ดำ

Explanation

ดำ is most commonly learned as “black.” Thai color words normally follow the noun, so เสื้อดำ means “black clothes/a black shirt,” and ผมดำ means “black hair.” สีดำ is the noun-like form meaning “the color black.” As a verb, ดำ can also mean “to dive” or “to go underwater,” especially in the very common phrase ดำน้ำ. In farming contexts, it can also mean transplanting rice seedlings, most often seen in ดำนา.

Usage

Use it when describing the color of clothes, hair, cars, bags, animals, and other things. ดำน้ำ is common when talking about the sea, travel, or diving. ดำนา appears in farming and rice-paddy contexts.

Caution

Be careful when using ดำ directly about a person’s skin, as it can sound rude depending on context. Also, ดำน้ำ normally means “to dive,” not “black water.” To clearly say “black water,” use น้ำสีดำ.

1 black synonyms

• คล้ำ

  khlám darkish

  คล้ำ means dark, dull, or somewhat blackened in tone, often for skin, complexion, or clouds. ดำ is the more direct word for black.

• มืด

  mʉ̂ʉt dark (lacking light)

  มืด means dark because there is little or no light. ดำ means black as a color, so for a dark room or dark night, มืด is usually the right word.

2 dive synonyms

• มุดน้ำ

  มุดน้ำ also means to go under the water, with a more physical everyday feel. ดำ, especially in ดำน้ำ, is the standard word for diving or being underwater.

3 transplant rice seedlings synonyms

• ปลูกข้าว

  ปลูกข้าว broadly means to grow or plant rice. ดำ refers more specifically to transplanting rice seedlings into a paddy field.