ชานม
chaa-nom/t͡ɕʰaː˧.nom˧/
The English phrase "milk tea" is translated into Thai as ชานม (chaa-nom).
ชานม refers to a beverage containing a combination of cow's milk and tea. In the context of Thai tea shops, if you are looking for the popular sweet, orange-colored iced milk tea, you should specify ชานมเย็น (iced milk tea) rather than just using ชานม.
Meaning: beverage containing a combination of cow's milk and tea (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is a compound of ชา (tea) and นม (milk).
Which one should you use?
Additionally, to specify the orange-colored iced variety common in Thailand, use ชานมเย็น.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is chaa-nom.
Did you know?
- The iconic orange color of Thai milk tea comes from food coloring added to the tea leaves, rather than the natural color of the tea itself.
- Many Thai people drink ชานม from plastic bags tied with a string, which are then poured into a glass with ice.
- The term ชานม is frequently paired with 'pearls' as ชานมไข่มุก, where ไข่มุก literally translates to 'pearl'.
Examples in context
- ฉันต้องการสั่ง ชานมI would like to order milk tea.
- ขอชาไข่มุกหน่อยครับCan I have milk tea with tapioca pearls, please?
- เธอชอบดื่ม ชานมเย็นไหมDo you like to drink cold milk tea?
- ฉันชอบดื่มชานมมากchan chop duem cha nom makI like drinking milk tea very much.
- ชานมแก้วนี้หวานเกินไปcha nom kaew ni wan koen paiThis cup of milk tea is too sweet.
- คุณต้องการสั่งชานมไหมkhun tong kan sang cha nom maiDo you want to order milk tea?
Example conversation
At a local cafe during the afternoon.
- สิรินทร์ Sirinธนกฤต อยากดื่มชานมไหมคะthanakit yak duem cha nom mai khaThanakrit, do you want to drink milk tea?
- ธนกฤต Thanakritผมอยากได้ชานมเย็นหนึ่งแก้วครับphom yak dai cha nom yen nueng kaew khrapI would like one iced milk tea, please.
- สิรินทร์ Sirinได้ค่ะ เดี๋ยวสิรินทร์สั่งให้ค่ะdai kha diao sirin sang hai khaOkay, Sirin will order it for you.
- ธนกฤต Thanakritขอบคุณครับkhop khun khrapThank you.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “milk tea” translations and entries ชานม, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
