What is your name? #2: Nicknames
Thai people very rarely use their official forenames. Instead they use the ‘nicknames’ given to them by their family at infancy. Such names are called ‘Cªheu l§en’ (play names). These ‘Cªheu l§en’ names are of far greater importance than the person’s official registered birth name because they effectively replace their birth forename. It is the name they will be known as for the duration of their lives, not only amongst family and friends, but to all people that person comes into contact with. When you ask a Thai person what their name is, it is normally the ‘Cªheu l§en’ name that you will be given, not the official name written on their birth certificate.
| Phonetic | Thai | English |
|---|---|---|
|
Cªheu l§en kun cªheu ³a-ry?  |
ชื่อเล่นคุณชื่ออะไร |
What is your nickname? (Name play you name what?) |
|
Cªheu l§en Daeng |
ชื่อเล่นแดง |
My nickname is Daeng (Name play red) |
|
ªMy mee cªheu l§en |
ไม่มีชื่อเล่น |
I don’t have a nickname (No have name play) |
The word ‘Cªheu l§en’ is usually translated into English as meaning nickname. However these ‘Cªheu l§en’ are nothing like the nicknames we have in the West which are often derived by shortening a name or making a name more say-able (E.g. Charles into Charlie or Chas). A ‘Cªheu l§en’ name is a totally new name that bears no relationship to a person’s official birth certificate name. And unlike in the West, everyone has a ‘Cªheu l§en’ name.
Games for this lesson
The following games draw upon the content from this lesson and any prior lessons.
