ทนาย
lawyer
A native Thai recording for this word is on the way. Please check back soon.
- 1 lawyer、attorney
Refers to a lawyer who advises or represents a client in legal matters. It is the commonly used shortened form of ทนายความ.
lawyer、attorney
A legal professional who advises clients and represents them in legal proceedings.
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ฉันอยากปรึกษาทนาย chǎn yàak prʉ̀ksǎa thánaay I want to consult a lawyer. ฉันอยากปรึกษาทนาย details
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เรื่องนี้คงต้องพึ่งทนาย rʉ̂aŋ níi khoŋ tɔ̂ŋ phʉ̂ŋ thánaay We'll probably have to rely on a lawyer for this matter. เรื่องนี้คงต้องพึ่งทนาย details
Learning notes
Explanation
In modern Thai, ทนาย normally means “lawyer.” The full form is ทนายความ, but the shorter ทนาย is widely used in both everyday conversation and news reports. Common combinations include เป็นทนาย (“be a lawyer”), ปรึกษาทนาย (“consult a lawyer”), and จ้างทนาย (“hire a lawyer”). As a noun referring to a person, it is counted with คน, as in ทนายสองคน (“two lawyers”).
Usage
Used when discussing legal matters such as trials, arrests, contracts, divorce, inheritance, or debt. It is also common when stating someone’s profession or talking about consulting or hiring a lawyer.
Caution
In modern usage, ทนาย is normally understood as “lawyer,” not as a general representative or agent. It is also more specific than นักกฎหมาย, which can refer broadly to people working professionally with law.
Differences from similar words
1 lawyer synonyms
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ทนายความ is the full, explicit professional title. ทนาย is its shorter form and is widely used in conversation and news reporting.