ข้าวสวย
kâao-sǔai/kʰaːw˥˩.sua̯j˩˩˦/
The English phrase 'white rice' is translated into Thai as ข้าวสวย (kâao-sǔai).
ข้าวสวย refers to cooked white rice where the hull has been polished off. In a restaurant setting, if you ask for 'rice' without specifying, the server will assume you mean ข้าวสวย.
Meaning: rice with the hull polished off (noun)
Which one should you use?
Use ข้าวสาร (kâao-sǎan) to refer to raw, uncooked rice, whereas ข้าวสวย refers specifically to cooked white rice. Additionally, while ข้าวสวย refers to long-grain or jasmine rice that is fluffy, ข้าวเหนียว refers to glutinous or sticky rice.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is kâao-sǔai.
Did you know?
- In Thai culture, the phrase กินข้าว (eat rice) is often used as a general greeting similar to 'How are you?' or 'Have you eaten yet?', regardless of whether rice is actually served.
- The word สวย in ข้าวสวย usually means 'beautiful' in Thai, but in this specific context, it refers to the rice being 'well-steamed' and free from excess moisture.
- Thai speakers distinguish between ข้าวสวย and ข้าวเหนียว not just by texture, but by geography, as sticky rice is the traditional staple of the Isan region in the Northeast.
Examples in context
- ฉันขอข้าวสวยหนึ่งถ้วยค่ะchan kho khao suai nueng thuai khaI would like one bowl of white rice, please.
- ข้าวสวยจานนี้ราคาเท่าไหร่ครับkhao suai chan ni ra-kha thao-rai khrapHow much is this plate of white rice?
- คุณต้องการข้าวสวยหรือข้าวเหนียวครับkhun tong-kan khao suai rue khao niao khrapDo you want white rice or sticky rice?
Example conversation
A man is ordering food at a small Thai restaurant.
- กนกวรรณ Kanokwanรับอะไรดีคะrap a-rai di khaWhat would you like to order?
- ธนกฤต Thanakritผมขอข้าวสวยกับกะเพราไก่ครับphom kho khao suai kap ka-phrao khai khrapI would like white rice with basil chicken, please.
- กนกวรรณ Kanokwanได้ค่ะ รอสักครู่นะคะdai kha, ro sak khru na khaCertainly, please wait a moment.
- ธนกฤต Thanakritขอบคุณครับkhop khun khrapThank you.
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.
