If you have been seeing lots of Thai names, you would have noted that many of them have “Khun” in front of them. As a consequence of your observation, you may be considering why khun is usually added to a Thai name.
Thais are pleasant and polite people that value respect. As they respect people, they also want to be respected. So, if you want to enjoy living among them, it is important to learn how to use Khun and other words for showing respect to others. We hope the information in this article will assist you to relate better with Thais.
What does Khun mean in a Thai name? Is it meant for respect? Is it gender-specific or neutral? This article will consider these questions and provide comprehensive answers that can help you to know about what Khun means.
What does Khun mean in a Thai name?
The basic meaning of Khun in the Thai language is “You”; however, it is often used as a form of respect for people. Generally, Khun precedes a Thai name to show respect for the person. It can be regarded as the Thai equivalent of Mr., Mrs., or Miss. However, if the person has a higher degree like a professor, doctor, etc., Khun is often replaced with such a degree.
Basically, you should note that Thais usually address one another with titles and first names. Except in written communications or very formal settings, Thais hardly call each other by their last names. Factually, many Thais frown at the use of last names to address to address anyone. In addition, many Thai last names are long and difficult to pronounce; hence, everyone just sticks to the combination of Khun and first names.
Besides, to Thais, honors, titles, and ranks are quite vital. Hence, if they don’t know your title, they would rather call you Khun + first name instead of another thing.
Although Khun is mostly used along with a first name, it is not uncommon to use it with a nickname. So, if you know someone’s nickname, you can add khun to it as a way to show respect for the individual.
Is Khun gender-specific or neutral?
As you could guess from the explanation above, Khun is not gender-specific. In other words, it is gender-neutral and, such as, can be used for both males and females. So, don’t be surprised to see people using Khun for people of both genders. The word is just a sign of respect that is meant for a particular gender.
When can you use Khun?
There is no restriction to when you can use Khun. It can be used in an informal setting to address acquaintances that you want to respect. It can also be used alone for strangers that you don’t know their names.
Additionally, if you are already familiar with your coworkers, you can use khun to address them in a formal setting. This shows that you respect the individuals without forcing any unnecessary familiarity that you might not have earned at the point.
Furthermore, you can find lovers referring to each other with Khun. In this context, Khun is used as an alternative to bae, babe, honey, or other words for indicating endearment.
When it is not necessary to use Khun?
As suggested earlier in the article, you should avoid using Khun in a very formal setting. For instance, if you are a worker in a company, it might be inappropriate to use Khun for the CEO of such a company. Instead of using Khun, it will be more appropriate to refer to the person with their title or honor. This helps you to avoid any issue that may come from being supposedly disrespectful to your seniors.
Another situation where it is not necessary is when talking to a close friend. As expected, if you are close to someone, you do not have to call the person by any title or honor. Generally, it will be appropriate to call the person by their first name only.
Also, if you have an older friend or neighbor that you are close, you don’t have to address the person with Khun. You should rather use P + first name. For someone younger than you, you may want to use N’ or Nong, but you have to be careful to avoid disrespecting the younger person.
Conclusion
As you can see from the information above, Thais are pleasant and polite people that value respect. As they respect people, they also want to be respected. So, if you want to enjoy living among them, it is important to learn how to use Khun and other words for showing respect to others. We hope the information in this article will assist you to relate better with Thais.
