ขม่อม
kà-mɔ̀ɔmMeaning
1NounB2
fontanel(le); crown (of the head)
The soft spot on an infant’s skull; by extension, the crown or top of the head; in Thai also used in set phrases about the head’s top.
Examples
หมอmɔ̌ɔหมอmɔ̌ɔ1doctor; physician2veterinarian3expert; specialist (informal)4traditional healer; shamanบอกว่าbɔ̀ɔk-wâaบอกว่าbɔ̀ɔk-wâa[to] say/tell that; report/declare thatอย่าyàaอย่าyàadon’t; do not (negative imperative)กดแรงgòt-rɛɛngกดแรงgòt-rɛɛng[to] press hardที่tîiที่tîi1place; spot; seat; space2at; in; to (a place)3classifier: places; seats; individual servings4that/which/who (relative marker)5when; the time that (time marker)6ordinal markerขม่อมkà-mɔ̀ɔmขม่อมkà-mɔ̀ɔmfontanel(le); crown (of the head)ของkɔ̌ɔngของkɔ̌ɔng1of; belonging to2thing; item; stuffทารกtaa-rókทารกtaa-rókinfant; baby (newborn to about 1 year)เพราะprɔ́เพราะprɔ́1because2because of; due to3melodious; pleasant-soundingกระดูกgrà-dùukกระดูกgrà-dùukboneยังyangยังyang1still; continuing2not yet (with ไม่)3yet? (question use)4still/even (emphatic degree)5to; towardไม่mâiไม่mâi1not (negator)2no (reply)ปิดbpìtปิดbpìt1[to] close; shut2[to] turn off; switch off3closed; shut; not open4[to] cover; seal5[to] block; conceal; suppress; withhold
The doctor said not to press hard on the baby's soft spot because the bones have not closed yet.
3 more examplesShow less
The mother gently stroked the baby's soft spot to lull them to sleep.
เวลาwee-laaสระผมsà-pǒmทารกtaa-rókควรkuuanประคองbprà-kɔɔngขม่อมkà-mɔ̀ɔmและlɛ́ใช้cháiปลายนิ้วbplaai-níuถูtǔuอย่างนุ่มนวลyàang-nûm-nuuan
When washing a baby's hair, you should support the soft spot and rub gently with your fingertips.
พยาบาลpá-yaa-baanตรวจดูdtrùuat-duuการเต้นgaan-dtênของkɔ̌ɔngขม่อมkà-mɔ̀ɔmเพื่อpʉ̂ʉaประเมินbprà-məənภาวะขาดน้ำpaa-wá-kàat-náamในnaiทารกtaa-rók
The nurse checked the pulsation at the soft spot to assess dehydration in the infant.
Tones
See how the spelling sets each syllable's tone, step by step.
Why is ขม่อม said ขะ-หม่อม?
kà-mɔ̀ɔm
The tone rules below use the spoken syllables.
2 syllables · pick one to see its rule
How the tone is decided
- Consonant classHigh class
- Tone markNo tone mark
- Syllable endingDead syllableA short vowel with no final consonant, so it is dead.
High class consonants
ขฃฉฐถผฝศษสห
Result
Low tone
kà
Starts low and stays low, easing slightly down.
High class + No tone mark + Dead syllable → Low
Tone chart
Every class and spelling pattern, with this syllable outlined.
| Mid class | High class | Low class | |
|---|---|---|---|
| No mark + live | Mid | Rising | Mid |
| No mark + dead short | Low | Low | High |
| No mark + dead long | Low | Low | Falling |
| Mai ek | Low | Low | Falling |
| Mai tho | Falling | Falling | High |
| Mai tri | High | — | — |
| Mai chattawa | Rising | — | — |