Fat in Thai

“Fat” in Thai is อ้วนûan; you'll also hear ท้วมtúam (softer) and ไขมันkǎi-man (the noun).

อ้วน ûan

fat; to put on weight adjective everyday

ûan falling

Falling: start high and drop clearly, like a firm “No!”

ท้วม túam

plump, chubby (softer) adjective

túam high

High: start high and go a little higher, a bit tense; don’t let it fall.

ไขมัน kǎi-man

fat (in food or the body) noun the noun

kǎi rising
man mid

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

How to use it

อ้วนûan is fat, with a falling tone, and Thais say it far more openly than English speakers: อ้วนขึ้นนะûan kûen ná, "you've put on weight", is often just small talk from an aunt or a colleague, and อ้วนûan is even a common nickname. A softer word is ท้วมtúam, plump, and a chubby baby is จ้ำม่ำjâm-mâm. The fat in food is ไขมันkǎi-man.