Food and drinkDessert in Thai
“Dessert” in Thai is ของหวานkǎwng-wǎan; you'll also hear ขนมkà-nǒm (Thai sweets, cakes and snacks).
dessert, sweets noun
- kǎwng rising
- wǎan rising
- Rising: start low, dip, then rise to the top, like a doubtful “Really?”
Thai sweets, cakes and snacks noun
- kà low
- nǒm rising
- Low: flat and lower than your normal voice, dropping a little at the end.
- Rising: start low, dip, then rise to the top, like a doubtful “Really?”
Anything from crisps to traditional Thai sweets, ขนมไทยkà-nǒm tai.
ขนมkà-nǒm is taught in Unit 4 · Lesson 2: Paying at 7-Eleven of the free course.
Practise it freeHow to use it
ของหวานkǎwng-wǎan, "sweet things", is dessert: what comes after a meal and the dessert section of a menu. ขนมkà-nǒm is the word for sweets, cakes and snacks of every kind, and ขนมไทยkà-nǒm tai are the traditional ones, made from rice flour, coconut milk, palm sugar and pandan. The favourite treat after a meal is ข้าวเหนียวมะม่วงkâao-nǐaw má-mûang, mango sticky rice.
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:
- khong wan
- kong wan
- khongwan
- khanom
More food and drink in Thai
All food and drink- ข้าว kâao Rice
- ข้าวเหนียว kâao-nǐaw Sticky rice
Learn this word in Unit 4, free
Unit 4 · How much is it? · Paying at 7-Eleven. Short lessons with audio for every word, speaking practice and spaced review. No sign-up needed.
Written by the Learn Thai For Free team
Audio: AI voices, quality-checked for tones