Steam in Thai

“Steam” in Thai is นึ่งnûeng.

นึ่ง nûeng

to steam; steamed verb

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

How to use it

Steamed dishes include ปลานึ่งมะนาวbplaa nûeng má-naao, a whole fish steamed in a sharp lime, garlic and chilli broth, and the soft buns, ซาลาเปาsaa-laa-bpao, sold hot at 7-Eleven. Sticky rice is always steamed, traditionally in a cone-shaped bamboo basket.

Mind the tone: นึ่งnûeng, to steam, is falling; หนึ่งnùeng, one, is low.

Don't mix it up

  • หนึ่งnùeng

    one

    Low tone: the number one.

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:

  • nung
  • nuung

More food and drink in Thai

All food and drink
  • ข้าว kâao 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)

  • ข้าวมันไก่ kâao-man-gài Chicken rice

    Hainanese chicken rice (khao man gai)

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