ข้าวสวย
kâao-sǔai/kʰaːw˥˩.sua̯j˩˩˦/
In Thai, steamed rice is said as ข้าวสวย (kâao-sǔai).
ข้าวสวย refers to rice that has been cooked by steaming or boiling and is ready to be eaten.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase consists of ข้าว (kâao), meaning 'rice' and สวย (sǔai), meaning 'beautiful'.
Which one should you use?
In the context of rice, สวย distinguishes cooked, ready-to-eat rice from uncooked rice or rice used for other purposes like rice flour. Use ข้าวสวย for long-grain or jasmine rice, whereas ข้าวเหนียว (kâao-nǐao) refers specifically to sticky rice.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has two syllables: kâao-sǔai. In IPA, it is pronounced /kʰaːw˥˩.sua̯j˩˩˦/.
Did you know?
- Thai people typically use a fork only to push ข้าวสวย onto a spoon, rather than putting the fork directly into their mouths.
- While สวย is commonly translated as 'beautiful' in English, when applied to rice, it describes a texture that is 'not wet' and perfectly distinct from porridge.
- In Thai, the word ข้าว for 'rice' is often used as a synonym for 'food' in general, such as in the common greeting asking if you have already eaten 'rice'.
Examples in context
- ฉันชอบกินข้าวสวยร้อนๆchan chop kin khao suai ron ronI like eating hot steamed rice.
- ขอข้าวสวยหนึ่งถ้วยค่ะkho khao suai nueng thuai khaMay I have one bowl of steamed rice, please?
- ข้าวสวยในหม้อสุกหรือยังkhao suai nai mo suk rue yangIs the steamed rice in the pot cooked yet?
Example conversation
At a restaurant, Chonlasit is ordering food with Sirin.
- ชลสิทธิ์ Cholasitขอข้าวสวยสองจานครับkho khao suai song chan khrapI would like two plates of steamed rice.
- สิรินทร์ Sirinรับเครื่องดื่มอะไรเพิ่มไหมคะrap khrueang duem arai phoem mai khaWould you like any drinks as well?
- ชลสิทธิ์ Cholasitขอน้ำเปล่าด้วยครับkho nam plao duai khrapI'll take some water too.
- สิรินทร์ Sirinได้ค่ะ รอสักครู่นะคะdai kha, ro sak khru na khaOkay, please wait a moment.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry ข้าวสวย, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ข้าวสวย, CC BY-SA 4.0.
