"Not spicy"

Cultural Context

This phrase is a very common and practical expression used to indicate that something is 'not spicy'. It is frequently used when ordering food in Thailand, either to request a dish to be made non-spicy, or to confirm that a dish does not contain chili. It's essential for those who are sensitive to spicy food or prefer milder flavors.

Word-by-Word Analysis

Thai

ไม่

Pronunciation

mai

Meaning

not; nonegative particle

Thai

เผ็ด

Pronunciation

phet

Meaning

spicy; hot (taste)adjective

Grammar Notes

• 1
  Negation with 'ไม่' (mai)

  In Thai, to negate a verb or an adjective, the negative particle 'ไม่' (mai) is placed directly before the word it negates. In this case, 'ไม่' negates 'เผ็ด' (spicy) to mean 'not spicy'.