freshwater snail
A native Thai recording for this word is on the way. Please check back soon.
- 1 freshwater snail、river snail
This word refers to a small freshwater snail found in ponds, rice fields, and canals and commonly eaten in Thailand.
freshwater snail、river snail
A small freshwater snail that lives in Thai waterways and is also used as food.
Learning notes
Explanation
หอยขม is the common Thai name for a small freshwater snail found in ponds, rice fields, marshes, and canals. Because it is eaten in Thailand, the word often appears in conversations about markets, cooking, and local food as well as wildlife. หอย means “shellfish” or “snail,” while ขม normally means “bitter.” However, หอยขม functions as a fixed name for the animal and should not be interpreted literally as any snail that tastes bitter. Individual snails can be counted with ตัว, the general classifier for animals. When sold as food, they are also commonly measured by weight.
Usage
The word is used when discussing animals found in rice fields or canals, buying ingredients at a market, or preparing and cooking snails. It also commonly appears in the names and descriptions of Thai dishes such as แกงคั่วหอยขม.
Caution
Although “river snail” and “freshwater snail” are useful translations, they can refer to various species in English. For precise biological identification, describe it as the freshwater snail known in Thai as หอยขม. It should also not be confused with หอยโข่ง, which generally refers to a larger type of freshwater snail.