papaya salad, som tam noun
- sôm falling
- dtam mid
- Falling: start high and drop clearly, like a firm “No!”
Classifier: จานjaan · plate; a plate of (food)
How to use it
Shredded green papaya pounded in a clay mortar with chilli, garlic, lime, fish sauce and palm sugar: ตำdtam means to pound. It comes from Isan, where it's eaten with ข้าวเหนียวkâao-nǐaw and grilled chicken, ไก่ย่างgài-yâang.
Say how hot you want it when you order: ไม่เผ็ดmâi pèt (not spicy) or เผ็ดนิดหน่อยpèt nít-nàwy (a little spicy). ส้มตำไทยsôm-dtam tai is the sweeter Bangkok style with peanuts and dried shrimp; ส้มตำปลาร้าsôm-dtam bplaa-ráa uses pungent fermented fish, the Isan favourite.
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:
- som tam
- som tum
- somtam
- somtum
- som tom
- sum tum
Read more
- Phrase How to say “spicy” in Thai How to say spicy in Thai: เผ็ด (phet), not spicy (ไม่เผ็ด), a little and very spicy, plus how to order at street stalls and survive Thai chilli. With audio.
Culture Thai Street Food: How to Order Like a Local (with Phrases) How Thai street food works: finding a good stall, ordering with a few phrases, spice levels, takeaway bags, paying by QR, and street-food manners.
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- อาหาร aa-hǎan Food
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Written by the Learn Thai For Free team
Audio: AI voices, quality-checked for tones