Food and drink
AnimalsShellfish in Thai
“Shellfish” in Thai is หอยhǎwy; you'll also hear หอยนางรมhǎwy-naang-rom (oysters) and หอยแมลงภู่hǎwy-má-laeng-pûu (mussels).
shellfish; snail noun
- hǎwy rising
- Rising: start low, dip, then rise to the top, like a doubtful “Really?”
หอยทอดhǎwy tâwt = fried mussels or oysters, a street-food classic.
oyster noun oysters
- hǎwy rising
- naang mid
- rom mid
- Rising: start low, dip, then rise to the top, like a doubtful “Really?”
Classifier: ตัวdtua · counting word for animals, clothes, tables and chairs
mussel noun mussels
- hǎwy rising
- má high
- laeng mid
- pûu 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.
Classifier: ตัวdtua · counting word for animals, clothes, tables and chairs
You'll hear หอยhǎwy in Ho Mok Huak (ห่อหมกฮวกไปฝากป้า).
How to use it
หอยhǎwy is anything that lives in a shell, shellfish and snails alike, and each kind adds a name: หอยนางรมhǎwy-naang-rom, oysters, eaten raw with fried shallots and a chilli dip, หอยแมลงภู่hǎwy-má-laeng-pûu, mussels, หอยแครงhǎwy-kraeng, cockles, quickly blanched, and หอยลายhǎwy-laai, baby clams, stir-fried with chilli paste. A street-food classic is หอยทอดhǎwy-tâwt, mussels or oysters fried in a crispy batter with egg.
Shrimp and crab aren't หอยhǎwy: they're กุ้งgûng and ปูbpuu. If you're allergic to all shellfish, say แพ้อาหารทะเลpáe aa-hǎan-tá-lee, allergic to seafood, or name each one: แพ้กุ้งpáe gûng, allergic to shrimp.
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:
- hoi
- hoy
- hoi nang rom
- hoi malaeng phu
Read more
More food and drink in Thai
All food and drink- ข้าว kâao Rice in Thai
- ข้าวเหนียว kâao-nǐaw Sticky rice in Thai
- ข้าวเหนียวมะม่วง kâao-nǐaw má-mûang Mango sticky rice in Thai
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Written by the Learn Thai For Free team
Audio: AI voices, quality-checked for tones