Somebody gave a police rank description on another post but it wasn't very clear on the actual thai word for 'police rank' or 'rank'.

Is it"khun damluat arai khup?"

Or is that "What police are you?"

Dtam-nàeng (position) should work ok. There may be a more specific word, but that is what I would use straight off the bat.

The Domnern Sathienpong Thai-English Dictionary on page 762 of the third edition, contains two lists of positions for the Thai police. The first list called "Position" or "ตำแหน่ง" [dtam-nàeng ]shows a list of positions, such as "commissioner", "commander", and "inspector."

The second list is one of "rank" or "ยศ" [yót]. This contains a list of police ranks and abbreviations, such as "Police General" and "พลตำรวจเอก (พล.ต๖.อ.)" [pon dtam-rûat èk], "ร้อยตำรวจโท" (ร.ต.ท.) [rói dtam-rûat toh].

These entries help elucidate the mysteries of the abbreviations which are so baffling to us language learners trying to read Thai newspapers; the abbreviations can be entered into the dictionary's CD version and the full ranks and translations will emerge.

Specifically to your question, Lexitron has "ยศ" [N] rank; title with synonyms of "ตำแหน่ง, ฐานะ, ขั้น, ฐานันดร". Thus, it appears that in speech "ยศ" and "ตำแหน่ง" can be interchangeable. Other forum mumbers, is this last assertion correct?

The link I posted in the general forum to the excel spreadsheet download titled “Copy of Police English” from the Royal Thai Police site provides information on police ranks.

They use ยศตำรวจ yót dtam-rûat as the header for the page on police ranks. The columns listing rank have ยศ yót as the title of the columns.

It also lists ตำแหน่ง dtam-nàeng for position.

Thai2English shows กินตำแหน่ง gin dtam-nàeng [ V ] hold the position ; be enthroned a position.

I will ask my wife how to ask someone their rank or position they hold and hope to post her response later.

I’ve been told the polite way to ask a policeman’s rank is khun ตำแหน่ง arai krub

ยศ is normally associated with police or soldiers. ตำแหน่ง is formal and generally used.

Just to confuse matters an informal way of asking a policemans rank would be Khun ซี aria krub.

I've been told the polite way to ask a policeman's rank is khun ตำแหน่ง arai krub

ยศ is normally associated with police or soldiers. ตำแหน่ง is formal and generally used.

Just to confuse matters an informal way of asking a policemans rank would be Khun ซี aria krub.

Doess "ซี" designate the civil service ranking?

Doess "ซี" designate the civil service ranking?

I asked how I could ask my police brother in law what his rank was and she suggested this was the informal way to ask.

ซี= Zee

Zee arai = what position

Edited August 23, 200718 yr by Farma

Khun David is correct for position and rank of police.

And yes that "ซี" designate the civil service ranking.

You may ask "what ซี" to police but it's incorrect.

Edited August 23, 200718 yr by LookSaMoon

Thanks for clarifying that LookSaMorn. I'm interested in civil service ranking, in particular grade 7. Do you know of a website that lists these. I'd be especially grateful if the site shows the shoulder rank badges.

Good replys, thanks guys!