Which app to learn Thai fits you? A dated comparison of Ling, ThaiPod101, Pimsleur, Drops, Mondly, Memrise, Glossika, italki tutors and Reply Thai.

  6. Is Thai hard to learn? An honest answer for heritage Thai

    Is Thai hard for English speakers? What is hard (tones, script, no spaces), what is easy, official FSI data, and why growing up hearing Thai helps.

  7. Thai tones for heritage speakers: hear them, then say them

    How many tones in Thai? Five: mid, low, falling, high and rising. Thai tones explained for people who grew up hearing Thai, with ways to practise by ear.

  8. Thai romanization explained: khrueng, kreung or krueng?

    Why one Thai word gets spelled three ways in English letters: the official RTGS system, everyday spellings, and the family-friendly style our app uses.

The languages of Thailand

Isan, Northern and Southern Thai, and where your family is from.

  1. What language is spoken in Thailand? Thai, Isan and more

    Thai is the official language, but at home families speak Isan, Northern Thai, Southern Thai, Pattani Malay, Khmer or Teochew. Who speaks what, and where.

  2. Northern Thai (Kham Mueang): the language of the North

    Kham Mueang, or Northern Thai, is the home language of Chiang Mai and the old Lanna north: who speaks it, its Tai Tham script, what to expect on a visit.

  3. Southern Thai (Pak Tai): the fast, warm Thai of the South

    Pak Tai, or Southern Thai, is the home language of about 4.5 million people from Chumphon to the Malaysian border: where it’s spoken, why it sounds fast.

Thai names

Nicknames, and what they mean.

  1. Thai nicknames explained: 100 meanings, from Ball to Moo

    Why every Thai has a nickname (chue len), how families choose them, and what 100 common ones mean, from Ball and Bank to Moo, Kung and Benz too.

  2. Thai surnames: why they're long, and how they work

    Why Thai last names are so long, where the 1913 surname law came from, why nobody calls you by yours, and which surname goes on a Thai child's papers.

Thai family days and rituals

Holidays, festivals, temples, weddings and funerals.

  1. Thai public holidays 2027, Buddhist year 2570 and animal

    Holidays and festivals, Buddhist Era years, and your year animal.

  2. Loy Krathong 2026: meaning and how Thai families do it

    Loy Krathong 2026 falls on Tuesday 24 November. What floating a krathong means, what Thai families do, Yi Peng lanterns and how to join in from abroad.

  3. Chinese New Year Thailand 2027: Thai-Chinese family guide

    Chinese New Year 2027 is Saturday 6 February. Is it a holiday in Thailand, what Thai-Chinese families do, red envelopes, and how to join in as a guest.

  4. Thai Father's Day, 5 December: what it is and the 2026 date

    Thai Father's Day is 5 December, King Bhumibol's birthday and National Day. In 2026 the day off is Monday 7 December. What families do, and how to call.

  5. Thai Children's Day 2027: Saturday 9 January

    Thai Children's Day 2027 is Saturday 9 January. What happens in Thailand, the PM's motto for kids, where it came from, and how to mark it from abroad.

  6. Thai Mother's Day, 12 August: meaning, jasmine and 2027

    Thai Mother's Day is 12 August, Queen Sirikit's birthday. In 2027 it is a Thursday. Why jasmine, what families do, and how to say it to mum from abroad.

  7. Songkran 2027: dates, meaning and what Thai families do

    Songkran 2027 is Tuesday 13 to Thursday 15 April. What Thai New Year means, the water blessing for elders, going home, merit, and what to say to Yai.

  8. Makha, Visakha and Asahna Bucha 2027: Thai Buddhist days

    Thai Buddhist holy days in 2027: Makha, Visakha and Asahna Bucha, Khao and Ok Phansa. What each means, what families do, and how to join from abroad.

  9. Thai vegetarian festival 2026: kin je, dates and rules

    Thailand's vegetarian festival (kin je) runs 10–18 October 2026. What je food is, yellow flags, wearing white, Phuket's processions and joining in.

  10. Thai temple etiquette with family: what to wear, how to krab

    Going to the temple with your Thai family? What to wear, how to krab and wai a monk, what to bring for merit-making, and what each gesture means.

