ส้มตำ
sôm-dtamMeaning
1NounA2
som tam; green papaya salad
A Thai/Isan salad of shredded unripe papaya pounded with chilies, lime, fish sauce (or pla ra), palm sugar, and other ingredients; som tam.
Examples
ฉันchǎnฉันchǎn1I; me2[to] eat (of Buddhist monks and novices)ชอบchɔ̂ɔpชอบchɔ̂ɔp1[to] like; be fond of2tend to; usually3be proper; be fitting (formal)กินginกินgin1[to] eat2[to] drink (colloquial/with some nouns)3[to] take medicine (colloquial)4[to] consume; use up5[to] corrode; erode; eat into6[to] take (a bribe); pocketส้มตำsôm-dtamส้มตำsôm-dtamsom tam; green papaya saladไม่เผ็ดmâi-pètไม่เผ็ดmâi-pètnot spicy
I like to eat som tam that isn't spicy.
3 more examplesShow less
Yesterday we went to the flea market and bought som tam to eat.
I'd like som tam Thai, no pla ra, and only mildly spicy.
ส้มตำsôm-dtamรสจัดจ้านrót-jàt-jâanจากjàakอีสานii-sǎanมีmiiส่วนผสมsùuan-pà-sǒmทั้งtángมะละกอดิบmá-lá-gɔɔ-dìpพริกpríkมะนาวmá-naaoน้ำปลาnáam-bplaaและlɛ́น้ำตาลปี๊บnám-dtaan-bpíip
The bold-flavored Isan som tam includes unripe papaya, chilies, lime, fish sauce, and palm sugar.
Tones
See how the spelling sets each syllable's tone, step by step.
Why is ส้มตำ said ส้ม-ตัม?
sôm-dtam
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 markMai tho
- Syllable endingLive syllableNot needed here: the tone mark decides.
High class consonants
ขฃฉฐถผฝศษสห
Result
Falling tone
sôm
Starts high, rises a little, then drops clearly.
High class + Mai tho → Falling
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
+
ตำdtamตำdtam1[to] pound; crush (with mortar/pestle)2[to] pierce; prick; puncture3[to] weave cloth (regional)[to] pound; crush (with mortar/pestle)Part 2
ส้มตำsôm-dtamส้มตำsôm-dtamsom tam; green papaya saladsom tam; green papaya saladWord