What is your name? in Thai is คุณชื่ออะไร (khun chue a-rai). For a polite question, use คุณชื่ออะไรครับ (khun chue a-rai khráp) or คุณชื่ออะไรคะ (khun chue a-rai khá). To reply, say ชื่อ followed by your name, with the appropriate polite ending.
What the Thai question means
คุณ (khun) is a polite “you,” ชื่อ (chue) means “name” or “be called,” and อะไร (a-rai) means “what.” Put the words in the Thai order คุณ ชื่อ อะไร when practising, then recognise the phrase as คุณชื่ออะไร in ordinary writing.
The reading chue represents one syllable. Hold its vowel and use a falling tone. You may see chuu or chʉ̂ʉ in different teaching systems. The Rajamangala University of Technology Krungthep name lesson gives examples of asking and answering.
How to ask and answer politely
| Thai | Say it | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| คุณชื่ออะไรครับ | khun chue a-rai khráp | What is your name? |
| คุณชื่ออะไรคะ | khun chue a-rai khá | What is your name? |
| ผมชื่อแดนครับ | phom chue Daen khráp | My name is Dan. |
| ดิฉันชื่อมีนาค่ะ | di-chan chue Miina khâ | My name is Mina. |
In these examples, the woman’s question uses คะ (khá), while her statement uses ค่ะ (khâ). The man’s lines both use ครับ (khráp). In casual conversation the shorter ชื่ออะไร may be enough when it is clear who you are asking.
Names and nicknames
Someone may introduce themselves using a nickname. If you are specifically asking for that name, use ชื่อเล่น (chue-len), as in คุณชื่อเล่นอะไรครับ or คุณชื่อเล่นอะไรคะ. If a classmate gives you a nickname, you can use it in the conversation as they introduced it. See the name and nickname examples in Peace Corps Thailand Lesson 4.
Keep an introduction going
| Thai | Say it | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| สวัสดี | sa-wat-dii | Hello. |
| สบายดีไหม | sa-bai dii mai | How are you? |
| ยินดีที่ได้รู้จัก | yin-dii thii dai ruu-jak | Nice to meet you. |
Start with hello before asking a name. If you already know someone, our “how are you?” examples help you continue the conversation.
Practise introducing yourself
Dan asks คุณชื่ออะไรครับ. Mina replies ดิฉันชื่อมีนาค่ะ. She then asks คุณชื่ออะไรคะ, and he replies ผมชื่อแดนครับ. Replace both names with your own examples and practise each speaker’s lines aloud.
Quick check: which ending goes in คุณชื่ออะไร__ and which goes in ดิฉันชื่อมีนา__ for the woman in the example? The question takes คะ, and the answer takes ค่ะ.
If you want to practise introductions with a teacher, ask Thai Explorer about its S$45 two-hour Beginner 1 trial. Confirm the next suitable date and a place with the school.