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Where does the word "tom yum" come from? It comes from Thai tom yam, and was adopted directly into English (1970s).
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Where does the word "tom yum" come from? It comes from Thai tom yam, and was adopted directly into English (1970s).
Tom yum’s story begins in Thai: tom yam meant “boiled and mixed.” Literally boiled and mixed, describing the hot and sour soup's preparation. It reached English by 1970s as tom yum. Thai 'boiled' plus 'mixed', flavoured with lemongrass, kaffir lime and galangal. Today, tom yum means a hot and sour Thai soup, typically made with shrimp and aromatic herbs.
- Stage 1 · Thai · medieval tom yam "boiled and mixed", literally boiled and mixed, describing the hot and sour soup's preparation.
- Stage 2 · English · 1970s tom yum "a hot and sour Thai soup", Thai 'boiled' plus 'mixed', flavoured with lemongrass, kaffir lime and galangal.