Thais greatly value the concept of kreengcaj, which is an awareness and anticipation of the –It is important to understand that because Thai is a tonal language, the correct pronunciation of Thai names usually cannot
be estimated from their spelling in English. For Western healthcare providers, the best course is usually to ask Thai
patients how to pronounce their names and do one’s best in approximating that pronunciation. Thais commonly have short
nicknames, and healthcare providers should also ask if there is a nickname that is preferred by the patient