My Friend You

[Khon Baan Nok]

My girlfriend and I came across a Pattaya bar amusingly named:

"My Friend You"

We continue to ponder the meaning of this, and what underlying Thai phrase it stems from, and how it would be phrased in standard English.

Is it a second person reference pointing to "you", as in:

You are my friend - คุณเป็นเพื่อนผม.

Or is it a third person reference pointing to someone else:

A friend of yours - เพื่อนของคุณ .

A Mongolian friend of ours who seems to be conversant with bar vernacular believes the second example is the correct one. Anybody know for sure?

Tks.

[Mid]

for sure , not a clue

my belief , the second example

TIT ( an acronym that I don't use often )

[Crossy]

If my wife were to use it, it would most certainly mean:-

A friend of yours - เพื่อนของคุณ .

[Acquiesce]

I have had numerous Thai people say 'my friend you' to me, every time, without exception they meant 'your friend', refering to a third person.

[lost_in_space]

And "you® friend me" means "my friend"

It has has to do with Thai word order, I think. Adjectives follow nouns...which actually seems more logical to me.

[Jim's_a_Thai_Fox]

yep, it means 'your friend'.

Strange, as the Thais should say 'friend of you' (roughly from the phonetic Thai 'peu-an kong khun') as they should just simply transliterate - but, hey, i think it's a great little phrase and it always brings a smile to my face...

Their ability to jumble up possessive adjectives is fab - like in a govt place when the solemn looking lady asks me 'what my name?'... it's very tempting to try and guess.

[meadish_sweetball]

I have had numerous Thai people say 'my friend you' to me, every time, without exception they meant 'your friend', refering to a third person.

Seconded. Simply speaking, in Thai pidgin English, for some reason "my friend" is one word, meaning 'friend'.

And as has been said, the description follows the thing being described...

Why people add a 'my' in front of friend I don't know. It is not a direct translation from any proper Thai expression. My guess is it started with Thai people listening to foreigners mentioning 'my friend' and thinking it meant เพื่อน - Thais often do not specify with possessive pronoun unless it is necessary.

I think it is now being perpetuated by Thais learning from each other. Thais who have studied English formally would not use this, it is something you hear in the bars and tourist areas.

[Richard W]

Seconded. Simply speaking, in Thai pidgin English, for some reason "my friend" is one word, meaning 'friend'.

Compare French milord 'English gentleman', from my lord.

[Johpa]

I have had numerous Thai people say 'my friend you' to me, every time, without exception they meant 'your friend', refering to a third person.

Seconded. Simply speaking, in Thai pidgin English, for some reason "my friend" is one word, meaning 'friend'.

And as has been said, the description follows the thing being described...

Why people add a 'my' in front of friend I don't know. It is not a direct translation from any proper Thai expression. My guess is it started with Thai people listening to foreigners mentioning 'my friend' and thinking it meant เพื่อน - Thais often do not specify with possessive pronoun unless it is necessary.

I think it is now being perpetuated by Thais learning from each other. Thais who have studied English formally would not use this, it is something you hear in the bars and tourist areas.

I reckon it is just an example of common bar-girl English entering a more widely based lexicon.

[jeabsun]

I am Thai but I have no clue about its meaning. However, sometimes, the names of bars or Pubs have no meaning. They just name their bars in such as way that people will recognize it.

[OM3N]

As usual Meadish knows what he's talking about. IMO it definitely stemmed from Thais hearing falang say "my friend" and considering it to be one word.

[Johpa]

As usual Meadish knows what he's talking about. IMO it definitely stemmed from Thais hearing falang say "my friend" and considering it to be one word.

Sort of like, eh, all those who thought, based upon hearing the lyrics to Purple Haze, that Jimi Hendrix was gay.

scuse me while I kiss this guy