คุณ
you
A native Thai recording for this word is on the way. Please check back soon.
- 1 you、your
- 2 Mr.、Ms.、respectful title
- 3 virtue、goodness、kindness、benefit、value
In everyday speech, คุณ is mainly a polite or neutral way to say “you,” and it is also used before a name as a respectful title like “Mr./Ms.” In compounds, it can also carry the idea of goodness, benefit, gratitude, or value.
you、your
A polite or neutral second-person pronoun used to address the person you are speaking to. It can also mean “your” in possessive contexts.
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คุณชื่ออะไร khun chʉ̂ʉ aray What is your name? คุณชื่ออะไร details
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คุณมาจากไหน khun maa càak nǎy Where are you from? คุณมาจากไหน details
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แล้วคุณล่ะ lɛ́ɛw khun là And you? แล้วคุณล่ะ details
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ของคุณอันไหน khɔ̌ɔŋ khun an nǎy Which one is yours? ของคุณอันไหน details
Mr.、Ms.、respectful title
A respectful title placed before a person’s name or role, used for both men and women when addressing or referring to someone politely.
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คุณสมชาย khun sǒmchaay Mr. Somchai คุณสมชาย details
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คุณมะลิอยู่ไหมคะ khun málí yùu mǎy khá Is Mali there? คุณมะลิอยู่ไหมคะ details
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สวัสดีครับ คุณยามาดะ sawàtdii khráp khun yaamaadà Hello, Ms./Mr. Yamada. สวัสดีครับ คุณยามาดะ details
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คุณครู khun khruu teacher คุณครู details
virtue、goodness、kindness、benefit、value
A noun meaning goodness, benefit, kindness, gratitude, or value. Learners will most often meet this sense inside common compounds rather than as a standalone everyday word.
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คุณค่า khunnákhâa value คุณค่า details
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บุญคุณ bunkhun debt of gratitude บุญคุณ details
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คุณภาพ khunnaphâap quality คุณภาพ details
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มีทั้งคุณและโทษ mii tháŋ khun lɛ́ thôot to have both benefits and harms มีทั้งคุณและโทษ details
Learning notes
Explanation
คุณ is one of the core Thai words learners need early. In conversation, it works as “you,” as in คุณ + verb, and as “your/yours” in possessive phrases such as ของคุณ. Before a name, คุณ functions as a respectful title. Among close friends, Thai speakers often use names, nicknames, พี่, น้อง, or other relationship-based terms instead, but คุณ is a broadly useful polite choice. As an abstract noun, it is best learned through compounds such as คุณค่า “value,” คุณภาพ “quality,” บุญคุณ “debt of gratitude,” and คุณธรรม “virtue.”
Usage
It is common in first meetings, customer service, workplaces, schools, phone calls, and everyday situations where a polite distance is useful. It also appears constantly before names as a respectful title, and in compounds related to value, quality, gratitude, and virtue.
Caution
คุณ is more normal in Thai conversation than “you” can feel in some languages, but relationship terms, names, nicknames, or titles may sound more natural depending on the relationship. For highly respected people or formal public address, ท่าน may be more appropriate.
Differences from similar words
1 you synonyms
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ท่าน is more respectful and formal, often used for seniors, officials, or public address. คุณ is the common polite choice in everyday conversation.
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เธอ is more familiar and is often used with friends, peers, or younger people. คุณ is more polite and works better with strangers, customers, or in work settings.
2 Mr. synonyms
3 virtue synonyms
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ความดี focuses on moral goodness or good deeds. คุณ can include that, but also extends to kindness received, value, and benefit.
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ประโยชน์ means practical benefit or usefulness. คุณ is broader and can refer to goodness, virtue, gratitude, value, or a positive quality.