The language itself

What does khun mean in Thai?

คุณ, khun, is the polite word for "you," and it is also the title Thais put before someone's first name, like Mr. or Ms.: khun som-chai yoo mai is "Is Mr. Somchai here?" It is respectful but not stiff, which makes it the safe choice with anyone you don't know well: staff, drivers, hosts, people older than you.

Khun as "you"

Most of the questions a traveler asks or gets asked start with it. Four from Thailo's phrasebook:

Thai often drops the "you" once it is clear who is being spoken to. The phrasebook note on "What's your name?" says as much: leaving khun off makes it more casual. So if you hear the question without it, nothing is missing. Possession works by putting khong, "of," in front: khong khun, ของคุณ, "your" or "yours," as in tho-ra-sap nee khong-khun mai, "Is this phone yours?"

Khun as a title: Mr., Mrs. and Ms. in one word

Before a name, khun is a courtesy title. It goes before the first name, it does not change for men or women, and it says nothing about whether someone is married. A hotel receptionist may call you khun plus your first name, and it is the natural way to address a guesthouse owner or a guide by name.

When Thais say something other than khun

Among friends, coworkers and street-stall regulars, Thais often swap khun for a sibling word based on age. phee (พี่) means older sibling and is used for someone a bit older than you; nong (น้อง) means younger sibling and is used for someone younger, including a server or a shop assistant. Both work as "you" and "I." As a visitor you can stay with khun and never be wrong; hearing yourself called phee means someone has decided you are a friend.

Khun and the polite ending go together

A sentence with khun in it usually ends with the politeness particle too: khrap if you are a man, kha if you are a woman. khun chue a-rai khrap is "What's your name?" as a man asks it. The krap and ka guide covers that ending, and the hello in Thai guide shows the greeting that usually comes first.