นาย

ThaiEdit

EtymologyEdit

From Old Khmer nāy, nāya (leader; leading man); ultimately from Sanskrit नाय (nāya, guide; leader). Cognate with Lao ນາຍ (nāi), Modern Khmer នាយ (niəy).

PronunciationEdit

Orthographic/Phonemicนาย
n ā y
RomanizationPaiboonnaai
Royal Institutenai
(standard) IPA(key)/naːj˧/(R)

NounEdit

นาย (naai)

  1. chief; lord; master.
  2. (historical) the lowest noble rank of Thailand; person holding such rank.
  3. used as a title for or term of address to these people.
  4. (law) a formal title which a man over 15 years of age is required to use.
  5. similar title, as mister, monsignor, signor, etc.

Usage notesEdit

See alsoEdit

PronounEdit

นาย (naai)

  1. (colloquial) a second person pronoun used to address a male friend.
  2. (colloquial, somewhat archaic) a second or third person pronoun used to address a male superior.

See alsoEdit