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Where does the word "som tam" come from? It comes from Thai s̄̂mtảa, and was adopted directly into English (late 1900s-2000s).
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Where does the word "som tam" come from? It comes from Thai s̄̂mtảa, and was adopted directly into English (late 1900s-2000s).
Som tam’s story begins in Thai: s̄̂mtảa meant “pounded sour salad.” Combining 'som' (sour) and 'tam' (pounded), naming a spicy salad made by pounding shredded green papaya. It reached English by late 1900s-2000s as som tam. Thai 'sour pounded', from the mortar in which the green papaya is bruised; from Isan and Laos. Today, som tam means a spicy, tangy Thai salad made from pounded shredded green papaya.
- Stage 1 · Thai · 20th century s̄̂mtảa "pounded sour salad", combining 'som' (sour) and 'tam' (pounded), naming a spicy salad made by pounding shredded green papaya.
- Stage 2 · English · late 1900s-2000s som tam "a spicy Thai green papaya salad", Thai 'sour pounded', from the mortar in which the green papaya is bruised; from Isan and Laos.