ช้อน
chɔ́ɔn/t͡ɕʰɔːn˦˥/
The Thai word for spoon is ช้อน (chɔ́ɔn).
ช้อน is a noun referring to a scooped utensil used for eating or serving. You can modify the term to specify different types of spoons: adding klang (middle) creates the term for a serving spoon, while adding chaa (tea) creates the term for a teaspoon.
Meaning: scooped utensil for eating (or serving) (noun)
Which one should you use?
While ช้อน refers specifically to a spoon, Thai speakers often use the compound word ช้อนส้อม to refer to a general set of cutlery, specifically a spoon and fork.
How do you pronounce it?
chɔ́ɔn
Did you know?
- While a Westerner might use a spoon for soup, many Thai dishes are eaten using a spoon in the right hand and a fork in the left to push food onto the spoon.
- The term ช้อนกลาง (middle spoon) is an essential social etiquette term used to refer to the serving spoon used to avoid sharing saliva.
- The word ช้อน is part of a wide linguistic family across Southeast Asia, appearing in forms like the Burmese ဇွန်း and Lao ຊ້ອນ.
Examples in context
- ฉันต้องการช้อนchan tong kan chonI want a spoon.
- ช้อนคันนี้สะอาดไหมchon khan ni sa-at maiIs this spoon clean?
- วางช้อนไว้บนโต๊ะwang chon wai bon toPlace the spoon on the table.
Example conversation
At a restaurant, a woman is looking for utensils.
- กนกวรรณ Kanokwanขอช้อนหน่อยค่ะkho chon noi khaMay I have a spoon, please?
- ธนกฤต Thanakritได้ครับ นี่ครับช้อนdai krap, ni krap chonYes, here is the spoon.
- กนกวรรณ Kanokwanขอบคุณค่ะkhop khun khaThank you.
- ธนกฤต Thanakritยินดีครับyin di krapYou're welcome.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “spoon” translations and entries ช้อน, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ช้อน, CC BY-SA 4.0.
