Kratom is one of those words people read long before they ever hear it said out loud. Walk into a kava bar or a shop counter and you will hear it a few different ways, and the strain names on the label (Maeng Da, Kapuas Hulu, Buntok) are even less obvious.
Here is how to pronounce kratom, where the word comes from, and how to say the names you will see on a kratom label.
How Do You Pronounce Kratom?
There are two accepted English pronunciations, and both are correct.
- KRAY-tum (the first syllable rhymes with "day"): listed first by Merriam-Webster
- KRAT-um (the first syllable rhymes with "cat"): listed second
You can hear both in the Merriam-Webster entry for kratom. Some speakers also say KRAH-tom, which sits closer to the original Thai. In the U.S. you will hear all three, and nobody at a counter will correct you for any of them.
Where the Word "Kratom" Comes From
"Kratom" is borrowed from Thai. Merriam-Webster traces it to the Thai word กระท่อม, romanized as krathom, and dates its first known use in English to 1926.
The tree has other names across Southeast Asia. In Malaysia it is commonly called ketum or biak-biak, and other regional names exist across Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines. "Kratom" is simply the name that stuck in English.
Mitragyna speciosa
Kratom's scientific name is Mitragyna speciosa, a tree in the coffee family native to Southeast Asia. Most English speakers say it mi-TRA-jih-nuh spee-see-OH-suh.
The genus name comes from the shape of the flower's stigma, which botanists thought resembled a bishop's mitre. Speciosa is a Latin species name meaning "showy." The Dutch botanist Pieter Korthals first described the species in 1839, under a different genus name. For more on where the tree grows, read Where Kratom Comes From.
How to Pronounce Common Kratom Names
Most kratom product names combine a vein color with a regional or trade name. The vein colors (red, green, white, yellow) need no help. The rest of the label is where people hesitate. The pronunciations below are the common English ones you will hear in the U.S. Local pronunciation in Thailand, Malaysia, or Indonesia can differ.
| Name on the Label | How to Say It | What It Refers To |
|---|---|---|
| Maeng Da | MANG-dah | A Thai trade name, not a botanical variety |
| Kapuas Hulu | kah-POO-ahs HOO-loo | A regency in West Kalimantan, Indonesian Borneo |
| Buntok | BOON-tok | A town in Central Kalimantan, Indonesian Borneo |
| Sumatra | soo-MAH-truh | An island in western Indonesia |
| Borneo | BOR-nee-oh | An island shared by Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei |
| Bali | BAH-lee | An Indonesian island, used loosely as a trade name |
| Malay | muh-LAY or MAY-lay | Malaysia or the Malay Peninsula |
| Indo | IN-doh | Short for Indonesia |
| Thai | TIE | Thailand |
Maeng Da
Maeng Da is probably the most mispronounced name in kratom. Most U.S. buyers say it MANG-dah, with "maeng" rhyming with "sang." In Thai, แมงดา is the name of the giant water bug. As a kratom name, it is a trade label rather than a distinct plant variety, and brands use it for different products. We compare every version we carry in Every Maeng Da Kratom We Carry, Compared, including Experience Green Maeng Da Kratom Powder.
Kapuas Hulu
Say it kah-POO-ahs HOO-loo. Kapuas Hulu is a regency (a district-level region) in West Kalimantan, the Indonesian part of Borneo. The name means "Upper Kapuas," after the upper reaches of the Kapuas River. You will see it on products like Experience Green Kapuas Hulu Kratom Powder.
Buntok
Say it BOON-tok. Buntok is a town on the Barito River in Central Kalimantan, also on Borneo, and the seat of South Barito Regency. It appears on labels like Experience White Buntok Kratom Powder.
Sumatra, Borneo, Bali, and the Rest
These are names most people already know from geography, so the pronunciation is the familiar one. Sumatra is soo-MAH-truh, as on Experience Green Sumatra Kratom Powder. Borneo is BOR-nee-oh. Bali is BAH-lee.
One thing to keep in mind: a regional name on a label is not always a guarantee of where the leaf was grown. Some names, Bali in particular, started as market labels and stuck. We explain that history in Red Bali Kratom Compared.
How to Pronounce the Alkaloid Names on a Lab Report
If you read certificates of analysis, a few chemical names come up again and again.
- Mitragynine: Merriam-Webster gives mi-TRA-juh-neen. It is the most abundant alkaloid in kratom leaf and the one most lab reports list first.
- 7-hydroxymitragynine: said seven-hy-DROX-ee mi-TRA-juh-neen, and almost always shortened to 7-OH ("seven-oh-aitch"). It occurs naturally in leaf only in trace amounts.
If you want to know what each line on a lab report means, our guide on how to read a kratom lab report walks through a real one. For label terms like Premium, Enhanced, and Full Spectrum, see our kratom grades glossary.
Kratom Pronunciation FAQ
Is it pronounced KRAY-tum or KRAT-um?
Both are correct. Merriam-Webster lists KRAY-tum first and KRAT-um second. KRAH-tom is closest to the original Thai word.
What language does the word kratom come from?
Thai. It comes from the Thai word กระท่อม, romanized as krathom.
How do you pronounce Maeng Da?
Most U.S. buyers say MANG-dah, with "maeng" rhyming with "sang."
How do you pronounce Mitragyna speciosa?
Most English speakers say mi-TRA-jih-nuh spee-see-OH-suh, which follows the dictionary pronunciation of mitragynine.
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FDA Disclaimer
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Kratom products are intended strictly for individuals 18 years of age or older, or 21+ where required by applicable state law.