ชีส
chíis/t͡ɕʰiːs˦˥/
The English word "cheese" is translated into Thai as ชีส (chíis).
The word ชีส is used to refer to the dairy product. There is also a more formal or traditional term, เนยแข็ง.
Meaning: dairy product (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The traditional term เนยแข็ง literally means "hard butter".
Which one should you use?
The formal or traditional Thai term for cheese is เนยแข็ง.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced chíis.
Did you know?
- In many Thai cafes, 'Cheese' is often used as a flavor name for drinks or toppings, such as 'cheese foam', which is a salty-sweet topping rather than actual melted cheese.
- While เนยแข็ง means 'hard butter', the word for butter alone, เนย, originally referred to clarified butter or ghee from Indian influence.
- Thai cuisine traditionally lacked dairy, so the term เนยแข็ง was created as a descriptive phrase rather than a unique root word.
Examples in context
- ฉันชอบกินชีสมากchan chop kin chīs mākI like eating cheese very much.
- ชีสนี้มีราคาแพงchīs nī mī rākhā phaengThis cheese is expensive.
- คุณต้องการชีสเพิ่มไหมkhun tōngkān chīs phoēm maiDo you want more cheese?
Example conversation
At a grocery store, Nicha is looking at the dairy section.
- ณิชา Nichaวิทวัส ช่วยเลือกชีสให้หน่อยได้ไหมwitthawat chūai lueak chīs hai nòi dāi maiWitthawat, can you help me choose some cheese?
- วิทวัส Witthawatได้ครับ คุณอยากได้ชีสแบบไหนdāi krap khun yāk dāi chīs baep naiSure, what kind of cheese do you want?
- ณิชา Nichaขอแบบที่รสชาติไม่แรงเกินไปkhō baep thī rātsāchāt mai raeng koen paiI'd like one that isn't too strong in flavor.
- วิทวัส Witthawatลองยี่ห้อนี้ดูไหมครับlōng yī h̄x nī dū mai krapWould you like to try this brand?
Sources
- Wiktionary, “cheese” translations and entries ชีส, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