  11. Tak bat and merit making with your Thai family

    How to give alms to monks (tak bat) at dawn, what tham bun merit making means, and how Thai families make merit on birthdays, for the dead and from abroad.

  12. Thai ordination (buat): when a son becomes a monk

    What happens when a Thai son ordains: the nak, head shaving, white clothes, the procession, why it honours his mother, and what family guests do.

  13. Thai first-month baby ceremony: fire hair and khwan

    What the Thai one-month baby ceremony is: shaving the fire hair, white threads, the cradle, what Yai may expect, and how families abroad adapt it.

  14. The Thai wai: what it means and how to wai your family

    What the Thai wai means, how to wai Yai and your elders, who wais first, how high your hands go, how to return a wai, and when not to wai at all.

  15. Thai superstitions and beliefs your family may have

    Spirit houses, lucky nine, amulets, auspicious dates and why nobody calls the baby cute: Thai family beliefs explained warmly, and how to respect them.

  16. What to bring your Thai family: gifts and khong fak

    Gifts for your Thai family or a partner's parents: what to bring, gifts for elders, wrapping colours to avoid, why gifts stay unopened, and customs rules.

  17. Meeting your Thai partner's family: a gentle guide

    Meeting your Thai partner's family for the first time: the wai, what to call parents, food, shoes and feet, affection, gifts and the marriage questions.

  18. Thai wedding traditions: a guide for families and partners

    Thai wedding traditions step by step: the monks' blessing, the khan maak procession, sin sod, the door game and the water-pouring blessing, plus cost.

  19. How much to give at a Thai wedding: the envelope guide

    How much money to put in the envelope at a Thai wedding: what Thai guides suggest in baht, how closeness and venue change it, and giving from abroad.

  20. Thai Buddhist funeral etiquette for people with Thai family

    What happens at a Thai Buddhist funeral, what to wear and say, giving money, and how to take part from abroad when it is your own Thai family grieving.

  21. When Yai dies and you are far away: grieving from abroad

    When a grandparent dies in Thailand and you live abroad: deciding whether to fly, taking part from afar, telling your children, and finding support.

Thai films, TV and music

What to watch and listen to with your family.

  1. Best Thai movies: a film canon for Thai families abroad

    Fifteen Thai movies worth watching with your family, from Fan Chan and SuckSeed to Bad Genius and Grandma, with years, directors and awards checked.

  2. How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies, explained

    Why the 2024 Thai film Lahn Mah hits grandchildren abroad so hard: the Thai-Chinese family, the Teochew, the box office records and the Oscar shortlist.

  3. Thai horror movies: the scariest ones, and why they work

    The Thai horror films people still talk about, from Nang Nak and Shutter to The Medium and Death Whisperer, with years, directors and box office checked.

  4. Thai ghosts explained: Mae Nak, krasue, phi pop and more

    A gentle guide to Thai ghosts (phi) in folklore and pop culture: Mae Nak, krasue, phi pop, hungry ghosts, spirit houses, and the films they inspired.

  5. What is a lakorn? Thai TV dramas, explained

    What a lakorn is, why they run at 8.30 p.m., the tropes every Thai family knows, the famous ones like Love Destiny, and where to watch Thai dramas legally.

  6. Thai BL series: a guide to the shows and the fandom

    What Thai BL (Y series) is, where it came from, the series that made it global, from Love Sick to KinnPorsche, and how to watch on official channels.

  7. Thai music genres: luk thung, mor lam, string and rock

    A guide to Thai music your family plays: luk thung, mor lam, songs for life, string pop and Thai rock, with the singers to know and official channels.

  8. What is T-pop? Thai pop, LISA, MILLI and Thai stars in K-pop

    T-pop explained: how Thai pop grew from string music, the new idol groups, the Thai stars in K-pop like LISA, BamBam and Ten, and MILLI's mango moment.

More to read

Everything else in this section.

  1. Thai family culture, explained by people inside it

    Aunties, respect, food, money, and the things everyone does and nobody explains.

    Coming soon

Say it in Thai

Try one now

If you remember one family word, make it this one.

พี่

phii

older sibling

Age, not gender. Also used to address anyone slightly older.

Draft: waiting for a native speaker’s review.

Practise replying to this in Reply Thai, coming soon to iPhone.