Everyday expressions สมน้ำหน้า sǒm-náam-nâa
serves you right! (teasing or gloating) interjection
- sǒm rising
- náam high
- nâa falling
- Rising: start low, dip, then rise to the top, like a doubtful “Really?”
- High: start high and go a little higher, a bit tense; don’t let it fall.
How to use it
สมน้ำหน้าsǒm-náam-nâa is "serves you right!". Between friends it's playful teasing when someone's mistake comes back to bite them, like the friend who ignored your warning about the chillies. Said in earnest about someone's real bad luck, it's gloating and harsh, so use it only when everyone is laughing.
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 nam na
- sohm nam na
More everyday expressions in Thai
All everyday expressions
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Written by the Learn Thai For Free team
Audio: AI voices, quality-checked for tones