คำ
word
A native Thai recording for this word is on the way. Please check back soon.
- 1 word、term
- 2 [classifier for words or utterances]
- 3 mouthful、bite
คำ is a basic word for a meaningful unit of language. It can mean a word, someone’s spoken words or verbal content, a classifier for words or utterances, and also a mouthful of food.
word、term
This sense refers to a word or term as a meaningful unit of speech or writing, especially in language learning, dictionaries, and grammar.
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คำนี้แปลว่าอะไร kham níi plɛɛ wâa aray What does this word mean? คำนี้แปลว่าอะไร details
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คำภาษาไทย kham phaasǎa thay a Thai word คำภาษาไทย details
[classifier for words or utterances]
This classifier counts words, short utterances, answers, questions, and similar language units.
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หนึ่งคำ nʉ̀ŋ kham one word หนึ่งคำ details
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พูดไม่กี่คำ phûut mâykìi kham say only a few words พูดไม่กี่คำ details
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เขียนสามคำ khǐan sǎam kham write three words เขียนสามคำ details
mouthful、bite
This classifier counts one mouthful or bite of food.
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กินอีกคำหนึ่ง kin ìik kham nʉ̀ŋ eat one more bite กินอีกคำหนึ่ง details
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ขอชิมคำเดียว khɔ̌ɔ chim kham diaw Let me taste just one bite. ขอชิมคำเดียว details
Show more (1)
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ข้าวคำแรก khâaw kham rɛ̂ɛk the first bite of rice ข้าวคำแรก details
Learning notes
Explanation
The core idea of คำ is a compact unit connected with language or the mouth. Its basic meaning is “word,” but it also appears in many common nouns for verbal content, such as คำพูด “spoken words,” คำถาม “question,” คำตอบ “answer,” คำสั่ง “order/instruction,” and คำเตือน “warning.” As a classifier, it counts words or short utterances, as in หนึ่งคำ “one word,” and in eating contexts it counts a bite or mouthful, as in คำเดียว “just one bite.”
Usage
It is very common in language learning, dictionaries, translation, and grammar talk. In everyday conversation, it is also used when talking about what someone said, promises, questions, and answers. In meals, it appears naturally in expressions like “one more bite” or “just one bite.”
Caution
Do not learn คำ only as “word.” It also covers verbal content in compounds like คำพูด and คำถาม, and it can mean a bite of food as a classifier. หนึ่งคำ can mean “one word,” “one short remark,” or “one bite,” depending on context.