พ่อตา

Explanation

พ่อตา is formed from พ่อ (“father”) and ตา (“maternal grandfather” or a term for an older man), but together they form a single kinship term meaning “wife's father.” It should be learned as one unit rather than interpreted word by word. Possession can be expressed with ของ, as in พ่อตาของผม (“my wife's father”). The term may also be used when addressing the wife's father directly. The corresponding term for a wife's mother is แม่ยาย. Together, พ่อตาแม่ยาย means “one's wife's parents.” The classifier used for people is คน.

Usage

It is commonly used when a man talks about his wife's father, his wife's family, married life, or family relationships. Within the family, it can also be used to address the wife's father directly.

Caution

Unlike the broader English term “father-in-law,” พ่อตา specifically means a wife's father; it does not refer to a husband's father or an adoptive father. Also, ตา by itself can mean “maternal grandfather,” but พ่อตา functions as a single kinship term.

1 father-in-law (wife's father) synonyms

• พ่อภรรยา

  พ่อภรรยา is a transparent, descriptive phrase meaning “wife's father.” พ่อตา refers to the same person but is the established kinship term and is usually more natural and concise in everyday speech.