Food and drinkWhiskey in Thai
“Whiskey” in Thai is วิสกี้wít-sà-gîi, but in everyday talk all spirits are เหล้าlâo.
whisky noun
- wít high
- sà low
- gîi falling
- High: start high and go a little higher, a bit tense; don’t let it fall.
- Low: flat and lower than your normal voice, dropping a little at the end.
liquor, spirits; alcohol noun spirits in general
- lâo falling
- Falling: start high and drop clearly, like a firm “No!”
How to use it
In everyday talk Thais call whisky and other spirits เหล้าlâo. Local favourites like SangSom are sold as whisky, though strictly speaking they're rum or blended spirits, and they're drunk with soda water, ice and sometimes Coke, poured by the youngest at the table.
Village rice whisky, clear and very strong, is เหล้าขาวlâo kǎao, "white spirit".
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:
- wiski
- whisky
- wit sa ki
- wisaki
- lao khao
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
Learn Thai with the free course
A complete course from your first phrase to real conversations, with audio for every word and AI speaking practice. Free, no sign-up needed.
Written by the Learn Thai For Free team
Audio: AI voices, quality-checked for tones