I do notice Thai women like to have a chaperone with them but I can only find the reference to chaperone as maae (mother).

Can someone give me a clearer and simple phonetic name for chaperone please?

Especially as the chaperone is certainly nothing like a mother LOL

แม่เล้า - maae(F) lao(H)

It's sort of like "mother hen."

But have no fear: the word "maae" not only means "mother", but also certain other positions of authority, or worthy of respect - e.g., it is also a prefix for the rank of military general.

Not that there's much difference between the two, when you think about it...

On a neutral note, it is also the prefix for "river" (mother water).

Native English-speakers will recognize that from "Mother Nature."

Edited December 15, 200718 yr by mangkorn

แม่เล้า - maae(F) lao(H)

It's sort of like "mother hen."

But have no fear: the word "maae" not only means "mother", but also certain other positions of authority, or worthy of respect - e.g., it is also a prefix for the rank of military general.

Not that there's much difference between the two, when you think about it...

On a neutral note, it is also the prefix for "river" (mother water).

Native English-speakers will recognize that from "Mother Nature."

ummmmm....แม่เล้า is the name for the madam of a brothel. she's the keeper of the chicken coop, and the ladies are her chickens.

here's a thai definition for 'chaperone":

(แชพ'พะโรน) n. หญิง(มีอายุหรือแต่งงานแล้ว)ที่คอยไปเป็นเพื่อนของชายหนุ่มหรือหญิงสาวที่ยังไม่แต่งงานในงานสังคม -vt. ติดตาม,เป็นเพื่อน คำศัพท์ย่อย: chaperonage n.

translation : n. an older or married woman who accompanies an unmarried young man or lady to a social event

i can't think of a specific thai word, i think in most cases thais would use พี่เลี้ยง or ผู้ใหญ่ and explain their role if needed.

all the best.

Edited December 16, 200718 yr by aanon

In Thai, age of a person affects how a person is called.

พี่เลี้ยง pee-liang is a common term, in case the chaperone is slightly older.

เพื่อน peun is commonly used, if a friend tags along to accompany her. This often happens when a young girl tags along a friend going on a date, especially for college students. This works even if a younger person tags along as a companion.

Example: ไปเป็นเพื่อน pai pen peun = go as a friend.

ผู้ดูแล poo-doo-lae, ผู้ควบคุม poo-kuab-kum may work if the chaperone is somewhat older, e.g. an adult taking charge of a child. An authoritative figure. In this case, it is more like an adult who looks after the younger kid.

Thanks for the replies on this. Trying to describe 'chaperone' to a Thai has not been easy.

Now I will be able to do so and maybe get something sorted

Stateman your descriptions are very good. Have copied and pasted them for future reference.

ผู้ปกครอง (pôo bpòk krong) - parent, guardian