Learn Thai For Free
Start free
Food and drink

Salty in Thai

“Salty” in Thai is เค็มkem.

เค็ม kem

salty adjective

  • kem mid
  • Mid: level, in your normal speaking voice.

What usually makes Thai food salty is fish sauce, น้ำปลาnáam-bplaa, not salt.

Taught in Unit 15 · Lesson 2: Cooking, tastes; already and not yet of the free course.

Practise it free

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:

  • khem
  • kehm

More food and drink in Thai

All food and drink
  • ข้าว kâao Rice
  • ข้าวเหนียว kâao-nǐaw Sticky rice
  • ข้าวเหนียวมะม่วง kâao-nǐaw má-mûang Mango sticky rice
  • ส้มตำ sôm-dtam Papaya salad

    papaya salad, som tam

  • ก๋วยเตี๋ยว gǔay-dtǐaw Noodles

    noodle soup

  • ข้าวซอย kâao-sawy Khao soi

    khao soi (Chiang Mai's curry noodle soup)

Learn this word in Unit 15, free

Unit 15 · Have you eaten yet? · Cooking, tastes; already and not yet. Short lessons with audio for every word, speaking practice and spaced review. No sign-up needed.

Practise it free (2 min) See Unit 15

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