Nicknames

Why do so many Thai people have nicknames like Champagne, BMW or Tokyo? This relaxed chat explores the history of Thai nicknames. It starts with the long, auspicious names of royalty and the nobility, then the short one-word names of past generations and the English-style names like May and Top. It ends with today’s trend for names borrowed from brands, cars, cities and food. You’ll also hear why some people take on a new name at work, in show business or on a night out.

Thai Vocabulary:
ชื่อเล่น (chʉ̂ʉ-lên) – Nickname
เชย (chəəi) – Old-fashioned / Uncool
ตกยุค (tòk-yúk) – Outdated
เก๋ (gěe) – Stylish / Chic
โหล (lǒo) – A dozen / Common, generic
ระบุ (rá-bù) – To specify
คาบเกี่ยว (kâap-gìao) – To overlap
เปิดเผย (bpə̀ət-pə̌əi) – To reveal / Be open
ชื่อในวงการ (chʉ̂ʉ nai wong-gaan) – Stage name / Alias

Listen to natural Thai conversation and discover the stories behind the names you hear every day in Thailand!

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Nicknames

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