ฉลาม
chà-lǎam/t͡ɕʰa˨˩.laːm˩˩˦/
The English word "shark" is translated into Thai as ฉลาม (chà-lǎam). Wiktionary also lists ปลาฉลาม (bplaa chà-lǎam).
Meaning: fish (noun)
Ways to say it
| Thai | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| ฉลาม | chà-lǎam | /t͡ɕʰa˨˩.laːm˩˩˦/ |
| ปลาฉลาม | bplaa chà-lǎam |
While ฉลาม identifies the creature, the version including the word for fish is the more standard way to refer to the animal in descriptive contexts.
What does it mean word for word?
The form ปลาฉลาม literally translates to "fish shark".
Which one should you use?
ฉลาม can stand alone to mean shark, but adding ปลา (fish) to create ปลาฉลาม is more standard when you are describing the animal.
How do you pronounce it?
chà-lǎam
Did you know?
- The Thai word ฉลาม may have been borrowed from the Khmer word ឆ្លាម, which specifically refers to the species Carcharias hemiodon.
- The word ปลา (fish) is used in Thai for many creatures that are not biologically fish, including whales ปลาวาฬ and dolphins ปลาโลมา.
- In Thai, the word ฉลาม (shark) is often used as a metaphor for a predatory or aggressive person in business, similar to the English use of 'loan shark'.
Examples in context
- ฉันเห็นฉลามในหนังchan hen chalam nai nangI saw a shark in the movie.
- ระวังฉลามในทะเลนะrawang chalam nai thale naWatch out for sharks in the sea.
- เขาชอบรูปปั้นฉลามkhao chop rup-pan chalamHe likes the shark statue.
Example conversation
Two people are looking at a fish tank at the aquarium.
- กนกวรรณ Kanokwanวิทวัส ดูฉลามตัวนั้นสิWitthawat du chalam tua nan siWitthawat, look at that shark.
- วิทวัส Witthawatมันน่ากลัวจังเลยman na klua chang loeiIt looks really scary.
- กนกวรรณ Kanokwanแต่มันว่ายน้ำเก่งมากtae man wai nam keng makBut it swims very well.
- วิทวัส Witthawatใช่ครับ มันเท่มากchai krap man the makYes, it is very cool.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “shark” translations and entries ฉลาม, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ฉลาม, CC BY-SA 4.0.
