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You are here: Home / Women/Dating / How to Say Darling & Sweetheart in Thai & Other Words to Woo Your Lover

How to Say Darling & Sweetheart in Thai & Other Words to Woo Your Lover

If you're wondering how to say ‘darling' in Thai, ‘sweetheart' in Thai, or other mushy ways to refer to your girlfriend or boyfriend, this post is for you.

I'll cover the most common terms and arm you with some other vomit-worthy ways to flatter your forever or temporary friend.

darling-in-thai

1. My Darling

The most common lovey-dovey word foreigners tend to encounter is tîi rák.

You might have seen this spelt as “teerak”, and you may have heard it shouted at you by a girl in a miniskirt and high heels as you stumbled towards a taxi at 1 AM.

Where you go, tîi rák?

This means dear, darling, or love.

So in English you might say:

  • Thank you, dear.
  • Hello darling.
  • Thank you my love.

You can use it in the same way…

– ที่รัก /tîi rák

Note: You may hear the rák part pronounced with an l, like lák, but the correct pronunciation is an r. Lák with the letter ‘l’ actually means ‘to steal.

“Daa-Ling”

And then there's the Thaiglish version that sounds more like “daa-ling”

In Thai it is spelt the following way:

– ดาหลิง /daa-lǐng/ or ด่าลิ้ง /dàa-líng/

“Darling/Dear” (formal)

These last two versions are more formal and traditional and may sound a little odd coming from a foreigner with limited Thai speaking ability.

– Dearest / beloved: ทูนหัว /tuun hǔa 

– Dear / darling: ยาหยี /yaa yǐi

2. My Sweetheart

And so we move on to the English classic, sweetheart.

I don't actually hear this much, but maybe that's because my wife never says anything nice to me :).

– หวานใจ /wǎan jai

What I do hear, usually at airports when a Thai woman is asking her male companion to collect the bags from the conveyor, or in a bar when it's time to pay the bill, is the Thaiglish version: “Sa-weet-haart” 🙂

“Sa-weet-haart…Check bin na!”

=> Find Your Perfect Thai Girl

“Good Girl/My Love”

“Good girl” sounds quite condescending in English and more like you're referring to your dog for having done a wee in the garden, but in Thai it's fine to use this phrase in this context.

It literally translates as “good person” but can be used in a romantic context to indicate “good girl/my love”

– คนดี /khon dii

Try this sentence on for size when consoling your partner:

– โอ๋ๆ ไม่เป็นไรนะ คนดี /ǒo ǒo, mâi pen rai ná, khon dii/ “Oh, come, it’ll be all right, my love.”

Here's a version solely reserved for a female lover, possibly a gay lover, and can also be used to address a younger sister.

– น้องรัก /nÓOng rák/ = dear (lady) love

3. Other Terms of Endearment

These terms shouldn't be used in public as they are very sweet and over the top for an exchange on the train or in a mall. Keep them for your most mushy private encounters.

Most beloved: ยอดรัก /yÔOt rák

Dearest love: สุดที่รัก /sùt tîi rák

Dearest heart: ยอดดวงใจ /yÔOt duang jai

4. Some Gentle Advice

1. Use Sparingly

As a general rule, use the above words sparingly – as you would in your own language.

My native language is English and there is nothing worse than overusing the words darling,  sweetheart, my love, or baby.

It's like using the words I love you. Over use renders the words somewhat meaningless and significantly reduces the impact.

In addition, don't solely use these terms when you're trying to creep round your lover and gain favouritism; it is just as obvious in Thai as it is in English that you are trying to butter her/him up.

2. Use Naturally

Use the terms naturally. For example, if you're having a phone or Facebook messenger conversation and you're saying “hello” or “goodbye”, then you might say “hey darling” or “see you later sweetheart”.

3. Use Privately

Also remember that despite the stereotypical view of the West that Thai women are all hookers and sex crazed nymphomaniacs, Thai society is rather conservative and the large majority of women are not comfortable with public displays of affection.

This has changed somewhat in the last couple of decades, and subtle displays of affection such as holding hands or a gentle rub on the arm or similar is usually fine. But there is nothing more frowned upon than a man or woman being all over his/her partner in public.

I personally apply the same rule of thumb to this type of language. There is no need for me to be hollering wǎan jai! wǎan jai! to get my wife's attention in the middle of MBK shopping mall. Or referring to her as tîi rák every 5 minutes while out eating with friends.

Additionally, I personally wouldn't use these terms in front of my wife's parents. It just feels strange to me. I never hear my wife's sister and her husband doing this, and  I don't actually think I can recall a time when I have heard any other couple doing in front of their parents.

Perhaps this is just my experience. I'm not saying it is wrong to do so, but do exercise discretion.

