ลุง
uncle (a parent's older brother)
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- 1 uncle (a parent's older brother)
- 2 uncle (familiar term for an older man)、older man
- 3 I; Uncle [used by an older man]
This word centers on an older man of one’s parents’ generation. It refers specifically to a parent’s older brother, and it is also used like “uncle” for an unrelated older man or by an older man referring to himself when speaking to someone younger.
uncle (a parent's older brother)
A male relative who is the older brother of one’s father or mother.
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ลุงของฉันเป็นครู luŋ khɔ̌ɔŋ chǎn pen khruu My uncle is a teacher. ลุงของฉันเป็นครู details
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พรุ่งนี้จะไปหาลุง phrûŋníi cà pay hǎa luŋ I'm going to visit my uncle tomorrow. พรุ่งนี้จะไปหาลุง details
uncle (familiar term for an older man)、older man
A familiar way to refer to or address an unrelated man who is roughly of one’s parents’ generation or older. It can also be placed before his name.
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ลุงครับ อันนี้เท่าไหร่ครับ luŋ khráp an níi thâw rày khráp Uncle, how much is this? ลุงครับ อันนี้เท่าไหร่ครับ details
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ลุงสมชายอยู่บ้านไหม luŋ sǒmchaay yùu bâan mǎy Is Uncle Somchai home? ลุงสมชายอยู่บ้านไหม details
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ลุงคนนั้นขายผลไม้ luŋ khon nán khǎay phǒnlamáay That older man sells fruit. ลุงคนนั้นขายผลไม้ details
I; Uncle [used by an older man]
A warm, relational first-person term used by an older man when speaking to a child or younger person, similar to referring to oneself as “Uncle.”
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เดี๋ยวลุงช่วยเอง dǐaw luŋ chûay eeŋ Uncle will help you. เดี๋ยวลุงช่วยเอง details
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มาหาลุงได้เสมอนะ maa hǎa luŋ dâay samə̌ə ná You can come see me anytime. มาหาลุงได้เสมอนะ details
Learning notes
Explanation
The central image of ลุง is an older man of one’s parents’ generation. As a kinship term, it specifically means the older brother of either parent. Thai distinguishes relatives by age and side of the family: อา is used for a father’s younger sibling, while น้า is used for a mother’s younger sibling. Like many Thai kinship terms, ลุง can be extended beyond the family. It may address a familiar older neighbor or vendor, appear before a name as in ลุงสมชาย, or be used by an older man to refer to himself when speaking warmly to a child. The classifier for people is คน; for example, ลุงคนหนึ่ง means “an older man” or “one uncle.”
Usage
It is common when talking about family or addressing a parent’s older brother. It is also heard when speaking to a familiar older neighbor or vendor, when placing an uncle-like title before someone’s name, and when an older man refers to himself warmly while talking to a child or younger person.
Caution
Calling an unrelated man ลุง explicitly places him in an older generation, so someone sensitive about his age may dislike it. If the relationship is not familiar enough, คุณ followed by the person’s name is usually a safer choice.
Differences from similar words
1 uncle (a parent's older brother) synonyms
2 uncle (familiar term for an older man) synonyms
3 I; Uncle [used by an older man] synonyms
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ผม is a broadly usable, polite first-person pronoun for men. ลุง presents the speaker as an older “uncle” figure and creates a familiar relationship with a younger listener.