There are several words and phrases that students of a foreign language learn early on:
Hello.
Thank you.
I’m sorry.
And…
I love you.
Depending on how long you’ve been studying the language, you might already know how to say “I love you,” in Thai. But are you familiar with the more nuanced expressions, or how to take your romantic relationship a step further?
Knowing love expressions in Thai is essential. Love is one of the most important emotions anyone could feel, so you should absolutely learn how to express it.
In this article, we’ll teach you several essential Thai love phrases you can use in various situations. Whether you want to woo a Thai love interest or strengthen your existing relationship with a native speaker, the words and phrases here will be invaluable to you!
Table of Contents
- Pick-up Lines in Thai
- Thai Love Phrases for Her / Thai Love Phrases for Him
- Being Together and Getting Married
- Endearment Terms
- Sayings About Love in Thai
- Conclusion
1. Pick-up Lines in Thai
If you’ve found yourself falling head over heels for a native Thai speaker, the following lines can help you get your foot in the door. There are two ways that Thai people usually begin flirting with someone:
1) By asking if he or she is in a relationship.
2) By showing that they care about the person.
Below are a few Thai phrases for flirting you can start practicing right away.
1 – มีแฟนยัง
Pronunciation:
mii-faaen-yang
English translation:
Do you have a boyfriend/girlfriend?
Additional explanation:
Literally, แฟน (faaen) means “boyfriend” or “girlfriend” in Thai. However, Thai people can also use this word in reference to a husband or wife.
2 – [pronoun “I” or name] + อยากเป็นแฟน + [pronoun “you” or name]
Pronunciation:
[pronoun “I” or name] + yàak-bpen-faaen + [pronoun “you” or name]
English translation:
I want to be your boyfriend/girlfriend.
Additional explanation:
In Thai, there are many ways you can refer to yourself or to other parties. You can call someone by name, use a nickname, or use the pronoun “I” or “you.”
3 – จีบได้มั๊ย
Pronunciation:
jìip-dâi-mái
English translation:
Can I court you?
Additional explanation:
Another way you can express your interest is to say this sentence directly to the one you’re interested in.
Can I court you?
4 – เป็นยังไงบ้าง / ทำอะไรอยู่
Pronunciation:
bpen-yang-ngai-bâang / tham-à-rai-yùu
English translation:
How are you? / What are you doing?
Additional explanation:
By asking about your love interest’s daily life, you’re showing that you care about the person. If someone asks you these questions, it might be an indicator that they have feelings for you—but remember that it doesn’t mean you’re courting yet!
5 – เป็นห่วงนะ
Pronunciation:
bpen-hùuang-ná
English translation:
I care about you.
Additional explanation:
This phrase can be used to show that you care about someone. Saying เป็นห่วง (bpen-hùuang) implies that you think about that person and want him/her to be happy and physically well.
6 – เหนื่อยมั๊ย
Pronunciation:
nùueai-mái
English translation:
Are you tired?
Additional explanation:
When you’re feeling down or tired, being asked if you’re tired/okay can sometimes make you feel better. If someone asks you this, it’s a good sign that they still care about you.
7 – ฝันดีนะ
Pronunciation:
fǎn-dii-ná
English translation:
Have a good dream.
Additional explanation:
Wishing someone good dreams shows that you care about them, even as they sleep.
2. Thai Love Phrases for Her / Thai Love Phrases for Him
Once your romantic relationship is more solid, it’s time to keep your partner hooked by expressing your affection each and every day. Below are several love expressions in Thai you can use to do so!
8 – [pronoun “I” or name] + คิดถึง + [pronoun “you” or name]
Pronunciation:
[pronoun “I” or name] + khít-thǔeng + [pronoun “you” or name]
English translation:
I miss you.
I miss you.
9 – [pronoun “I” or name] + ชอบ + [pronoun “you” or name] + มากกว่าเพื่อน
Pronunciation:
[pronoun “I” or name] + châawp + [pronoun “you” or name] + mâak-gwàa-phûuean
English translation:
I think of you as more than a friend.
Additional explanation:
This phrase literally means “I like you more than a friend,” but its equivalent in English is “I think of you as more than a friend.”
