ดำ
dam/dam˧/
The English word black is translated into Thai as ดำ (dam).
ดำ is an adjective meaning absorbing all light. It can also be used in certain contexts to describe things that are dark or dim, such as in the phrase ตาดำ (black eyes/dark eyes).
Meaning: absorbing all light (adj)
Which one should you use?
While ดำ is the adjective used to describe the color black, you must use the related form สีดำ when you want to use the word as a noun to refer to the color black itself.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
To use black as a noun meaning the color itself, you must add the word สี (color) before it to form สีดำ.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced as dam.
Did you know?
- In Thai culture, calling someone ดำ as a nickname is quite common and is often intended as a term of endearment rather than a literal description of skin tone.
- The Thai word ดำ is a homonym with two completely different meanings. Depending on the context, it can mean 'black' or it can mean 'to dive'.
- In a completely different context, the same spelling ดำ can refer to the act of 'transplanting' or 'planting' something in the ground. This demonstrates how one sound in Thai can stem from entirely unrelated ancestral origins.
Examples in context
- มันเป็นสีดำIt was black.This sentence shows how to use ดำ to describe a color.Tatoeba #8703149 by pastelite, translation #2549766 by CK
- ทอมมีตาสีดำTom has a black eye.This sentence demonstrates the use of ดำ when describing eyes.Tatoeba #9165719 by pastelite, translation #1482706 by Spamster
- เขาแต่งชุดดำHe was dressed in black.This sentence shows how to use ดำ when describing clothing.Tatoeba #8720190 by pastelite, translation #296446 by CK
- เสื้อกาวน์ที่สวยงามคือสีดำThe beautiful gown is black.
- ฉันต้องการรถยนต์สีดำI want a black car.
- 6 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two people are talking about a new car.
- ธนกฤต Thanakritรถคันนี้สีดำสวยมากครับrot khan ni si dam suai mak khrapThis black car is very beautiful.
- ณิชา Nichaใช่ค่ะ แต่ว่ามันร้อนเร็วchai kha tae wa man ron reoYes, but it gets hot quickly.
- ธนกฤต Thanakritผมชอบสีดำมากกว่าสีขาวครับphom chop si dam mak kwa si khao khrapI prefer black over white.
- ณิชา Nichaฉันก็ชอบสีดำเหมือนกันค่ะchan ko chop si dam muean kan khaI like black too.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “black” translations and entries ดำ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ดำ, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
