Fruits

1. แอปเปิ้ล

   Àep-pên

   Apple

   Usage

   Point and say at any market or supermarket

2. กล้วย

   Klûai

   Banana

   Usage

   Thailand has many banana varieties. The small "kluai khai" (egg banana) is especially sweet

3. ส้ม

   Sôm

   Orange / Mandarin

   Usage

   "Som" also means the color orange — context makes the meaning clear

4. องุ่น

   À-ngùn

   Grape

5. สตรอว์เบอร์รี่

   Sà-tro-boerî

   Strawberry

   Usage

   Grown in northern Thailand (Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai) in winter — very fresh at local markets

6. แตงโม

   Taeng mo

   Watermelon

   Usage

   Street stalls sell chilled cut watermelon. "Taeng mo pan" = watermelon smoothie

7. สับปะรด

   Sàp-pà-rót

   Pineapple

   Usage

   Often sold pre-cut at street stalls. Thai pineapples are exceptionally sweet

8. มะพร้าว

   Má-phráo

   Coconut

   Usage

   Young coconuts with a straw are sold at beaches and stalls — refreshing on hot days

9. มะนาว

   Má-nao

   Lime / Lemon

   Usage

   In Thailand "manao" almost always means lime (green). Yellow lemon = "manao lueang"

10. มะม่วง

    Má-mûang

    Mango

    Usage

    Iconic Thai fruit. "Khao niao mamuang" (mango sticky rice) is a world-famous dessert

    Grammar Note

    "Ma" is a prefix common in Thai fruit names: malako (papaya), makham (tamarind), etc.

11. ทุเรียน

    Thú-rian

    Durian

    Usage

    The "king of fruits" — intense aroma, polarizing taste. Often banned in hotels and public transit

12. มังคุด

    Mang-khút

    Mangosteen

    Usage

    Known as the "queen of fruits" — purple shell, sweet-tart white flesh inside

13. มะละกอ

    Má-lá-ko

    Papaya

    Usage

    Green papaya is the main ingredient of som tam (Thai papaya salad). Ripe yellow papaya is sweet and mild

14. ลิ้นจี่

    Lín-chì

    Lychee

    Usage

    Mainly grown in northern Thailand (Chiang Rai). Peak season April–June. Sweet and juicy

15. เงาะ

    Ngó

    Rambutan

    Usage

    The hairy red skin is inedible — the white flesh inside resembles lychee in taste

16. แก้วมังกร

    Kâeo mang-kon

    Dragon fruit

    Usage

    Comes in pink/white/red flesh varieties. "Kaeo" = jewel, "mangkon" = dragon

17. ลำไย

    Lam-yai

    Longan

    Usage

    Northern Thai specialty. Smaller than lychee with a brown shell. Common dried or in drinks

18. ขนุน

    Khà-nǔn

    Jackfruit

    Usage

    World's largest tree fruit. Ripe flesh is sweet; young jackfruit is used as a meat substitute in cooking

19. มะขาม

    Má-khǎm

    Tamarind

    Usage

    Sour pulp essential to Thai cooking (pad thai etc.). Sweet processed version "makham kaeo" is a popular snack

20. ฝรั่ง

    Fà-ràng

    Guava

    Usage

    Interestingly, "farang" also means "Westerner/foreigner" in Thai — the fruit arrived via Portuguese traders

    Grammar Note

    Context determines whether "farang" means the fruit or a foreigner. As a traveler, smile if you hear it!

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