Pad Thai and Beyond—Dish Names You’ll Love to Learn
Thai food is colorful, flavorful, and full of fun words that are just as exciting to say as they are to eat! From noodles to sticky rice, these dish names are often among the first Thai words that kids learn especially when there’s a yummy plate in front of them.
Here are some popular Thai food words kids will love:
ผัดไทย (phàt thai) – Pad Thai
Thailand’s most famous noodle dish, sweet, savory, and easy to love. It’s fun to say and even more fun to eat.
ข้าวผัด (khâao phàt) – Fried rice
A go-to dish for many Thai kids, with eggs, veggies, and sometimes chicken or shrimp.
ต้มยำ (dtôm yam) – Spicy-sour soup
This iconic dish may be too spicy for little ones, but the name is fun to repeat. It even sounds like a drumbeat!
ขนม (kha-nŏm) – Dessert/snack
A catch-all word for sweets and snacks—an absolute favorite among children.
ไก่ทอด (gài thôt) – Fried chicken
Simple and crunchy, this is a dish kids often request by name!
These words do more than teach vocabulary they connect kids to culture. Learning how to say kha-nŏm at dessert time or asking for phàt thai at a restaurant makes kids feel proud and involved. It’s language learning that’s both delicious and meaningful.
With platforms like Dinolingo, food vocabulary is brought to life through songs, animations, and interactive games. Kids might not know every word on the menu yet but they’ll be excited to try!
Try These Fun Activities
Menu Match-Up
Print or draw pictures of Thai dishes. Match them to their Thai names, then act out ordering them at a pretend restaurant.
My Favorite Dish Poster
Let your child draw their favorite Thai food and write the Thai name underneath. Hang it in the kitchen for daily practice!
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