10 – [pronoun “I” or name] + หยุดคิดถึง + [pronoun “you” or name] + ไม่ได้
Pronunciation:
[pronoun “I” or name] + yùt-khít-thǔeng + [pronoun “you” or name] + mâi-dâi
English translation:
I can’t stop thinking about you.
11 – [pronoun “I” or name] + อยากเจอ + [pronoun “you” or name] + ตลอดเวลา
Pronunciation:
[pronoun “I” or name] + yàak-jooe + [pronoun “you” or name] + dtà-làawt-wee-laa
English translation:
I want to see you all the time.
Additional explanation:
You can use this Thai love phrase to imply that you miss the other person.
12 – [pronoun “I” or name] + ชอบ + [pronoun “you” or name]
Pronunciation:
[pronoun “I” or name] + châawp + [pronoun “you” or name]
English translation:
I like you.
Additional explanation:
If you want to emphasize that you like the person “very much,” you can add มาก (mâak) to the end of the sentence.
13 – [pronoun “I” or name] + รัก + [pronoun “you” or name]
Pronunciation:
[pronoun “I” or name] + rák + [pronoun “you” or name]
English translation:
I love you.
Additional explanation:
As with the Thai love phrase above, if you want to say “I love you very much,” or “I love you so much,” you can add มาก (mâak) to the end of the sentence.
14 – [pronoun “you” or name] + มีความหมายต่อ + [pronoun “I” or name] + มาก
Pronunciation:
[pronoun “you” or name] + mii-khwaam-mǎai-dtàaw + [pronoun “I” or name] + mâak
English translation:
You mean so much to me.
15 – [pronoun “I” or name] + ชอบอยู่กับ + [pronoun “you” or name]
Pronunciation:
[pronoun “I” or name] + châawp-yùu-gàp + [pronoun “you” or name]
English translation:
I like being with you.
Additional explanation:
If you feel like the previous Thai love phrases were too cheesy or intense, you can opt for this more subtle one instead!
16 – [pronoun “you” or name] + ทำให้ชีวิตของ + [pronoun “I” or name] + มีความหมาย
Pronunciation:
[pronoun “you” or name] + tham-hâi-chii-wít-khǎawng + [pronoun “I” or name] + mii- kwaam-mǎai
English translation:
You make my life meaningful.
3. Being Together and Getting Married
Thailand is a family-oriented society. This means that if you’re in a serious relationship with a Thai person, you’ll have to meet and interact with your in-laws to some extent. As your relationship moves forward, learning the following phrases can be very helpful.
17 – [day] + [pronoun “you” or name] + ไปทานข้าวกับพ่อแม่ของ + [pronoun “I” or name] + ได้มั๊ย
Pronunciation:
[day] + [pronoun “you” or name] + bpai-thaan-khâao-gàp-phâaw-mâae-khǎawng + [pronoun “I” or name] + dâi-mái
English translation:
Can you have a meal with my parents on…?
Additional explanation:
Thai people often meet their boyfriend’s or girlfriend’s parents for the first time in a restaurant setting. So if your boyfriend/girlfriend asks you this question, it implies that he/she takes the relationship seriously.
18 – ช่วงนี้พ่อแม่ของ + [pronoun “I” or name] + จะมาหา + [pronoun “you” or name] + มาเจอพ่อแม่ของ + [pronoun “I” or name] + หน่อยได้มั๊ย
Pronunciation:
chûuang-níi-phâaw-mâae-khǎawng + [pronoun “I” or name] + jà-maa-hǎa + [pronoun “you” or name] + maa-jooe-phâaw-mâae-khǎawng + [pronoun “I” or name] + nàauy-dâi-mái
English translation:
My parents will come to see me, can you come to meet them?
Additional explanation:
Thai people usually visit family members during the holidays, so if your lover doesn’t live with his/her parents, he/she may ask you this.
