Food and drink How to say “delicious” in Thai
The short answer
Delicious in Thai is อร่อยà-ràwy. Add มากmâak for "very delicious": อร่อยมากà-ràwy mâak. Doubled, อร่อยมากๆà-ràwy mâak-mâak (aroi mak mak) means "so, so good!". To ask whether something tastes good, say อร่อยไหมà-ràwy mǎi. For spicy northeastern food you'll also hear แซ่บsâep, "zesty and delicious". No particle needed: it's an exclamation.
“Delicious” in Thai
Tap a Thai word for its meaning
Men and women say
Audio: AI voices, quality-checked for tones. No sign-up needed.
Other spellings you'll see
There's no single official way to write Thai in English letters, so you'll see อร่อยà-ràwy spelled many ways. We write it with the tone of every syllable marked; online you'll also find:
- aroi
- aroy
- a-roi
- arroy
- aroi mak
- aroi mak mak
- aroy mak mak
- aroi mark
- zaap
- saep
- sab
Other ways to say “delicious”
- อร่อย à-ràwyมาก mâak
very delicious
The everyday compliment to any cook or vendor.
- อร่อย à-ràwyมากๆ mâak-mâak
so, so delicious!
The famous aroi mak mak: enthusiastic and friendly.
- อร่อย à-ràwyจัง jang
this is so good!
Warm surprise, mid-bite.
- อร่อย à-ràwyที่สุด tîi-sùt
the most delicious
For the best som tam of your life.
- แซ่บ sâep
zesty, spicy and delicious (Isan)
From Isan, for bold, spicy, sour food like som tam and larb; now used all over Thailand.
- แซ่บ sâepเวอร์ woe
insanely tasty (slang)
เวอร์woe, from English 'over', means 'over the top'.
- รสชาติ rót-châatดี dii
tasty, well-seasoned
Literally 'good flavour'; a slightly more considered compliment.
- ไม่ mâiค่อย kâwyอร่อย à-ràwy
not very good
The gentle way to say you don't like it; a flat ไม่อร่อยmâi à-ràwy is blunt.
How to reply
- ขอบคุณ kàwp-kunจ้า jâa
thank you, dear!
What a beaming vendor says back.
- กิน ginเยอะๆ yóe-yóeนะ ná
eat lots!
Hosts and aunties will keep filling your plate.
- อิ่ม ìmแล้ว láew
I'm full
Your polite way out when the food keeps coming.
Example sentences
- อร่อย à-ràwyไหม mǎi
Is it good?
- ร้าน ráanนี้ níiอร่อย à-ràwyมาก mâak
This place is really good.
- อาหาร aa-hǎanไทย taiอร่อย à-ràwyมาก mâak
Thai food is delicious.
- ส้มตำ sôm-dtamจาน jaanนี้ níiแซ่บ sâepมาก mâak
This som tam is seriously good.
- อร่อย à-ràwyจน jonหยุด yùtไม่ mâiได้ dâi
It's so good I can't stop.
Aroi: the word you'll use every day
อร่อยà-ràwy is one of the first Thai words visitors learn, and Thais love hearing it. Tell a street vendor อร่อยมากà-ràwy mâak and you'll get a huge smile; tell your friend's mother and you may never leave hungry again. You don't need ครับkráp or ค่ะkâ: it's an exclamation, and it sounds most natural on its own.
Thais will often ask อร่อยไหมà-ràwy mǎi, "is it good?", right after your first bite. The answer is simply อร่อยà-ràwy, or อร่อยมากà-ràwy mâak if you mean it.
Aroi mak mak
Doubling a word (Thai writes it once, followed by a little repeat sign) intensifies it, and Thais do it all the time: อร่อยมากๆà-ràwy mâak-mâak, ดีมากๆdii mâak-mâak, สวยมากๆsǔay mâak-mâak. Aroi mak mak is such a happy phrase that you'll find Thai restaurants abroad named after it.
How to pronounce it
Two syllables, both low tone: a short à, then ràwy, with the "aw" of "law" gliding into a y. Keep them low and even. English speakers tend to say "a-ROY" with a stressed, rising second half, which sounds foreign; think of a calm, low "a-roy". Spellings like aroi, aroy and a-roi all mean this word.
Talking about taste
Thai cooking balances flavours, and these words help you order and compliment:
- เผ็ดpèt spicy, เปรี้ยวbprîaw sour, หวานwǎan sweet, เค็มkem salty, ขมkǒm bitter, จืดjùuet bland
- เผ็ดแต่อร่อยpèt dtàe à-ràwy: spicy but delicious
- หวานไปwǎan bpai: too sweet (a common verdict on Thai iced coffee)
At noodle stalls you fix the flavour yourself from the condiment set on the table: fish sauce, sugar, dried chilli and chillies in vinegar. So a bland bowl isn't a failure; it's an invitation.
Praising a cook, and stopping politely
Hosts show love with food and will keep refilling your plate. อร่อยมากà-ràwy mâak makes their day, and when you can't eat any more, อิ่มแล้วìm láew ("I'm full") said with a smile is the polite way to stop. If you didn't enjoy something, ไม่ค่อยถูกปากmâi kâwy tùuk bpàak ("not quite to my taste", literally "doesn't really suit my mouth") is the kind way to say it.
Delicious in Thai: questions people ask
What does aroi mean in Thai?
อร่อยà-ràwy means delicious or tasty. It's used for food and drinks, and Thais say it constantly.
What does aroi mak mak mean?
อร่อยมากๆà-ràwy mâak-mâak means 'very, very delicious'. มากmâak is 'very', and doubling it adds enthusiasm.
How do you say the food is delicious in Thai?
อาหารอร่อยมากaa-hǎan à-ràwy mâak, 'the food is very delicious'. For a specific place, ร้านนี้อร่อยมากráan níi à-ràwy mâak, 'this place is really good'.
What does zaap (saep) mean in Thai?
แซ่บsâep is an Isan word for bold, spicy, delicious food, the kind of flavour in som tam and larb. You'll see it on menus and food stalls everywhere.
How do you say I'm full in Thai?
อิ่มแล้วìm láew, 'I'm full (already)'. Add ครับkráp or ค่ะkâ with a host, and a smile.
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Written by the Learn Thai For Free team
Audio: AI voices, quality-checked for tones