Pii Khai - Southern Thai

[khaojao]

hi all...

recently i heard someone mention that the only son in a family is normally called PII KHAI. are there any southerners here who can help explain to me why is this so, and what has it got to do with an egg? and why is it only for males?

thanks!!

[sbk]

Never heard Pi Khai before but I can explain the khai to you.

It is a generic term used for little boys. If you don't know the boy's name, you call him khai. It is also regularly used before the first name, as in Khai Nook. It does not mean egg, it is the word for penis. Don't know why little boys have this used before their names but it is extremely common in the South.

As an aside, little girls whose names are unknown are called mia.

[khaojao]

Never heard Pi Khai before but I can explain the khai to you.

It is a generic term used for little boys. If you don't know the boy's name, you call him khai. It is also regularly used before the first name, as in Khai Nook. It does not mean egg, it is the word for penis. Don't know why little boys have this used before their names but it is extremely common in the South.

As an aside, little girls whose names are unknown are called mia.

goodness me...haha i didn't realize it meant penis!!! how odd that they give such nicknames to their sons...

[sbk]

not sons, little boys.

Its a generic, like calling an old man Lung. and yes, the word originally means penis but in this context means little boy.

[5tash]

It does not mean egg, it is the word for penis. Don't know why little boys have this used before their names but it is extremely common in the South.

sbk,

does "khai" have the meaning of "testicles" rather than "penis"? For instance "khai ham" => "penis eggs".

EDIT: Perhaps "testicles" is the direct meaning, but "khai" can also refer to the whole set.

Edited November 10, 2008 by 5tash

[meadish_sweetball]

In Central Thai 'khai' refers to the maracas rather than the flute.

I can see how they'd overlap though, the same thing with Swedish 'balle'.

[sbk]

Its a penis, but when you call the kid, you aren't calling him a penis

Its just the origin of the word, the slang in this case, means little boy.

[Mosha]

It might have helped if you had written it as it sounds ie pii chai. I said Pii Khai to my wife and it did not register. Also Pii chai could be taken has older brother. Nong chai being younger brother.

[thesunset75]

Its a penis, but when you call the kid, you aren't calling him a penis

Its just the origin of the word, the slang in this case, means little boy.

We still calling a man P' Khai (พี่ไข๋), N' Khai (น้องไข่) but isn't offensive among Southern people.

For the name Mia (เหมีย) its gender same as Khai (ไข่)for men --- pronouce in a higher tone than Mia (เมีย-wife) but usually we use in a rural area or elderly.

That from my experience cuz I born in Surat Thani and many of my relatives still calling / using these words.

Edited November 10, 2008 by thesunset75

[khaojao]

i very sure it's not pii chai as it would not have puzzled me if so. i was told it's specific to southern thai only, like how they call elder brothers pii bao and younger brothers nong bao. i asked a friend who could only explain as much as that pii khai is reserved for the favourite son in the family. does that make sense?

thesunset75...u mentioned that even men get called pii khai. can you tell me what's the connotation of using khai? is it the term of the so-called "crown prince" of the family?

thanks again all

[thesunset75]

i very sure it's not pii chai as it would not have puzzled me if so. i was told it's specific to southern thai only, like how they call elder brothers pii bao and younger brothers nong bao. i asked a friend who could only explain as much as that pii khai is reserved for the favourite son in the family. does that make sense?

thesunset75...u mentioned that even men get called pii khai. can you tell me what's the connotation of using khai? is it the term of the so-called "crown prince" of the family?

thanks again all

Its easy way to call someone Khai like man - boy or dude in English.

My oldest brother used to be called P'Khai, dont know if anyone still calling him that. But after he became monk we call him P'Luang instead.

Or if someone name Khai and became a monk we call P'Luang Kahi...eeerrrr...now im confusing myself.

Hope i juz give some idea or answer..

Cheer.

Sunset

[khaojao]

i very sure it's not pii chai as it would not have puzzled me if so. i was told it's specific to southern thai only, like how they call elder brothers pii bao and younger brothers nong bao. i asked a friend who could only explain as much as that pii khai is reserved for the favourite son in the family. does that make sense?

thesunset75...u mentioned that even men get called pii khai. can you tell me what's the connotation of using khai? is it the term of the so-called "crown prince" of the family?

thanks again all

Its easy way to call someone Khai like man - boy or dude in English.

My oldest brother used to be called P'Khai, dont know if anyone still calling him that. But after he became monk we call him P'Luang instead.

Or if someone name Khai and became a monk we call P'Luang Kahi...eeerrrr...now im confusing myself.

Hope i juz give some idea or answer..

Cheer.

Sunset

thanks thesunset75...