Beauty in Thai

“Beauty” in Thai is ความงามkwaam-ngaam; you'll also hear ความสวยkwaam-sǔay (everyday).

ความงาม kwaam-ngaam

beauty noun

kwaam mid
ngaam mid

Mid: level, in your normal speaking voice.

ความสวย kwaam-sǔay

beauty, good looks noun everyday

kwaam mid
sǔay rising

Rising: start low, dip, then rise to the top, like a doubtful “Really?”

How to use it

ความงามkwaam-ngaam is beauty as a business and an ideal: beauty clinics, beauty products, beauty contests. In everyday talk, looks are ความสวยkwaam-sǔay, from สวยsǔay, pretty. Thailand loves pageants, and a beauty queen is a นางงามnaang-ngaam: Miss Grand International was founded in Bangkok, and Thai winners come home to cheering crowds. A beauty salon is a ร้านเสริมสวยráan sǒem-sǔay, a "shop that adds beauty".

Other spellings you'll see

There's no single official way to write Thai in English letters. We mark the tone of every syllable; online you'll also find:

khwam ngam
khwam suay
kwam suay

More describing things in Thai

All describing things

ดี dii Good
ไม่ดี mâi dii Bad
bad, not good
ดีกว่า dii gwàa Better
ดีที่สุด dii tîi-sùt Best
the best
ชอบที่สุด châwp tîi-sùt Favourite
favourite (literally 'like the most')
สุดยอด sùt-yâwt Awesome
awesome, amazing, the best

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Written by the Learn Thai For Free team
Audio: AI voices, quality-checked for tones