นม
milk
A native Thai recording for this word is on the way. Please check back soon.
- 1 milk、breast milk
- 2 breast、udder
This common word refers both to milk and to the body part that produces it—a breast or an animal’s udder. In food and drink contexts, it often means cow’s milk unless another type is specified.
milk、breast milk
Milk from humans or animals, as well as milk used as a drink or food ingredient. In everyday food contexts, it commonly means cow’s milk.
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ดื่มนมทุกวัน dʉ̀ʉm nom thúk wan drink milk every day ดื่มนมทุกวัน details
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เด็กกินนมแม่ dèk kin nom mɛ̂ɛ The baby drinks breast milk. เด็กกินนมแม่ details
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กาแฟใส่นม kaafɛɛ sày nom coffee with milk กาแฟใส่นม details
breast、udder
A human breast or an animal’s udder. It is an everyday term, though it can sound direct when referring to a person’s body.
Learning notes
Explanation
นม has two closely connected core ideas: the milk itself and the body part that produces it. In food and drink contexts, นม by itself often refers to cow’s milk or milk in general. The type can be specified with expressions such as นมวัว (cow’s milk), นมแพะ (goat’s milk), and นมแม่ (breast milk). It is also used in names for plant-based drinks, including นมถั่วเหลือง (soy milk) and นมโอ๊ต (oat milk). Milk is normally counted by its container, using words such as แก้ว (glass), ขวด (bottle), or กล่อง (carton). The classifier for individual breasts is เต้า.
Usage
It is common when talking about drinking milk, adding milk to coffee, buying dairy products, and feeding or nursing a baby. It can also refer to the breast in everyday conversation, while เต้านม is more usual in medical examinations and health information.
Caution
นม does not exclusively mean cow’s milk, so specify นมวัว when the distinction matters. Coconut milk is normally called กะทิ, not simply นม. When referring to a person’s breast, นม may sound overly direct; เต้านม is more appropriate in medical or formal settings.
Differences from similar words
1 milk synonyms
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น้ำนม specifically emphasizes milk as a liquid produced by a person or animal. นม is the broader everyday term and is also commonly used for packaged or prepared milk.
2 breast synonyms
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หน้าอก refers broadly to the chest in people of any gender. นม specifically refers to the breast rather than the chest as a whole.
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เต้านม is a clear, neutral term for the breast and is preferred in medical or formal contexts. นม is shorter and common in everyday speech but can sound more direct.