Thai green curry
A native Thai recording for this word is on the way. Please check back soon.
- 1 Thai green curry
A classic Thai curry made with green chilies, herbs, and coconut milk. It is aromatic, creamy, and often quite spicy despite the word หวาน (“sweet”) in its name.
Thai green curry
A fragrant, coconut-milk-based Thai curry whose green color comes mainly from green chilies and herbs.
Learning notes
Explanation
This is the established name of one of Thailand’s best-known curries and is treated as a single noun. The components are แกง, a curry-like soup or stew; เขียว, “green”; and หวาน, “sweet.” However, หวาน does not mean that the dish will necessarily be mild. Green chilies are a central ingredient, so it can be very spicy. To specify the main protein, place it after the dish name, as in แกงเขียวหวานไก่, “chicken green curry.” Eggplants and Thai basil are also common ingredients.
Usage
Commonly used on restaurant menus, when ordering food, when discussing home cooking, and in conversations about favorite Thai dishes. It also appears when asking about the protein or level of spiciness.
Caution
Do not assume that หวาน means this curry is mild; the heat varies greatly by restaurant and recipe. Also, แกง covers a wider range of soups and stews than the English word “curry.”