Thai · Nature & Environment
แม่น้ำ
mae nam
River
Beginnernoun
Definition
A large natural stream of water, literally mother of water.
Example
แม่น้ำเจ้าพระยาไหลผ่านกรุงเทพฯ
The Chao Phraya River flows through Bangkok.
Etymology
The word 'แม่น้ำ' (mae nam) is a compound of 'แม่' (mae), meaning 'mother,' and 'น้ำ' (nam), meaning 'water.' Historically, rivers have been referred to as nurturing entities, akin to a mother's role in providing life-sustaining water.
How & Where It’s Used
'แม่น้ำ' is commonly used in both spoken and written Thai across all regions. It generally holds a neutral register but can be formal or informal depending on context.