One of the most awkward language habits I often see in Thailand is when foreigners refer to other foreigners as “Farang” while speaking with each other in English. Sure, it’s a term that some Thais still use to describe Westerners, but when used by an expat or tourist, it comes off as awkward and often just pretentious.

 

Are these people trying to sound more integrated into Thai culture? Is it an attempt to flaunt their (often very limited) Taxi-Thai language skills? In most cases, it seems to be short-term visitors or those with only a surface-level understanding of the Thai language who use “Farang” instead of simply saying “foreigner” or “Westerner.” They may think it makes them sound more in tune with local culture, but to many long-term expats, it just sounds unnatural and even cringy.

 

Most foreigners who have lived in Thailand for a long time don’t use the word “Farang” when speaking with other foreigners. They understand that in an English conversation, words like “expat,” “tourist,” "Westerner", or “foreigner” make more sense. The only real reason for a foreigner to even use “Farang” is when speaking Thai with a Thai person, especially if that Thai person doesn’t speak much English, but even then there are better words in Thai which don't carry any kind of negative stigma. 

 

So why does this habit persist? Maybe some foreigners enjoy peppering their English with the small handful of Thai words they know, hoping it adds a bit of local flair to their speech. But to others, it just sounds forced, unnatural, noob, and in poor taste. 

Why does it matter?

1 minute ago, Stocky said:

Why does it matter?

Why does anything in this world matter? Why does a dog lick his own nads? Because he can.

Yes. It is a derogatory term regardless of how normalized it's become here, and I always refer to people from other countries as foreigners, and refuse to use the word farang. 

 

And it's most polite version it means outsider or "not one of us". For an expat who's been living here for many years and contributing to Thailand in countless ways, that is an insult, and I don't like it, nor will I use the term. 

12 minutes ago, Stocky said:

Why does it matter?

Because it's a derogatory form of vocabulary. 

12 minutes ago, Stocky said:

Why does it matter?

99.9% of things don't matter. Humans are looking for meaning in a meanlingless world.

19 minutes ago, 123Stodg said:

Most foreigners who have lived in Thailand for a long time don’t use the word “Farang”

Most farang expats are idiots who can barely speak Thai. 

1 minute ago, Harrisfan said:

99.9% of things don't matter. Humans are looking for meaning in a meanlingless world.

Couldn't have said it any better. You just described 100% of your hundreds of meaningless daily posts. Bravo, Susan. 

1 minute ago, Harrisfan said:

Most farang expats are idiots who can barely speak Thai. 

Every foreigner I know in Thailand speaks good Thai.

A bit like Polack. Yes, they are Polish Americans, but Polack still sounds rather off.

41 minutes ago, 123Stodg said:

So why does this habit persist?

Because a lot of foreigners are white racists.

And they'll only say it once to me, as I avoid racists once identified.

 

But it's fun to watch them wai the hookers and serving staff.

15 minutes ago, Harrisfan said:

Most farang expats are idiots who can barely speak Thai. 

I've never had the urge to speak the local language when on holiday.

Not to mention, nobody I know speaks central Thai as their first language and most speak English.

My misses speaks Lanna/Lao/village as her first 3 languages (her mom only speaks village).

Last week out in a bar the first lady I sat with spoke Tai Yai, and the second was Lisu as their 1st language.

 

It's not as if the Central Thai language is much use outside of Thailand, unlike Spanish and French.

21 minutes ago, Harrisfan said:

Most farang expats are idiots who can barely speak Thai. 

And this is coming from the  brain surgeon himself.

Just now, theshu25 said:

And this is coming from the  brain surgeon himself.

I speak 2 Thai languages

 

Here's you

10 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

I've never had the urge to speak the local language when on holiday.

Not to mention, nobody I know speaks central Thai as their first language and most speak English.

My misses speaks Lanna/Lao/village as her first 3 languages (her mom only speaks village).

Last week out in a bar the first lady I sat with spoke Tai Yai, and the second was Lisu as their 1st language.

 

It's not as if the Central Thai language is much use outside of Thailand, unlike Spanish and French.

Yet in the UK you guys whinge when English isn't spoken. 

26 minutes ago, Harrisfan said:

99.9% of things don't matter. Humans are looking for meaning in a meanlingless world.

You mean like farangs who wear Hawaiian shirts looking for meaning in a meanlingless world?

48 minutes ago, 123Stodg said:

 

So why does this habit persist?

Agreed. I prefer Honkie.

Just now, Alpha84 said:

You mean like farangs who wear Hawaiian shirts looking for meaning in a meanlingless world?

Nice. 

7 minutes ago, Harrisfan said:

Yet in the UK you guys whinge when English isn't spoken. 

I don't know, I'm not there, and when I was I was teaching French, Spanish and German in high school.

When I meet a Farang I refer to him as Farang and do a proper wai after I lick my balls

1 minute ago, BritManToo said:

I don't know, I'm not there, and when I was I was teaching French, Spanish and German in high school.

Which are useless in Thailand.

2 minutes ago, jerrymahoney said:

Agreed. I prefer Honkie.

Cracker! lol. 

5 minutes ago, Harrisfan said:

Which are useless in Thailand.

Not if I'm in a bar with hot Spanish or French girls.

1 minute ago, Celsius said:

When I meet a Farang I refer to him as Farang and do a proper wai after I lick my balls

Try doing both at the same time. You might end up with the tips of your fingers up your anose. 

Just now, BritManToo said:

Not if I'm in a bar with hot Spanish or French girls.

Which you never are.

31 minutes ago, FriscoKid said:

Because it's a derogatory form of vocabulary. 

It can be but, depending on the context, it is not always intended to be.

8 minutes ago, Harrisfan said:

Which you never are.

Actually, been in bars with Spanish ladies many times in CM and Hanoi, not to mention I've encountered lots of elderly Filipinos that spoke Spanish. And in Saigon my local bar owner was a French speaking Vietnamese.

 

German has never been much use though, and I've forgotten most of it now. 

As I see it 'farang' is just a corruption of the Thai word for French because, if you met a white person in SE Asia 100+ years ago, he was, on most occasions, French.

I have sometimes told Thai persons that -- although I do not care about the word 'farang' -- there are a lot of farangs out there who do.

5 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Actually, been in bars with Spanish ladies many times in CM and Hanoi, not to mention I've encountered lots of elderly Filipinos that spoke Spanish. And in Saigon my local bar owner was a French speaking Vietnamese.

 

German has never been much use though, and I've forgotten most of it now. 

So you pick up old Spanish speaking ladies?

Haven't been around for very long, 'eh?
Give it a five or more years living here full time and you'll grasp it farang.