@Rosi@ruchfull Words “Husband and wife” in Thai usually make foreigner confused.
1. SaameePaunraya = SaameePaunya = สามีภรรยา
= Husband and wife
Saamee = สามี = Husband
Paunraya = Paunya = ภรรยา = Wife
Pariya = ภริยา = wife
Paunraya Laung = Paunya Laung = ภรรยาหลวง = First wife
Paunraya Noi = Paunya Noi = ภรรยาน้อย = Wife comes after the first wife
The words “
Saamee and Paunraya/Paunya” are the most polite, formal, used both in spoken and written language, used with people that you are not accustomed to or with older people or anyone you feel you should be more polite to them.
One of my chief liked to use “Saamee” when she said about her husband to respect him.
She said “Saamee P’ puai” = My Saamee is sick”
She was my chief and older than me so she call herself P’ with me.
So it is Ok when people here say ‘Pope is my Saamee or I’m Pope’s Paunraya/Paunya.
The word “
Pariya (very formal)” is used with women who are President’s wife, Prime mister’s, UN Secretary General’s, ambassador’s wife, etc.
2. Fan = แฟน
Fan is used with both men and women. It has 4 meanings (as I think)
2.1 Man and woman who like and learn each other, haven’t lived together, have not any affair yet.
2.2 Man and woman who like and learn each other but have had affair. They do not think they are husband and wife and some usually do not want to reveal such relation between them to public. Sometimes we call this type of Fan that “Ku Non = sleeping partner”. The meaning would be similar to “girlfriend” in English.
2.3 Fan =
Husband or Wife
Compared with PuaMia, Fan is more polite. When People are shy to say Pua or Mia. They use this word instead like “Fan P’ puai. = My Saamee/Paunya is sick
2.4 Fan = Fanclub
When you like/love and follow any actor/actress, singer, football player, you are their fan.
3. PuaMia = ผัวเมีย
= Husband and wife
Pua = ผัว = Husband
Mia = เมีย = Wife
Mia Laung = ภรรยาหลวง = First wife
Mia Noi = ภรรยาน้อย = Wife comes after the first wife
These 2 words have been used in formal since Ayutthaya Era. These days, they are folk language,
informal, used in general,
sometimes ok sometimes impolite depending on place, time, person who says or person who you say to. If not sure, it is better using Saamee and Paunya.
Both words imply that man and woman have had affair already (emphasize having affair). In Thai Lakorn, many characters often use this to dominate other, like in Padiwarada, Duang said “Saraan and Doang Pen PuaMia gun Laiew = ศรัณและดวงเป็นผัวเมียกันแล้ว”= Saraan and I have been husband and wife.”