19 – [day] + [pronoun “you” or name] + สะดวกมาบ้าน + [pronoun “I” or name] + มั๊ย ผมอยากแนะนำคุณให้พ่อแม่รู้จัก
Pronunciation:
[day] + [pronoun “you” or name] + sà-dùuak-maa-bâan + [pronoun “I” or name] + mái phǒm-yàak-náe-nam-khun-hâi-phâaw-mâae-rùu-jàk
English translation:
Are you available to come to my home on…? I want to introduce you to my parents.
Additional explanation:
Apart from restaurant meetings, it’s also common for Thai people to meet their lover’s parents at his/her home. This way, in addition to getting to know his/her family members, you’ll also get to see how they live their daily lives as well.
20 – ย้ายมาอยู่ด้วยกันนะ
Pronunciation:
yáai-maa-yùu-dûuay-gan-ná
English translation:
Let’s move in together.
Additional explanation:
Nowadays, Thai people are more open to the idea of lovers living together before getting married. So if your lover is quite open-minded about this, he/she may say yes.
21 – คุณอยากย้ายมาอยู่กับ + [pronoun “I” or name] + มั๊ย
Pronunciation:
khun-yàak-yáai-maa-yùu-gàp + [pronoun “I” or name] + mái
English translation:
Do you want to move into my house?
Additional explanation:
Another question you can ask your lover if you’d like them to move in with you.
22 – แต่งงานกันนะ
Pronunciation:
dtàaeng-ngaan-gan-ná
English translation:
Will you marry me?
Will you marry me?
23 – [pronoun “you” or name] + อยากมีลูกมั๊ย
Pronunciation:
[pronoun “you” or name] + yàak-mii-lûuk-mái
English translation:
Do you want to have a baby?
Additional explanation:
If you want to start a family together, you should know first whether your lover wants a child as well. Some Thai people do not like kids and plan to have no children. So if you’re in a serious relationship, don’t forget to ask about this to make sure that you have the same family goals in terms of kids.
24 – [pronoun “I” or name] + อยากมีลูก คุณเห็นว่าอย่างไร
Pronunciation:
[pronoun “I” or name] + yàak-mii-lûuk khun-hěn-wâa-yàang-rai
English translation:
I want to have a baby. What do you think?
Additional explanation:
Another way you can ask for your partner’s opinion about having children together.
25 – เรามาวางแผนมีลูกกันเถอะ
Pronunciation:
rao-maa-waang-phǎaen-mii-lûuk-gan-thòe
English translation:
Let’s make a plan about babies.
Additional explanation:
You can use this sentence when you’re sure that your lover also wants to have a baby.
Let’s make a plan about babies.
4. Endearment Terms
When it comes to terms of endearment in Thai, you’ll find that Thai people have some odd ways of expressing affection. While we do have terms like “my love” in Thai, there are also some endearment terms that may sound more like verbal abuse in other cultures. It’s just how Thai lovers refer to one another. Despite the meaning, you have to focus on the tone as well.
26 – ที่รัก
Pronunciation:
thîi-rák
English translation:
Darling
Additional explanation:
It can be used to refer to both men and women.
27 – เบบี๋ / บี๋
Pronunciation:
bee-bǐi / bǐi
English translation:
Baby
Additional explanation:
It can be used to refer to both men and women.
28 – อ้วน
Pronunciation:
ûuan
English translation:
Fat
Additional explanation:
This endearment term doesn’t sound nice at all, but Thai lovers do call one another this. Instead of using it in a negative or abusive way, they say it in a cute manner—like when you see a chubby puppy. It can be used to refer to both men and women.
29 – เหม่ง
Pronunciation:
mèng
English translation:
Wide forehead
Additional explanation:
Similar to อ้วน (ûuan), เหม่ง (mèng) is used as an affectionate term. Men often call their girlfriends this.
30 – เค้า / ตัวเอง
Pronunciation:
kháo / dtuua-eeng
English translation:
I / You
Additional explanation:
This is a very cute pronoun that Thai lovers use when talking to each other. เค้า (kháo) is “I” and ตัวเอง (dtuua-eeng) is “you.” These two words can be used for both men and women.
31 – พี่ / หนู
Pronunciation:
phîi / nǔu
English translation:
I (male) / You (female)
Additional explanation:
This is another pronoun pair that Thai lovers use when the male is older than the female. พี่ (phîi) is “brother” and หนู (nǔu) is “I,” used when the speaker is younger than the other party.
