มันนัว
man-nuuaMeaning
1AdjectiveB2
richly savory; umami-rounded (taste)
Describes a food's flavor that is deeply savory, rich, and well-rounded, often combining umami (e.g., from fermented fish sauce) with a creamy or fatty mouthfeel. The term originates from Isan dialect.
Examples
ส้มตำปลาร้าsôm-dtam-bplaa-ráaส้มตำปลาร้าsôm-dtam-bplaa-ráapapaya salad with fermented fishร้านนี้ráan-níiร้านนี้ráan-níithis shop; this storeเด็ดdètเด็ดdèt1[to] pluck; pick2decisive; firm3excellent; awesome (slang)4absolutely; completelyมากmâakมากmâak1very; extremely2much; a lot; greatly3many; numerousรสชาติrót-châatรสชาติrót-châat1taste; flavor (of food/drink)2quality; character; feelมันนัวman-nuuaมันนัวman-nuuarichly savory; umami-rounded (taste)กลมกล่อมglom-glɔ̀ɔmกลมกล่อมglom-glɔ̀ɔm1well-balanced in flavor; mellow2mellow; pleasantly moderate (sound/feeling/style)กำลังดีgam-lang-diiกำลังดีgam-lang-dii1just right; suitable2to just the right degree
The som tam with fermented fish sauce at this shop is amazing. The flavor is so rich and well-rounded (man nua), perfectly balanced.
3 more examplesShow less
แกงอ่อมหมูgaeng òm mŏoต้องdtôngใส่sàiผักชีลาวpàk chee laaoเยอะๆyér-yérถึงจะtĕung jàหอมhŏmและláeมีmeeรสrótมันนัวman nuua
Aom curry with pork needs a lot of dill to be fragrant and have that savory, rich (man nua) flavor.
เคล็ดลับklét-lápของkɔ̌ɔngแจ่วบองjɛ̀ɛo-bɔɔngที่tîiอร่อยà-rɔ̀iคือkʉʉต้องมีdtɔ̂ng-miiความสมดุลkwaam-sǒm-dunระหว่างrá-wàangความเค็มkwaam-kemเผ็ดpètและlɛ́ความมันนัวkwaam-man-nuuaจากjàakปลาร้าbplaa-ráaที่tîiหมักmàkได้ที่dâi-tîi
The secret to a delicious 'jaew bong' (chili paste) is the balance between salty, spicy, and the deep savory richness (man nua) from well-fermented fish.
คำว่าkam-wâaมันนัวman-nuuaในnaiอาหารอีสานaa-hǎan-ii-sǎanไม่ได้mâi-dâaiหมายถึงmǎai-tʉ̌ngแค่kɛ̂ɛความอร่อยkwaam-à-rɔ̀iแต่dtɛ̀ɛเป็นbpenรสชาติrót-châatที่tîiซับซ้อนsáp-sɔ́ɔnซึ่งsʉ̂ngเกิดจากgə̀ət-jàakการผสมผสานgaan-pà-sǒm-pà-sǎanของkɔ̌ɔngวัตถุดิบwát-tù-dìpจนjonเกิดgə̀ətความกลมกล่อมkwaam-glom-glɔ̀ɔmอย่างลงตัวyàang-long-dtuua
The term 'man nua' in Isan food doesn't just mean 'delicious'; it refers to a complex flavor profile achieved through the perfect, harmonious blend of ingredients.
Tones
See how the spelling sets each syllable's tone, step by step.
2 syllables · pick one to see its rule
How the tone is decided
- Consonant classLow class
- Tone markNo tone mark
- Syllable endingLive syllableEnds in -น, a sonorant, so it is live.
Low class consonants
คฅฆงชซฌญฑฒณทธนพฟภมยรลวฬฮ
Result
Mid tone
man
Level, in your normal speaking voice.
Low class + No tone mark + Live syllable → Mid
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 | — | — |
Word Breakdown
มันmanมันman1it (thing/animal)2greasy; oily; fatty3fun; thrilling; highly entertaining4he/she (colloquial, impolite)5starchy tuber; tuberous crop6fat; grease7shiny; glossy8creamy; rich (texture/taste)it (thing/animal)Part 1
+
นัวnuuaนัวnuua1rounded; well-blended (flavor)2[to] taste rounded and well-blendedrounded; well-blended (flavor)Part 2
มันนัวman-nuuaมันนัวman-nuuarichly savory; umami-rounded (taste)richly savory; umami-rounded (taste)Word