You Say Potato, I Say Tomato

I can tell from the call of the loudspeakers that the vegetable-truck is approaching. That's convenient- I need some tomatoes. I don't know the Thai word for them though, so I reach for my dictionary.

"Ma-kua-teet." Easy enough.

"Ma-kua-teet," I say as I search for some money.

"Ma-kua-teet," I repeat as I rush down the stairs.

"Ma-kua-teet, Ma-kua-teet, Ma-kua-teet," I mutter as I exit the house to meet the truck.

"Ma-kua-teet, Ma-kua-teet, Ma-kua-teet."

"Ma-kua-teet," I say to the lady-vendor, while pointing at the tomatoes.
A blank stare greets me.
"Ma-kua-teet," I say less confidently while again pointing at the tomatoes.
"No. Potato." says the lady, shaking her head and pointing at the tomatoes.

Somewhere she has learnt that those little red fruit that grow on a vine are called 'potato' in English.  Experience tells me that there is nothing that I can tell her that will change her mind on that. So I buy six 'potatoes.'

Despite their name they still taste delicious on toast.