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Thai

นามสกุล

Components

นาม
สกุล

Pronunciation

naamsakun

surname

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  1. 1 surname、family name、last name

This is the standard word for the family name or surname in a person’s full legal name.

1

surname、family name、last name

Noun⭐️4 Often used

The part of a person’s name that identifies their family or lineage.

Learning notes

Explanation

นามสกุล is the standard term used for a surname in both everyday conversation and official contexts. It combines นาม, meaning “name,” with สกุล, meaning “family line” or “lineage.” Thai full names normally place ชื่อ (given name) before นามสกุล (surname). The expressions ชื่อและนามสกุล and ชื่อ-นามสกุล therefore mean “full name.”

Usage

It is commonly used when asking someone’s surname, completing forms, or confirming a person’s identity at government offices, hospitals, banks, schools, and hotels. It is also used when discussing a change of surname after marriage or for other legal reasons.

Caution

ชื่อ can refer to a person’s name in general, but when contrasted with นามสกุล, it means the given name. Thai full names are normally written in given-name–surname order.

Differences from similar words

1 surname synonyms

  • ชื่อสกุล also means “surname” and is nearly synonymous with นามสกุล. However, นามสกุล is more common in everyday speech and on forms.

  • สกุล primarily refers to a family line or lineage and can sometimes mean a surname in context. นามสกุล is the clearer, standard choice when specifically referring to a last name.

Component words

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