มะพร้าว
coconut
A native Thai recording for this word is on the way. Please check back soon.
- 1 coconut
This everyday word refers to a coconut and, depending on context, the coconut palm that produces it.
coconut
It refers to the coconut fruit, whose water and flesh are widely used in drinks, cooking, and desserts.
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ฉันชอบกินมะพร้าวอ่อน chǎn chɔ̂ɔp kin máphráaw ɔ̀ɔn I like eating young coconut. ฉันชอบกินมะพร้าวอ่อน details
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ครอบครัวเขามีธุรกิจสวนมะพร้าว khrɔ̂ɔpkhrua khǎw mii thúrákìt sǔan máphráaw His family runs a coconut plantation. ครอบครัวเขามีธุรกิจสวนมะพร้าว details
Learning notes
Explanation
มะพร้าว is a common everyday noun. By itself, it most often means the coconut fruit. When referring specifically to the tree, Thai commonly uses ต้นมะพร้าว, literally “coconut tree.” A young coconut with soft flesh is called มะพร้าวอ่อน, while a mature coconut is มะพร้าวแก่. The usual classifier for the fruit is ลูก, as in มะพร้าวสองลูก, “two coconuts.” Trees are counted with ต้น, as in ต้นมะพร้าวสามต้น, “three coconut palms.”
Usage
The word is common when buying coconuts or coconut water at markets and restaurants, discussing ingredients in Thai dishes and desserts, or talking about coconut palms in gardens, plantations, and coastal areas. It is also used in the names of coconut-based products.
Caution
น้ำมะพร้าว is the clear coconut water naturally found inside the fruit. กะทิ is coconut milk made by extracting liquid from grated coconut flesh, so the two terms are not interchangeable.