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

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

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.

I've also seen it used to mean adult.

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

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

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.

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

Thanks Guy's,

Moss

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

I say พูไหย่

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

don't worry about it, Moss

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

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).

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