ก๋วยเตี๋ยว
gǔai-dtǐao/kua̯j˩˩˦.tia̯w˩˩˦/
The English word noodle can be translated into Thai as ก๋วยเตี๋ยว (gǔai-dtǐao) or บะหมี่.
Meaning: string or flat strip of pasta or other dough (noun)
Ways to say it
| Thai | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| ก๋วยเตี๋ยว | gǔai-dtǐao | /kua̯j˩˩˦.tia̯w˩˩˦/ |
| บะหมี่ | bà-mìi | /ba˨˩.miː˨˩/ /ba˦˥.miː˨˩/ |
In Thai, these terms are used to describe various types of pasta or dough strips. ก๋วยเตี๋ยว is frequently used in Thailand to refer to the entire dish of noodle soup. Other specific varieties include Sen Yai for wide rice noodles, Sen Lek for thin rice noodles and Guay Jub, which is a specific dish made with rolled rice noodles and pork.
Which one should you use?
The choice of word depends on the type of noodle: use บะหมี่ specifically when referring to yellow noodles made with egg, whereas ก๋วยเตี๋ยว serves as a more general term for various noodle soup dishes.
How do you pronounce it?
gǔai-dtǐao
Did you know?
- Thai noodle vocabulary is heavily influenced by Chinese immigrants, leading to a system where specific noodle types are named using loanwords rather than native Thai roots.
- The variety known as Guay Jub features noodles rolled into tubes, creating a physical form that differs entirely from the flat or thin strands of other Thai noodles.
- Ordering ก๋วยเตี๋ยว at a street stall is frequently used as shorthand for 'I would like a bowl of noodle soup' rather than just requesting the noodles.
Examples in context
- ฉันชอบกินก๋วยเตี๋ยวเส้นเล็ก.chan chop kin kuai-tiao sen lek.I like eating small rice noodles.
- ก๋วยเตี๋ยวชามนี้อร่อยมาก.kuai-tiao cham ni aroi mak.This bowl of noodles is very delicious.
- คุณสั่งก๋วยเตี๋ยวอะไรมาครับ?khun sang kuai-tiao arai ma khrap?What kind of noodles did you order?
Example conversation
A man and a woman are deciding what to eat for lunch at a food court.
- สิรินทร์ Sirinวิทวัส อยากกินอะไรเป็นมื้อเที่ยงคะ?Witthawat yak kin arai pen mue thiang kha?Witthawat, what do you want to eat for lunch?
- วิทวัส Witthawatผมอยากกินก๋วยเตี๋ยวครับ.Phom yak kin kuai-tiao khrap.I want to eat noodles.
- สิรินทร์ Sirinงั้นเราไปร้านก๋วยเตี๋ยวตรงนั้นกันเถอะ.Ngan rao pai ran kuai-tiao trong nan kan thoe.Then let's go to that noodle shop over there.
- วิทวัส Witthawatตกลงครับ สิรินทร์Tok-long khrap, Sirin.Okay, Sirin.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “noodle” translations and entries ก๋วยเตี๋ยว, บะหมี่, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
