ครอบครัว
family
A native Thai recording for this word is on the way. Please check back soon.
- 1 family、household
- 2 family [counter for families or households]
This word refers to a family as a group of people connected by marriage, parenthood, or kinship and sharing a life or responsibilities. It can also be used to count families or households.
family、household
A family considered as a group or domestic unit, typically connected through marriage, parenthood, or kinship.
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เขามีครอบครัวแล้ว khǎw mii khrɔ̂ɔpkhrua lɛ́ɛw He already has a family. เขามีครอบครัวแล้ว details
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ทุกคนในครอบครัวสบายดี thúk khon nay khrɔ̂ɔpkhrua sabaay dii Everyone in the family is doing well. ทุกคนในครอบครัวสบายดี details
family [counter for families or households]
Used as the counting unit for families or households, with the same form as the noun.
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หนึ่งครอบครัว nʉ̀ŋ khrɔ̂ɔpkhrua one family หนึ่งครอบครัว details
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หมู่บ้านนี้มีห้าสิบครอบครัว mùu bâan níi mii hâa sìp khrɔ̂ɔpkhrua There are fifty households in this village. หมู่บ้านนี้มีห้าสิบครอบครัว details
Learning notes
Explanation
ครอบครัว is a neutral, widely used word that presents people as one family unit. Depending on context, it can emphasize either the family members themselves or the household they form. มีครอบครัวแล้ว literally looks like “already has a family,” but it normally means that someone is married or has established a family of their own, often with a spouse or children. It does not merely mean that the person has parents or siblings. The noun also serves as its own classifier: หนึ่งครอบครัว means “one family” or “one household.” Although ครัว can mean “kitchen” on its own, learners will find it most useful to memorize ครอบครัว as a complete word meaning “family.”
Usage
It is commonly used when introducing one’s family, discussing living arrangements, or talking about marriage, children, and home life. It is also natural in schools, government contexts, and news reports.
Caution
The word does not automatically include everyone living under the same roof. Roommates without a family relationship are not normally called ครอบครัว. Also, ญาติ refers more broadly to relatives, so it is not always interchangeable with ครอบครัว.
Differences from similar words
1 family synonyms
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ญาติ means “relative” or “relatives” and can include aunts, uncles, and cousins. ครอบครัว usually refers to one’s family as a central domestic or social unit.