น้า
maternal uncle (mother's younger brother)
A native Thai recording for this word is on the way. Please check back soon.
- 1 maternal uncle (mother's younger brother)、maternal aunt (mother's younger sister)
- 2 auntie or uncle [friendly form of address]、I [adult speaking to a child]
- 3 okay? [soft or affectionate tone]、please [softening a request]
This word mainly refers to a mother's younger sibling. It can also address a relatively young adult of the parents' generation, or appear at the end of a casual message to make it sound softer or more affectionate.
maternal uncle (mother's younger brother)、maternal aunt (mother's younger sister)
A kinship term for either a mother's younger brother or her younger sister, without specifying gender.
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น้าของฉันเป็นครู náa khɔ̌ɔŋ chǎn pen khruu My maternal uncle or aunt is a teacher. น้าของฉันเป็นครู details
auntie or uncle [friendly form of address]、I [adult speaking to a child]
Used like “auntie” or “uncle” to address a relatively young adult of the parents' generation, and also by that adult when referring to themselves while speaking to a child.
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น้าครับ อันนี้เท่าไหร่ครับ náa khráp an níi thâw rày khráp Excuse me, auntie/uncle, how much is this? น้าครับ อันนี้เท่าไหร่ครับ details
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เดี๋ยวน้าพาไปกินข้าว dǐaw náa phaa pay kin khâaw I'll take you out to eat later. เดี๋ยวน้าพาไปกินข้าว details
okay? [soft or affectionate tone]、please [softening a request]
A casual sentence-final particle that makes a request, invitation, reminder, or expression of thanks sound softer and more affectionate.
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ไปด้วยกันน้า pay dûay kan náa Let's go together, okay? ไปด้วยกันน้า details
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อย่าลืมน้า yàa lʉʉm náa Don't forget, okay? อย่าลืมน้า details
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ขอบคุณน้า khɔ̀ɔpkhun náa Thanks! ขอบคุณน้า details
Learning notes
Explanation
As a kinship term, น้า refers to a mother's younger sibling. The word itself is gender-neutral; น้าชาย specifies a man and น้าสาว a woman. People referred to by this term are counted with คน. Thai kinship terms are also commonly used with people who are not actual relatives. น้า can warmly address a relatively young adult of the parents' generation. That adult may also use น้า as a first-person term when speaking to a child. Sentence-final น้า is a separate use. It is a casual form associated with a drawn-out นะ and makes requests, invitations, and similar remarks sound especially soft, affectionate, or slightly pleading.
Usage
It is used in family conversations when talking about a mother's younger brother or sister. In neighborhoods, shops, or markets, it may warmly address a relatively young adult of the parents' generation. The particle use is common in casual speech, social media, and messages between friends, partners, or family members.
Caution
A father's younger sibling is normally called อา. A sibling older than one's mother is ลุง if male and ป้า if female. Using น้า for a nonrelative implies an estimate of the person's age and generation. In formal situations, or when unsure, a neutral form such as คุณ is safer. The particle น้า is casual and playful. Standard or formal writing normally uses นะ instead.
Differences from similar words
1 maternal uncle (mother's younger brother) synonyms
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ป้า refers to an older female relative such as a parent's elder sister. น้า refers to a mother's younger sibling without specifying gender.
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ลุง refers to an older male relative such as a parent's elder brother. น้า specifically refers to a mother's younger sibling and does not itself specify gender.
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อา refers to a father's younger sibling, while น้า refers to a mother's younger sibling.
2 auntie or uncle [friendly form of address] synonyms
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คุณ is a neutral, polite form that does not imply age or kinship. น้า feels warmer and more familial but also places the person in the parents' generation.
3 okay? [soft or affectionate tone] synonyms
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นะ is the ordinary sentence-final particle used to soften a statement or request. น้า is a casual, lengthened-looking form that can sound more affectionate, playful, or pleading.