Jingjok
How to say uncle (older man)
in Thai
ลุง
lung
uncle (older man) · father's or mother's older brother
lung mid
For men around your parents' age: the motorbike-taxi driver, the man at the coffee cart. Too old for anyone who looks under about 50.
- Part of speech
- pron
- Remember it
- Uncle has big LUNGS: he sings so loud.
In a sentence
- ลุงครับlung krápExcuse me (to an older man).
- ลุงเป็นคนที่ไหนครับlung bpen kon tîi-nǎi krápWhere are you from, uncle?
The culture behind it
CULTURE
Everyone is family: พี่, น้อง, ลุง, ป้า
From the same situation: Who's who
- พี่older brother or sister; you (to someone a bit older)
- น้องyounger brother or sister; you (to someone younger)
- ป้าauntie (older woman)
- น้าauntie or uncle (younger than your parents)
- อาauntie or uncle (father's younger sibling)
- คนperson, people
- ฝรั่งWesterner (white foreigner)
- ประเทศcountry
All 65 words and phrases in “Who's who” →
Your first 90 days of Thai
Jingjok teaches ลุง with audio, the tone drawn on screen, and a check on your own voice. Answer the three questions every Thai asks a foreigner, ask them back, and address people with the right family word.
- WEEKS 1–2 · SURVIVEGreet anyone, pay, and order food and 7-Eleven exactly how you like it.
- WEEKS 3–6 · SETTLE INGet around by taxi, Grab and skytrain, find anything, and handle your landlord.
- WEEKS 7–12 · RUN YOUR LIFEPharmacy, bank, SIM and apps, how you feel, and a weekend away, all in Thai.
The first week is free.