ขี้เหนียว
kîi-nǐao/kʰiː˥˩.nia̯w˩˩˦/
The English word "stingy" is translated into Thai as ขี้เหนียว (kîi-nǐao). If unsure, use ขี้เหนียว. Wiktionary also lists กระดูกขัดมัน and เค็ม (kem).
Meaning: unwilling to spend or give (adj)
Ways to say it
| Thai | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| ขี้เหนียว | kîi-nǐao | /kʰiː˥˩.nia̯w˩˩˦/ | |
| กระดูกขัดมัน | |||
| เค็ม | kem | /kʰem˧/ | colloquial |
All forms are used to describe someone who is unwilling to spend or give.
What does it mean word for word?
The standard word ขี้เหนียว is composed of ขี้ (kîi), meaning 'excrement/waste' and เหนียว (nǐao), meaning 'sticky', literally implying someone is 'sticky' with their resources.
Which one should you use?
ขี้เหนียว is the standard way to say stingy. In contrast, เค็ม is a colloquial metaphor that literally means 'salty' but is used to describe a person who is stingy with money. For a more descriptive and idiomatic way to describe someone who is extremely stingy or tight-fisted, you can use the idiom กระดูกขัดมัน, which literally means 'polished bone'.
How do you pronounce it?
The word ขี้เหนียว is pronounced kîi-nǐao.
Did you know?
- The prefix ขี้ in ขี้เหนียว is used in many Thai compound words to describe a personality trait, such as ขี้เกียจ for 'lazy' or ขี้อาย for 'shy'.
- While describing a person as เค็ม means they are 'salty' or 'stingy', it does not mean they are rude or unpleasant. In English, calling someone 'salty' implies they are upset or bitter, but in Thai, it refers strictly to their reluctance to spend money.
- The word เหนียว in ขี้เหนียว can also be used to describe a person who is 'tough' or 'resilient' in a fight, similar to how a sticky substance is hard to pull apart.
Examples in context
- เขาเป็นคนขี้เหนียวมากkhao pen khon khi-niao makHe is a very stingy person.
- อย่าขี้เหนียวกับเพื่อนเลยya khi-niao kap phuean loeiDon't be stingy with your friends.
- แฟนฉันไม่ค่อยขี้เหนียวเท่าไหร่faen chan mai khoi khi-niao thao-raiMy boyfriend isn't very stingy.
Example conversation
Two friends are discussing a person they know at a cafe.
- ณิชา Nichaทำไมเขาขี้เหนียวแบบนี้tham-mai khao khi-niao baep niWhy is he so stingy?
- ธีรภัทร Theeraphatเขาเป็นคนขี้เหนียวมาแต่ไหนแต่ไรแล้วkhao pen khon khi-niao ma tae nai tae rai laeoHe has always been a stingy person.
- ณิชา Nichaน่าสงสารเพื่อนเขาจริงๆna song-san phuean khao ching-chingI really feel sorry for his friends.
- ธีรภัทร Theeraphatนั่นสิครับnan si krapThat's true.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “stingy” translations and entries ขี้เหนียว, เค็ม, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
