น้ำตาล
nám-dtaan/nam˦˥.taːn˧/
The Thai word for sugar is น้ำตาล (nám-dtaan).
น้ำตาล refers to sucrose from sugar cane or sugar beet used to sweeten food and drink. In casual conversation, people often use the word หวาน, which means sweet, to refer to sugar.
Meaning: sucrose from sugar cane or sugar beet used to sweeten food and drink (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word น้ำตาล is a compound of น้ำ (water) and ตาล (palm sugar or palm tree fruit).
Which one should you use?
While น้ำตาล is the general term for sugar, น้ำตาลทราย is used specifically to refer to granulated white sugar.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced nám-dtaan.
Did you know?
- When referring to thick, semi-solid palm sugar, Thais use the term น้ำตาลปี๊บ, which actually refers to the metal tin or canister the sugar is stored in.
- The term น้ำตาลทราย for granulated sugar uses the word ทราย, which also means 'sand', implying the texture of the crystals.
- Rock sugar in Thai is called น้ำตาลกรวด, which literally translates to 'gravel sugar' or 'crystal sugar'.
Examples in context
- น้ำตาลเราหมดแล้วWe have run out of sugar.This sentence is useful for saying you have run out of น้ำตาล.Tatoeba #8714376 by pastelite, translation #247345 by CK
- ฉันไม่ต้องการน้ำตาลI don't want sugar.This sentence is useful for saying you do not want น้ำตาล.Tatoeba #8722737 by pastelite, translation #3518040 by VilhelmsPort
- ใส่น้ำตาลอีกเล็กน้อยPut in a little more sugar.This sentence is useful for asking to add a little more น้ำตาล.Tatoeba #8717404 by pastelite, translation #31266 by CK
- 4 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A couple is preparing tea in the kitchen.
- ธีรภัทร Theeraphatกนกวรรณ ช่วยหยิบน้ำตาลให้หน่อยKanokwan chuai yip nam-tan hai noiKanokwan, please pass me the sugar.
- กนกวรรณ Kanokwanนี่ค่ะ ธีรภัทรni kha, TeerapatHere it is, Teerapat.
- ธีรภัทร Theeraphatขอบคุณครับkhop khun khrapThank you.
- กนกวรรณ Kanokwanคุณจะใส่เยอะไหมคะkhun cha sai yoe mai khaWill you put a lot in?
Sources
- Wiktionary, “sugar” translations and entries น้ำตาล, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
