Thais unable to pronounce your name?

[AAArdvark]

I use grab a couple times a week.  The only drop off spot near where I want to go that works with Grab is a place called the Ba Ba Bo Bo Bar.  It is hysterical listening the Grab drivers trying to pronounce it. 

[jgarbo]

On 5/6/2019 at 11:15 AM, beachproperty said:

My name is Randy......Landy is the Thai version

R and L are loosely pronounced in Standard Thai, and often not at all in Bangkok Thai. Also "kw" becomes "f". My given name has Rs and Ls, so I say I'm Jack, easy to say and no derogatory connotations. "John" is dangerous. Then again, how good is your pronunciation of Thai names?

Edited May 9, 2019 by jgarbo

[Wake Up]

Speaking Thai is hard for westerners and speaking English is hard for Asians, Brits,  Scottish and Irish. ????????????????????

[Black arab]

My name is not william but that is what im called, i sponsored a stall at a local party  my name wss spelt villain!!!!

[Pique Dard]

the first time i heard someone be called Michen by my thai girlfriend i didn't quite get it as we were only  two in the room. later on, i learnt the letter "l" is pronounced "n". so Michel in france  is Michen in thailand

[Lacessit]

My name is easy for my GF. She calls me ATM.

[justin case]

my name is buck and I am here to ...

 

(anyone gets the reference ?)

[Lacessit]

3 hours ago, justin case said:

my name is buck and I am here to ...

 

(anyone gets the reference ?)

Subtlety is not your forte?

[Nyezhov]

38 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

Subtlety is not your forte?

audentes Fortuna adiuvat

Fortune Favours the bold

[Lacessit]

1 hour ago, Nyezhov said:

audentes Fortuna adiuvat

Fortune Favours the bold

Si tacuisses philosophus mansisses. Google is your friend.

Edited May 9, 2019 by Lacessit

[Maybole]

I am reminded of Michael Palin weweasing Wodewick. My Thai family never try to pronounce my name (it is Scottish Gaelic wih L R and S in it). I am Koi, Loong, Khun Ta or Grampa depending on relationship.

And, have you ever heard an Englishman tring to say "Burglar" properly.

[RickBradford]

Working in Vietnam one time, I was told that some streets were blocked off because a VIP motorcade carrying the important diplomat Can Binh was arriving in town for an international meeting.

 

It was a few days later that I discovered they were talking about Carl Bildt.

[lemonjelly]

I’m Dave, but all my neighbors keep calling me “ Naa Hee” whatever that is.

[marcusarelus]

Just now, lemonjelly said:

I’m Dave, but all my neighbors keep calling me “ Naa Hee” whatever that is.

At least they don't call you Jim. 

[Isaanbiker]

   They always have a problem to pronounce my name Aristoteles properly.

       But Testicles is okay for me. 

[Isaanbiker]

4 minutes ago, lemonjelly said:

I’m Dave, but all my neighbors keep calling me “ Naa Hee” whatever that is.

Now you're kidding, right? Naa Hee means Pu__y Face. 

[RickBradford]

9 minutes ago, lemonjelly said:

I’m Dave, but all my neighbors keep calling me “ Naa Hee” whatever that is.

Do you not get on with the neighbours?

 

'Naa' is a Thai word meaning uncle, but the only meaning of 'hee', assuming you heard it right, is a vulgar anatomical association.

 

If it is 'heea', that is a loanword from Chinese meaning 'elder brother', but why you would be both uncle and elder brother, I can't imagine. 

 

Perhaps some discreet research is called for.

 

EDIT: What @isaanbiker says may be closer to the truth; it's a question of the tones used to form the words.

Edited May 9, 2019 by RickBradford
Add info

[Nyezhov]

40 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

Si tacuisses philosophus mansisses. Google is your friend.

A Latin grammar would be yours ????

[stephen tracy]

My name is Steve but here it's Stiyab. I've gone used to it and often introduce myself as such. 

[lemonjelly]

4 hours ago, Isaanbiker said:

Now you're kidding, right? Naa Hee means Pu__y Face. 

Come here and say that, I’ll knock your block off

????

[DaRoadrunner]

Lady Roadrunner (Loadlunnuuh) wanted to go see a movie starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, which came out as Ah-No-Shiver-Nigger.

[CLS]

I’m Dave, but all my neighbors keep calling me “ Naa Hee” whatever that is.

You made my day.
Troller of the week.


Sent from my iPad using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

[Damrongsak]

I'm lucky.  My nickname is Dick and the girls don't have a problem with it.

 

I imported a number of Thai in-laws to USA about 10 years ago.  Bro-in-law is "Goo", not a problem.  But then there's Nong, Neen, Nap and Noth.  Try saying all those fast after a few beers.

[Nemises]

[Damrongsak]

6 hours ago, lemonjelly said:

I’m Dave, but all my neighbors keep calling me “ Naa Hee” whatever that is.

Dabe, pay more attention.  Get some respect.  Are they calling you "I Naa Hee" behind your back?  "Khun Naa Hee" would be more respectful. Perhaps you should smile more - don't pout.

[Framptn1972]

I found an old ESL evaluation for my wife when she went to Murray State Kentucky.  It stated she had difficulty, and still does, pronouncing certain letters. L, R, W and H are killers and then she tells me to say Ngongoo... Pud Thai nit noi

 

 

[Damrongsak]

On 5/9/2019 at 4:46 PM, Framptn1972 said:

I found an old ESL evaluation for my wife when she went to Murray State Kentucky.  It stated she had difficulty, and still does, pronouncing certain letters. L, R, W and H are killers and then she tells me to say Ngongoo... Pud Thai nit noi

I got on the snake sound awhile back, and tried to get the most convoluted phrase with that NG sound I could.  Got a bit bored before I could get it all right, but it was something like a sleepy slithery snake sliding sideways and some such, all with the NG sound. Nguyen in Vietnamese isn't easy, depending on where you are from.

[Nemises]

A poll by audiobook company Audible has revealed the most mispronounced names in literature. Here are the worst offenders:

1. Don Quixote (44%) from Don Quixote, Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra, 1605-1615


Don-Key-Hoh-Tee, not Don Quicks-Oat

2. Daenerys Targaryen (28%) from Game Of Thrones, George R. R. Martin, 1996

Duh-Nair-Ris Tar-Gair-Ee-In, not Dee-Nay-Ris Targ--Ahh-Ruh-Yen

3. Oedipus (23%) from Oedipus Rex, Sophocles, 429BC

Ee-Di-Pus, not Oh-Eh-Di-Pus

4. Hermione (22%) from The Harry Potter Series, J.K. Rowling, 1997-2007

Her-My-Oh-Knee, not ‘Her-Mee-Own

5. Beowulf (16%) from Beowulf, Unknown Author, C.700-1000

Bay-Oh-Woolf, not Bee-Oh-Wulf

6. Poirot (15%) from 33 of Agatha Christie's Novels, 1920 - 1975

Pwa-Row, not Poy-Rot

7. Smaug (13%) from The Hobbit, J.R.R. Tolkien, 1937

Sm-Owg, not Sm-Org

8. Voldemort (12%) from The Harry Potter Series, J.K. Rowling, 1997-2007

Vol-De-More, not Vol-De-Mort

9. Violet Beauregarde (12%) from Charlie and The Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl, 1964

Vie-Ah-Let Bore-R-Garrr, not Bore-Ruh-Gard

10. Piscine Patel (11%) from Life Of Pi, Yann Martel, 2001

Piss-Een Pat-El, not Pis-Kine Pat-il

[mrfill]