ส้มตำ
som tam
The English phrase "papaya salad" is translated into Thai as ส้มตำ (som tam).
ส้มตำ refers specifically to a spicy salad made from shredded unripe (green) papaya and other ingredients. It is important to note that the term describes a dish made with green papaya, rather than using ripe papaya.
What does it mean word for word?
The term is composed of two parts: ส้ม (sour) and ตำ (to pound).
How do you pronounce it?
som tam
Did you know?
- While ส้มตำ is the general term, you can order ตำปูปลาร้า to specify the addition of fermented fish and crab, which creates a pungent flavor profile highly prized in Isan culture.
- The word ส้ม in ส้มตำ means 'sour', but in modern Thai, it is also the common word for 'orange'.
- Although it is now a national dish, ส้มตำ originated in the Isan region of Northeast Thailand and was historically influenced by similar salads from Laos.
Examples in context
- ส้มตำอร่อยGreen papaya salad is delicious.This sentence shows how to say that ส้มตำ is delicious.Tatoeba #8676009 by pastelite, translation #8676010 by pastelite
- ฉันชอบกินส้มตำเผ็ดๆchan chop kin som tam phet phetI like eating spicy papaya salad.
- ร้านนี้ทำส้มตำรสชาติไทยแท้ran ni tham som tam rot chat thai thaeThis restaurant makes authentic Thai-style papaya salad.
Example conversation
At a street food stall in Bangkok.
- ชลสิทธิ์ Cholasitคุณอยากสั่งส้มตำไหมครับkhun yak sang som tam mai khrapWould you like to order some papaya salad?
- ณิชา Nichaเอาส้มตำหนึ่งที่ค่ะao som tam nueng thi khaI'll have one serving of papaya salad.
- ชลสิทธิ์ Cholasitรับเครื่องดื่มอะไรเพิ่มไหมครับrap khrueang duem a-rai phoem mai khrapWould you like any more drinks?
- ณิชา Nichaขอน้ำเปล่าหนึ่งขวดค่ะkho nam plao nueng khuat khaI'll take one bottle of water.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
