Thais unable to pronounce your name?

[Sheryl]

There is no "Sh" sound in Thai, and of course no l's at the end of a word  so I long ago got used to being "Cher-REE". 

[Vacuum]

2 hours ago, Old Croc said:

For some reason Thais pronounce my name with an extended eeeeee sound on the end.

Oldeee?

[Aforek]

My name is Gérard, with two "r" in the French style, impossible for them to pronounce

when written in Thai phonetics, they can say it in an "almost acceptable" way, but for people I know in every day life, I ask them to call me in a very easy way for them " géla " 

everybody is satisfied with it, me  too 

Edited May 6, 2019 by Aforek

[Vacuum]

3 hours ago, villagefarang said:

When western words or names are written in Thai, they end up being pronounced based on Thai language rules.

But when the names are spoken, not written, they still can't replicate what they're hearing.

[1FinickyOne]

2 hours ago, Youlike said:

My name is You you...fallang.

glad to see you are assimilating well... 

[beau thai]

3 hours ago, Jamesanderson said:

My name is James. Anyone can pronounce my name easily.

You may think so. I heard thai friends talking about a guy called Gem. Took me a while to work out it was my friend james...

[Lemonlime]

3 hours ago, Psimbo said:

How do 'they' get on with Lemonlime? 

My name is Delphine 

however they are like 

ahhh, do you have a nickname? Or does this name exist? 

Some emails even called me a Sir!

[phutoie2]

An old favourite, " I am meeting Giles at the Jet garage" 

 

[Andrew Dwyer]

We have difficulty with Thai tones. Thais have difficulty with combined consonants.

 

 

Yup, my surname comes out as Dee Wire ( could be worse ) !

 

Andy is not a problem here, although when I lived in Brazil I was called Angie and constantly ribbed by an American colleague who used to break out the old Stones classic when he got chance , I think he was pissed because they called him Huss ( for Russ ) !

[balo]

I give them my nick name to keep it simple . "sexy man"

[Andyfez]

Learn to write your name in Thai.

[soalbundy]

On 5/6/2019 at 11:48 AM, Youlike said:

My name is You you...fallang.

'hey you' surely.

"Hey you"

"Who me"?

"No, You"

[VocalNeal]

On 5/6/2019 at 3:11 PM, Lemonlime said:

My name is Delphine 

however they are like 

ahhh, do you have a nickname? Or does this name exist? 

Some emails even called me a Sir!

Easily shortened to Del. But that may not be easy either. 

 

Delphine comes originally from Dolphin so your name in Thai could be ปลาโลมา or Plālomā

[Lemonlime]

Just now, VocalNeal said:

Easily shortened to Del. But that may not be easy either. 

 

Delphine comes originally from Dolphin so your name in Thai could be ปลาโลมา or Plālomā

Lol thanks 

[Boon Mee]

On 5/6/2019 at 11:23 AM, BritManToo said:

I am Jim and my girlfriend is Koy.

Thais don't have any problem pronouncing our names, but for some reason they always snigger.

Jeeze, I wonder why! 555 

[Emdog]

It's a two way street, kids. Been living here about 18 years, speak passable level of Thai.

The number 8 I believe I will never master. Just one of those things...

Simply use "fuzzy logic" regarding language and you'll be okay. "A lows by any other name would smell as sweet"

I like what they do with final 'l"... appun, that football team Arsenun.

[gjoo888]

Be thankful your name isn't Lloyd, in Thailand you would be 'Roid. 

[VocalNeal]

18 minutes ago, Lemonlime said:

Lol thanks 

You mean you don't already have a dolphin tattoo ????

 

[dotpoom]

What's the question?

[Ulic]

My name is mispronounced around the world or many don't want to even attempt to pronounce it so I just use Max. Simple easy and different enough that when it is called out by restaurant hostess or the like I know that they are paging me. 

[chicowoodduck]

Just to make things simple....I simply go by the name of "G" ????

[essox essox]

On 5/6/2019 at 11:19 AM, Jamesanderson said:

My name is James. Anyone can pronounce my name easily.

JIM is easier !!!

[marcusarelus]

6 minutes ago, essox essox said:

JIM is easier !!!

Do you know what Jim means in Thai?

[bluejets]

Worse when I return home after a month or so in Thailand.

Locals here start huffing and puffing and shaping up when I say "krap". ( and that's just the women)????????

[TKDfella]

On 5/6/2019 at 11:39 AM, villagefarang said:

When western words or names are written in Thai, they end up being pronounced based on Thai language rules.  If you speak Thai it is very easy to understand why they pronounce our words the way they do.

Quite right. Far example no 'v' sound, 's' or '..ce' English finals are pronounced with a 't' or are silent. In Thai an initial consonant must be followed by a vowel, written or not, as in 'st...' which is pronounced 'sa-t...' and so on. I have 'L' sound at the end of my name but in Thai it becomes 'n'. And of course there are others. But it also goes the other way too. In สุวรรณภูมิ the short 'i' vowel is silent yet when written in Thai but in English it is;

  

All good fun eh? Ha!

 

[xxeo]

I have permanent problems in Asia with being Josh. A hurdle for the folks.

 

Consequently, I changed my chü len, my nickname.

[Rod the Sod]

On 5/6/2019 at 11:37 AM, kenk24 said:

Most Thai have a very short 3 letter nickname - nit, noy , lek, gai, etc... and mispronunciation and strangling of English, just for us, to show they are trying, well, isn't that part of the cultural charm?

 

my favorite was Reginald - shortened to "Wretch"

 

viva la difference!!

I am Rod, yet to hear it pronounced as anything other than Lob

[1FinickyOne]

9 minutes ago, Rod the Sod said:

I am Rod, yet to hear it pronounced as anything other than Lob

Then there you have it. 

 

I had a neighbor named Lopb... or laupb... 

 

**** Sure... Ralph

[firefox999uk]

My name is serpico...thais call me SIR....Just kidding,

 

Steve = Stiv

[Mukdahanman]

My name is Clive and Thais simply cannot pronounce it. It comes out as Krab, Klub or Klib- so I generally use my middle name, Martin. They have absolutely no problem with that.