มะเขือยาว
makhuea yao
The Thai word for eggplant is มะเขือยาว (makhuea yao).
Meaning: edible fruit (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The term is composed of มะเขือ (makhuea), meaning eggplant/berry and ยาว (yao), meaning long.
Which one should you use?
While มะเขือยาว specifically refers to the long eggplant, the shortened form มะเขือ is often used as a general category for various types of eggplants or nightshade fruits.
How do you pronounce it?
makhuea yao
Did you know?
- The prefix มะ (ma) in มะเขือ is a linguistic fossil from Old Thai, where it was used to denote various types of fruits and vegetables.
- Thai markets often sell มะเขือยาว alongside 'Thai eggplants' which are tiny and white. To a native speaker, these are all มะเขือ despite looking like different species to a foreigner.
- Thai cuisine uses a vast variety of eggplants, including มะเขือเปราะ (makhuea pro), which are small, round, and crunchy. These are used in the same culinary category as มะเขือยาว.
Examples in context
- ผัดมะเขือStir-fried eggplant
- ฉันชอบกินมะเขือยาวเผา.chan chop kin ma-khuea-yao phao.I like eating roasted eggplant.
- มะเขือยาวลูกนี้มีราคาแพง.ma-khuea-yao luk ni mi ra-kha phaeng.This eggplant is expensive.
- คุณช่วยซื้อมะเขือยาวให้หน่อยได้ไหม?khun chuay sue ma-khuea-yao hai noi dai mai?Can you please buy some eggplant for me?
Example conversation
At a local market, Chonlasit asks Pimol to help with shopping.
- ชลสิทธิ์ Cholasitพิมล ช่วยดูมะเขือยาวให้หน่อยได้ไหม?Pimon chuay du ma-khuea-yao hai noi dai mai?Pimol, can you please look for some eggplant?
- พิมล Pimonได้ค่ะ ชลสิทธิ์ อยากได้กี่ลูกคะ?Dai kha, Chonlasit, yak dai ki luk kha?Yes, Chonlasit. How many would you like?
- ชลสิทธิ์ Cholasitเอาสักสามลูกครับ.Ao sak sam luk khrap.I'll take about three.
- พิมล Pimonตกลงค่ะ เดี๋ยวฉันเลือกให้ดีๆ นะคะ.Tok long kha. Diaw chan lueak hai di di na kha.Alright. I will pick the good ones for you.
