ข้าว
kâao/kʰaːw˥˩/
The Thai word for rice is ข้าว (kâao).
The term ข้าว refers to rice seeds used as food. Beyond just the grain itself, it is also used as a general term for a meal or food. For example, you can use it when talking about khao pad (fried rice).
Meaning: seeds used as food (noun)
Which one should you use?
While ข้าว is the standard way to refer to cooked rice in daily conversation, the term ข้าวสาร refers specifically to raw, uncooked rice grains. You may also use ข้าวเหนียว to refer specifically to sticky or glutinous rice.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
ข้าว is a colloquial form. For the specific term for uncooked rice, ข้าวสาร is used in more formal contexts.
How do you pronounce it?
kâao (IPA: /kʰaːw˥˩/)
Did you know?
- Because 'khao' can mean both 'rice' and 'meal', asking 'kin khao reu yang?' literally asks 'Have you eaten rice yet?', which is a common way to say 'How are you?' in Thai culture.
- The word ข้าว is derived from the Proto-Austroasiatic root *rŋkoːʔ, which specifically referred to 'husked rice'.
- In Northern and Northeastern Thailand, ข้าวเหนียว (sticky rice) is the primary staple, while Central Thai culture traditionally favors non-glutinous ข้าว.
Examples in context
- คุณต้องการข้าวอีกไหมDo you want some more rice?This sentence shows how to offer more ข้าว.Tatoeba #10174250 by Somsak, translation #6071455 by CK
- ผมชอบข้าวมากกว่าขนมปังI prefer rice to bread.This sentence uses ข้าว to express a preference.Tatoeba #10531724 by Somsak, translation #255448 by CK
- ข้าวเหนียวSticky riceThis sentence demonstrates the term for sticky rice using ข้าว.
- ข้าวคืออาหารหลักในประเทศไทยRice is the main food in Thailand.
- อยากกินข้าวสวยอร่อยI want to eat delicious rice.
- เอาข้าวมาให้หน่อยGive me some rice.
Example conversation
Nicha and Thanakrit are deciding what to eat for dinner.
- ณิชา Nichaวันนี้อยากกินข้าวกับอะไรดีคะwan-ni yak kin khao kap a-rai di khaWhat would you like to eat with rice today?
- ธนกฤต Thanakritผมอยากกินข้าวผัดครับphom yak kin khao phat khrapI want to eat fried rice.
- ณิชา Nichaงั้นสั่งข้าวผัดสองจานเลยนะngan sang khao phat song chan loei naThen I will order two plates of fried rice.
- ธนกฤต Thanakritตกลงครับ ขอบคุณครับณิชาtok-long khrap khop khun khrap NichaAgreed, thank you, Nicha.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “rice” translations and entries ข้าว, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ข้าว, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR, Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0.
