ลูกอม
lûuk-om/luːk̚˥˩.ʔom˧/
The Thai word for "candy" is ลูกอม (lûuk-om).
ลูกอม is specifically used for hard candies or sweets that are sucked on, rather than general confectionery.
Meaning: piece of candy (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is composed of ลูก (lûuk), meaning "child" or "fruit/seed/round object" and อม (om), meaning "to hold in the mouth".
How do you pronounce it?
The two-syllable word is romanized as lûuk-om. In the International Phonetic Alphabet, it is represented as /luːk̚˥˩.ʔom˧/.
Did you know?
- The verb อม can be used metaphorically to describe someone who is 'holding' a secret or refusing to reveal information, as if they are keeping it in their mouth.
- When offering ลูกอม to a superior or elder, it is customary to present the candy with both hands to show respect.
- In Thai, the word ลูก is used as a classifier for many different round objects, from candies and balls to various types of fruit.
Examples in context
- ฉันชอบกินลูกอมรสส้ม.chan chop kin luk-om rot som.I like eating orange candy.
- เขามีลูกอมอยู่ในกระเป๋า.khao mi luk-om yu nai kra-pao.He has candy in his bag.
- ลูกอมเม็ดนี้หวานมาก.luk-om met ni wan mak.This piece of candy is very sweet.
Example conversation
A man and a woman are sitting in a cafe.
- กนกวรรณ Kanokwanชลสิทธิ์ มีลูกอมไหมคะ?Chon-la-sit mi luk-om mai kha?Chonlasit, do you have any candy?
- ชลสิทธิ์ Cholasitมีครับ คุณกนกวรรณ อยากได้รสอะไร?Mi khrap. Khun Ka-nok-wan yak dai rot arai?I do. Kanokwan, what flavor do you want?
- กนกวรรณ Kanokwanขอเป็นรสเปรี้ยวๆ หน่อยค่ะ.Kho pen rot priao-priao noi kha.I would like a sour one, please.
- ชลสิทธิ์ Cholasitได้เลยครับ เดี๋ยวผมหยิบให้.Dai loei khrap. Diao phom yip hai.Sure, I will get it for you.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “candy” translations and entries ลูกอม, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
