orange (color)
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- 1 orange (color)
This is the basic Thai color term for orange, the color between red and yellow associated with oranges and tangerines.
orange (color)
It refers to orange, the color between red and yellow associated with oranges and tangerines.
Learning notes
Explanation
สีส้ม is formed from สี (“color”) and ส้ม (“orange” or “tangerine”), so its structure is literally “the color of an orange.” It is the neutral, everyday term for this basic color. To describe an object, put the color after the noun: เสื้อสีส้ม means “an orange shirt.” It can also serve as the predicate, as in รถคันนี้สีส้ม, “This car is orange.” More specific shades include สีส้มอ่อน (“light orange”), สีส้มเข้ม (“dark orange”), and สีส้มอมแดง (“reddish orange”).
Usage
It is widely used to describe the color of clothing, cars, flowers, furniture, and other objects, or to select an orange item while shopping. It also appears when discussing color coding on signs and maps or colors associated with groups and organizations.
Caution
ส้ม by itself can refer to an orange or tangerine and can also be associated with sourness. Use สีส้ม when you need to make the color meaning explicit. When modifying a noun, place สีส้ม after it, as in เสื้อสีส้ม (“orange shirt”).
Differences from similar words
1 orange (color) synonyms
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สีแสด often refers to a vivid, somewhat reddish shade of orange. In contrast, สีส้ม is the ordinary, general-purpose word for orange without specifying a precise shade.