Bangkok Podcast 12: Thai Language 3: How to address people in Thai

In our continuing Thai language series, we talk to ‘Thai Language Jedi’ Rikker Dockum about how to address people in Thai.

In this episode we ask Rikker to walk us through the different ways to address people in Thai, from the polite, to the familiar, to the not recommended. Not all of the terms are direct nouns, and many can be quite creative – for instance, the word to refer to yourself in front of a judge is to essentially insult yourself, thereby elevating the judge to a higher position! Greg also recounts the time he referred to an older person by the right word but with the wrong tone, with unhappy results..

Tony also tells us about his upcoming trip to Japan for his video website, and how a visit to the Land of the Rising Sun really makes you appreciate what Thailand has – and doesn’t have – to offer.