Where does “นางสาว” come from?

นางสาว (Thai) comes from Thai นาง, from Proto-Tai naːŋᴬ, from Middle Chinese 娘.

นางสาว (Thai): a formal title which an unmarried woman over 15...

Definitions

  1. a formal title which an unmarried woman over 15...

Ancestry of “นางสาว”, step by step

นางสาว traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Thai นาง

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Thaiนางwoman
2Proto-Tainaːŋᴬlady
3Middle Chinese娘—

via Thai สาว

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Thaiสาวgirl, young woman; bride; youthful, juvenile,...
2Proto-Taisaːwᴬunmarried woman
Every word from Middle Chinese 娘 →Every word from Proto-Tai naːŋᴬ →Every word from Thai นาง →