หลาน
grandchild
A native Thai recording for this word is on the way. Please check back soon.
- 1 grandchild
- 2 nephew、niece
A family term for someone in a younger generation, most commonly a grandchild, nephew, or niece. The exact relationship usually depends on context.
grandchild
Refers to the child of one's son or daughter: a grandchild.
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ฉันมีหลานสองคน chǎn mii lǎan sɔ̌ɔŋ khon I have two grandchildren. ฉันมีหลานสองคน details
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คุณยายรักหลานมาก khun yaay rák lǎan mâak Grandma loves her grandchild very much. คุณยายรักหลานมาก details
nephew、niece
Refers to a younger-generation relative, especially the child of one's own or one's spouse's sibling.
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เขาเป็นหลานของฉัน khǎw pen lǎan khɔ̌ɔŋ chǎn He is my nephew. / She is my niece. เขาเป็นหลานของฉัน details
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ฉันไปรับหลานที่โรงเรียน chǎn pay ráp lǎan thîi rooŋrian I'm going to pick up my nephew or niece from school. ฉันไปรับหลานที่โรงเรียน details
Learning notes
Explanation
หลาน is an everyday kinship term covering several kinds of younger-generation relatives. Unlike English, Thai uses the same word for both a grandchild and a nephew or niece. หลานชาย identifies a male relative but can mean either “grandson” or “nephew”; หลานสาว can mean either “granddaughter” or “niece.” Context determines the relationship. When clarity is needed, speakers explain whose child the person is. People are counted with the classifier คน, as in หลานสองคน, “two grandchildren/nephews/nieces.”
Usage
It is common in family introductions, discussions of family relationships, childcare, and everyday conversations about younger relatives. Older people may also use it affectionately when addressing a related or familiar child or someone much younger.
Caution
หลาน alone may not tell you whether the person is a grandchild, nephew, or niece. A cousin is normally ลูกพี่ลูกน้อง, and a great-grandchild is เหลน. When used for someone outside the family, หลาน presents the speaker as the older person, so it is generally unsuitable for peers or elders.