32 – พ่อ / แม่
Pronunciation:
phâaw / mâae
English translation:
Father / Mother
Additional explanation:
When a couple have children together, they sometimes change the way they call each other to พ่อ (phâaw) and แม่ (mâae).
5. Sayings About Love in Thai
To sound more like a native and to gain more insight into romance in Thai culture, you should also learn some Thai idioms about love as well as popular Thai love quotes.
33 – ดื่มน้ำผึ้งพระจันทร์
Pronunciation:
dùuem-náam-phûeng-phrá-jan
Literal translation:
drink honey moon
English translation:
honeymoon
Additional explanation:
This Thai idiom refers to a “honeymoon,” with nearly the same meaning as the English word.
34 – ข้าวใหม่ปลามัน
Pronunciation:
khâao-mài-bplaa-man
Literal translation:
new rice, oily fish
English translation:
newlywed
Additional explanation:
This Thai idiom is used to refer to a couple who has just gotten married.
35 – น้ำตาลใกล้มด
Pronunciation:
náฟm-dtaan-glâi-mót
Literal translation:
sugar near ant
English translation:
If a man and a woman spend a lot of time together, they can fall in love.
Additional explanation:
This Thai idiom is used to explain that if a man and a woman are close to each other, there is a higher chance of them falling in love.
36 – ยามรักน้ำต้มผักยังว่าหวาน
Pronunciation:
yaam-rák-náam-dtôm-phàk-yang-wâa-wǎan
Literal translation:
Soup made with vegetables is sweet when you are in love.
English translation:
When you are in love, everything about your lover is good.
Additional explanation:
This Thai idiom compares couples when they’ve just fallen in love to someone eating vegetable soup and thinking it’s sweet. In other words, you think that everything about your lover is good simply because you love him or her.
37 – รัก คิดถึง แค่คำสั้น ๆ แต่มีความสุขทุกครั้งที่พูดมันออกไป
Pronunciation:
rák khít-thǔeng khâae-kham-sân-sân dtàae-mii-kwaam-sùk-thúk-khráng-thîi-phûut- man-àawk-bpai
English translation:
“Love,” “miss you,” they are just short words but I’m happy every time you say them.
38 – ความสัมพันธ์ที่ดี จะไม่ทำให้เราต้องมีคำถามใด ๆ ในความสัมพันธ์เลย
Pronunciation:
kwaam-sǎm-phan-thîi-dii jà-mâi-tham-hâi-rao-dtâwng-mii-kham-thǎam-dai-dai- nai-kwam-sǎm-phan-looei
English translation:
A good relationship is a relationship that you have no question about.
39 – ชอบ คือ ถูกใจในข้อดี รัก คือ ยินดีรับในข้อเสีย
Pronunciation:
châawp-khuue-thùuk-jai-nai-khâaw-dii rák-khuue-yin-dii-ráp-nai-khâaw-sǐia
English translation:
“Like” is liking the good part of someone. “Love” is accepting the bad part of someone.
40 – จงอยู่กับคนที่แสดงความรักให้เห็น มากกว่าคนที่แค่พูดให้ได้ยิน
Pronunciation:
jong-yùu-gàp-khon-thîi-sà-daaeng-kwaam-rák-hâi-hěn mâak-gwàa-khon-thîi-khâae- phûut-hâi-dâi-yin
English translation:
Be with a person who shows you his/her love, not the one who just speaks it.
6. Conclusion
This is the end of the article. We hope you were able to pick up a few love phrases in Thai, some other romantic words, and even a couple of sweet quotes! Even if you can’t remember all of these Thai love phrases yet, you should now have more confidence in your ability to express your romantic feelings!
What did you think about this lesson? Is the way Thai people express their love different from how it’s done in your country? Leave us a comment below to share your thoughts.
If you would like to continue learning Thai love words and phrases, or want to further explore romance in Thai society, make sure to check out the following pages on ThaiPod101.com:
Happy learning, and wishing you success in your love life!
