What Does, 'puuyai' Mean

[Mossfinn]

1. Older than you

2. The Elders of the village

3. The respected ones of the village,

4. All of the above

I suspect it is all four, can any one clarify for me please.

Thanks

Moss

[skipvice]

In my wife's village he is the elected village chief.

[Thaddeus]

In my wife's village he is the elected village chief.

Only when you add the qualifier, you mean the 'poo yai ban'

For Moss, it is number 4.

[withnail]

I've also seen it used to mean adult.

[KhaoNiaw]

Also in a company or organization, it could refer to the owner(s), senior executives, board etc.

[DavidHouston]

From several dictionaries:

ผู้ใหญ่ [pôo yài] - adult; older person; responsible person; senior, top people; officer, executive; big man, bigwig, dignitary

ชั้นผู้ใหญ่ [chán pôo yài] [ADJ] high ranking; senior; high level

ผู้หลักผู้ใหญ่ [ pôo làk pôo yài] [N] adult; senior; person of mature age; grown-up

ผู้ใหญ่บ้าน [pôo yài bâan] - village headman

[Johpa]

It also refers to your "patron" in the traditional rural patron-client relationship. This is the person you would ask to represent you in matters ranging from a dispute to a possible marriage proposal.

[meadish_sweetball]

Yes, all of David's definitions (which cover withnail's and Khao Niaw's definitions too) plus 'patron' I would say.

[Mossfinn]

Thanks Guy's,

Moss

[Murf]

This is what i say when i've been to the toilet and my girlfriend says เหม็น

I say พูไหย่

[Mossfinn]

This is what i say when i've been to the toilet and my girlfriend says เหม็น

I say พูไหย่

I know it's the Thai Language forum, but if I wasn't sure what Puuyai meant, then I will absolutely no idea what you have just said, anybody want to explain, thanks

Moss

[siamesekitty]

don't worry about it, Moss

Murf was making a play on words. puuyai: "puu" = poo (English def ) and "yai" = big

[watabak]

I think there is also a general use of Thai wives calling their (older) non-thai husbands this because it denotes status but not in the Thai system (of pee-nong).

[mikethevigoman]

1. Older than you

2. The Elders of the village

3. The respected ones of the village,

4. All of the above

I suspect it is all four, can any one clarify for me please.

Thanks

Moss

Top man, village, government, etc