เข้มๆ

kêm kêm

Meanings

1AdjectiveA2

quite/very strong (flavor)

Colloquial reduplicated form of เข้มเข้มkêm1strong; intense (taste/smell)2deep; rich (color)3strong (coffee/tea/medicine)4strict; rigorous5serious; stern (manner/face) used for emphasis: quite/very strong in flavor, e.g., for coffee or tea.

Examples

ขอkŏrขอkŏr1[to] request; ask for [sth]2polite request marker3[to] beg; plead4[to] wish for; pray forกาแฟgaa-faeกาแฟgaa-faecoffee (drink; beans; plant)เข้มๆkêm kêmเข้มๆkêm kêm1quite/very strong (flavor)2quite/very dark (color)แก้วgâewแก้วgâew1drinking glass2glass (material)3classifier: glasses of drink4crystal; precious gem5precious; cherished; beloved (literary)นึงneungนึงneungone (colloquial)ครับkrápครับkráppolite particle (male speaker)
I'd like one cup of very strong coffee, please.
3 more examples
ตอนเช้าdton cháaoผมpŏmต้องdtôngดื่มdèumชาเข้มๆchaa kêm kêmไม่งั้นmâi ngánจะjàทำงานtam ngaanไม่รู้เรื่องmâi rúu rêuuang
In the morning, I have to drink very strong tea, otherwise I can't focus on work.
แม่mâeชอบchôpดื่มdèumโอเลี้ยงoh-líiangเข้มๆkêm kêmไม่ใส่น้ำตาลmâi sài nám-dtaan
Mom likes to drink very strong Thai black iced coffee without sugar.
ถ้าtâaต้องdtôngขับรถkàp rótทางไกลtaang glaiผมpŏmมักจะmák jàแวะwáeปั๊มbpámเพื่อpêuuaสั่งsàngกาแฟgaa-faeเข้มๆkêm kêmสักsàkแก้วgâew
If I have to drive a long distance, I usually stop at a gas station to order a cup of really strong coffee.
2AdjectiveA2

quite/very dark (color)

Colloquial reduplicated form of เข้มเข้มkêm1strong; intense (taste/smell)2deep; rich (color)3strong (coffee/tea/medicine)4strict; rigorous5serious; stern (manner/face) used for emphasis: quite/very dark in color.

Examples

ฉันchănฉันchăn1I; me2[to] eat (of Buddhist monks and novices)ชอบchôpชอบchôp1[to] like; be fond of2tend to; usually3be proper; be fitting (formal)เสื้อsêuuaเสื้อsêuua1shirt; top2jacket; coat3classifier: ตัวสีsĕeสีsĕe1color2paint3[to] rub; scrub; polishเข้มๆkêm kêmเข้มๆkêm kêm1quite/very strong (flavor)2quite/very dark (color)
I like dark-colored shirts.
3 more examples
เขาkăoอยากได้yàak dâiกางเกงยีนส์gaang-gayng yeenสีน้ำเงินsĕe nám ngernเข้มๆkêm kêmไม่ใช่mâi châiสีฟ้าอ่อนsĕe fáa òn
He wants a pair of very dark blue jeans, not light blue.
ช่วยchûuaiเลือกlêuuakเนคไทnék-taiสีsĕeเข้มๆkêm kêmให้hâiหน่อยnòiได้ไหมdâi măiครับkráp
Could you help me choose a very dark-colored necktie?
ห้องนอนhông nonของฉันkŏng chănทาtaaสีเขียวsĕe kĭiaoเข้มๆkêm kêmเพราะpráwมันmanทำให้tam hâiรู้สึกrúu-sèukสงบsà-ngòpและláeผ่อนคลายpòn klaai
My bedroom is painted a very dark green because it makes me feel calm and relaxed.

Tones

See how the spelling sets each syllable's tone, step by step.

Why is เข้มๆ said เข้ม-เข้ม?

kêm kêm

Thai spelling does not always show how a word sounds. This is how it is said.

The tone rules below use the spoken syllables.

2 syllables · pick one to see its rule

How the tone is decided

  1. Consonant classHigh class
  2. Tone markMai tho
  3. Syllable endingLive syllableNot needed here: the tone mark decides.

High class consonants

ขฃฉฐถผฝศษสห

Result

Falling tone

kêm

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 classHigh classLow class
No mark + liveMidRisingMid
No mark + dead shortLowLowHigh
No mark + dead longLowLowFalling
Mai ekLowLowFalling
Mai thoFallingFallingHigh
Mai triHigh——
Mai chattawaRising——

Related Words

1quite/very strong (flavor)

2quite/very dark (color)