I understand that there is an element of excitement when learning new words in a foreign language, especially when you are able to use them with your partner who is a native of that country: you want to show that you are making an effort to learn and that you are literally speaking the same language. But the novelty will quickly wear off. So don't wear these words out!

=> Your Next Read: 15 Thai Love Phrases

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Last Updated on May 28, 2020

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Comments Sort by : newest | oldest

  1. Art says

    December 8, 2021 at 9:05 pm

    What does it mean when a Thai girls says goodnight kaa. What is kaa in that context?

    Thanks! Great page
    Reply

    Dec 08, 2021 at 9:05 pm

    • TheThailandLife says

      December 8, 2021 at 9:09 pm

      It's just used as a form of politeness. Please see a full explanation here: https://www.thethailandlife.com/krap-ka
      Reply

      Dec 08, 2021 at 9:09 pm

  2. J.R.R. says

    August 16, 2020 at 6:07 pm

    Theres a few that crossover that all are pretty bad lol. Darling spoken like"duu ra ling, means " looks of the monkey", meant to mean easily fooled, or very ugly, " dur riang" means , "he studies, or learned, or was taught, to listen,understand what he/thai person he is addressing, knows he can possibly understand what someone is speaking-

    usually a warning to other thais to be careful what they speak.

    "Suteerak," is a more authentic and formal way to address someone you love, married, or romantically involved with. Not proper to be spoken in public especially around their family, as it is more intimate. Another variation which you might want to plan a different place to stay is ," set teerak", that means" they are finished with you, or they want you to end".

    You are about to be dumped, or you will be on the news soon with the headline, "as she is saying she wants you to end, or desires an end to you.

    A couple more freebies as I used these a lot before I married, some are Issan-Thai, others are just proper Thai. In bars, nightclubs, or touristy areas where ladies in search if a foriegner are plentiful, these are universally understood. "meeyaa aka mia, means lover, friend i fool around or have fun with, extremely insulting if spoken around family or with many friends. " pom chope. I like, pom chope khun maak maak, I like you very much."

    "khun bai pom sanook" You and me go have some fun? Can mean what it sounds like if you add your place, or just go somewhere and do something fun if you specify a place other than a hotel or where you live,, " khun bai sanook pom bai layow Tiger zoo, movies, bowling, disco, beach, shopping.... If you dont know this person well or they dont know you are trying your best but not speaking correctly, mai bpen rai , it is ok, if they believe you know exactly what you said, I truly hope they habe a sense of humor or are involved with you lol. Ok last 2, "Laamoke, lamok, means pervy, talking dirty, or speaking of sexual intentions. For a very intelligent, upper class female, even kissing would be considered sexual, as it is not culturally or familialy thought proper.

    Last one,,,, " Pom chope khun chope kaam ruu pom suteerak maak maak alai na krub? More advanced and specific, " I would like you to want to like me with your heart, and be my girlfriend, boyfriend, etc very very much, will you be together with me as more than friends please tell me your decision?" very proper use of language, insinuating seriousness in the question, and that you know exactly what you are asking for.

    Til next time, "Ratree Sawat"
    Reply

    Aug 16, 2020 at 6:07 pm

  3. Frank says

    August 5, 2019 at 4:23 pm

    Darg Ling = possibly isan slang meaning same as tuut-ling 'monkey arse'

    Bar girl in-joke to call out dah-ling or darg-ling to passing (unsuspecting) farangs

    555 (hahaha)
    Reply

    Aug 05, 2019 at 4:23 pm

  4. James E says

    June 20, 2019 at 3:48 am

    I think he means ลาลิง (la ling) which is more monkey's donkey. Not that that is much better.
    Reply

    Jun 20, 2019 at 3:48 am

    • TheThailandLife says

      June 20, 2019 at 4:45 am

      I see. I did ask my wife but she shook her head. She probably didn't want to give me yet another bad word to joke around with.
      Reply

      Jun 20, 2019 at 4:45 am

  5. Simon Robinson says

    June 19, 2019 at 9:54 am

    I have also heard the subtle "mispronunciation" of darling, to mean monkey arse in Thai.
    Reply

    Jun 19, 2019 at 9:54 am

    • TheThailandLife says

      June 20, 2019 at 12:25 am

      Ha, really? What is that word? Can you type it in Thai for me?
      Reply

      Jun 20, 2019 at 12:25 am

      • jey says

        July 15, 2019 at 5:42 pm

        Ling = monkey
        Reply

        Jul 15, 2019 at 5:42 pm

        • TheThailandLife says

          July 15, 2019 at 7:43 pm

          Ya, I know, I just didn't click on the original association with "monkey arse".
          Reply

          Jul 15, 2019 at 7:43 pm

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