Why Do Some Foreigners in Thailand Still Call Other Foreigners “Farang” and is it Cringe?

[Harrisfan]

1 minute ago, jerrymahoney said:

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.

Thankfully French are minorities now.

[connda]

1 hour ago, 123Stodg said:

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. 

Wanna know what's worse.  Someone who has lived here for years and still talks to Thais in broken, pidgin-English.
It's a hoot!
 

[FriscoKid]

10 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

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

I agree and I would say that in most cases it isn't intended to be derogatory. Depends on the situation and the person who is speaking it.
 

For many locals who aren't well educated, it might be the only word for foreigner that they know. But I think the question here is more about foreigners using the word who do have a larger base of vocabulary. 

[captainjackS]

The only time I use the word is when I refer to an inflated price as "farang price"  at places where Thai people sell things to farangs

 

[connda]

6 minutes ago, jerrymahoney said:

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.

They didn't call it "French Indo-China" back in the French colonial days for nothing.

[FriscoKid]

1 minute ago, connda said:

Wanna know what's worse.  Someone who has lived here for years and still talks to Thais in broken, pidgin-English.
It's a hoot!
 

I see that often too. Could be they are worried that if they speak better English that they might not be understood. A bad habit, but seemingly could have some purpose. 

[FriscoKid]

8 minutes ago, Harrisfan said:

So you pick up old Spanish speaking ladies?

Jealous.

[FriscoKid]

7 minutes ago, Harrisfan said:

Thankfully French are minorities now.

Racist. 

[KannikaP]

28 minutes ago, Harrisfan said:

I speak 2 Thai languages

English and Rubbish !

[FriscoKid]

24 minutes ago, Harrisfan said:

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

Living in Australia you would surely know what people do in the UK. 

[steve187]

1 hour ago, 123Stodg said:

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. 

trying to get your post score up, its not a derogatory remark, but could be for the right person, as posted get a few more years under your belt to fully understand the ins and outs of Thailand, hust take it in your stride

[FriscoKid]

11 minutes ago, jerrymahoney said:

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.

It is also the Thai word for green guava fruit.

[jerrymahoney]

8 minutes ago, FriscoKid said:

It is also the Thai word for green guava fruit.

And man-farang is potato but 'potato eater' is old slang for Irish

[Gecko123]

In my opinion, the OP's suppositions about why foreigners use the word farang are almost entirely incorrect.

 

 It is not true that most foreigners who have lived in Thailand for a long time don't use the word "farang." In fact, someone who is in an area where they are mostly interacting with Thais on a daily basis ore the ones most likely to use the term because they hear the term used most frequently.

 

"Farang" is a Thai word used colloquially as shorthand for "foreigner", i.e. a non Thai westerner, which foreigners have incorporated into their vocabulary out of habit of hearing it used. It is not a derogatory term, and most certainly not a racial epitaph, although if someone is angry at you, like just about any word, it can be used in a derogatory manner on occasion.

 

The OP seems to be suggesting that there should be a rigid barrier between vocabulary used with Thais vs foreigners, which isn't how language is used in everyday usage.

 

I don't think it comes off as "awkward, pretentious, unnatural or cringy" when foreigners use the term, nor does it sound "forced", "noob-ish" or in poor taste, anymore than someone with a limited knowledge of Thai incorporating "sawadee" or "khob kuhn" into their vocabulary.

 

I think the OP's efforts to try and make people feel self-conscious about incorporating Thai words into their vocabulary whether they're long term expats or just here on vacation are misguided.

[GammaGlobulin]

NO.

Not cringe.

I am a Farang.

I call all other Farang in Thailand, FARANG.

i LIKE it this way.

I have lived in Asia most of my life.

But, I am not Asian.

I am FARANG.

 

I like being a Farang in Asia, though.

Sometimes, I refer to myself as a RoundEye.

Referring to myself as a RoundEye cracks me up.

 

When I first arrived in Asia, everybody was looking at me as an ODDITY.

 

But, not as a SpaceOddity.

 

When I walked down the street, people would not look at me as they approached.

Instead, after passing, they would turn around and stare.

So then, I would turn around and look back at them staring at me...and...

SMILE

 

This was my experience in Taiwan before the 1980s.

 

Also, speaking of an ODDITY....

I would often hum to myself that great Bowie classic.....SPACE ODDITY.

Sometimes, I would sing to myself I am a Moon Man, you know  the one.

 

If you don't, then I will link to these two songs below, for your edification:

 

Who does NOT ....LOVE....Ray?

 

Back in the Day....

Everyone would stare at me.

This was what I loved MOST about living in Asia.

 

 

 

[RSD1]

Over 30 years ago, I used to hear locals in Bangkok using the word quite often. Nowadays, and for the last 15+ years, as education levels have risen in Bangkok, many locals tend to use a more polite three-word phrase in Thai that translates to “person of a different ethnicity” when referring to foreigners.

 

Interestingly, I now mostly hear other foreigners using the word, and to be honest, it does makes me cringe every time.

[Harrisfan]

29 minutes ago, FriscoKid said:

I see that often too. Could be they are worried that if they speak better English that they might not be understood. A bad habit, but seemingly could have some purpose. 

Nobody wants to speak to you.

[Harrisfan]

Just now, RSD1 said:

Over 30 years ago, I used to hear locals in Bangkok using the word quite often. Nowadays, and for the last 15+ years, as education levels have risen in Bangkok, many locals tend to use a more polite three-word phrase in Thai that translates to “person of a different ethnicity” when referring to foreigners.

 

Interestingly, I now mostly hear other foreigners using the word, and to be honest, it makes me cringe every time.

Foreigner is English, farang is Thai. Why would they use the word foreigner? I never use it in the west. 

[Liverpool Lou]

31 minutes ago, FriscoKid said:

39 minutes ago, Harrisfan said:

Thankfully French are minorities now.

Racist. 

Nothing whatsoever "racist" in that comment...unless he's black.

[Harrisfan]

33 minutes ago, KannikaP said:

English and Rubbish !

Amazing response from a stalker

[Harrisfan]

31 minutes ago, FriscoKid said:

It is also the Thai word for green guava fruit.

Wow, you know so much about Thailand. 

[FriscoKid]

19 minutes ago, Harrisfan said:

Nobody wants to speak to you.

 

I’m grateful for that. Yet, here you are speaking to me anyway. Seems it’s time for your afternoon lie-down, Susan.

[FriscoKid]

1 minute ago, Harrisfan said:

Wow, you know so much about Thailand. 

Not nearly as much as you, BigNok. 

[scorecard]

1 hour ago, 123Stodg said:

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. 

 

Seems to me there's no need to use the word farang, just use the word foreigner(s).

[Gecko123]

7 minutes ago, RSD1 said:

Over 30 years ago, I used to hear locals in Bangkok using the word quite often. Nowadays, and for the last 15+ years, as education levels have risen in Bangkok, many locals tend to use a more polite three-word phrase in Thai that translates to “person of a different ethnicity” when referring to foreigners.

 

Interestingly, I now mostly hear other foreigners using the word, and to be honest, it does makes me cringe every time.

"Khon tang chat" doesn't mean person of a different ethnicity. It means person of a different nationality, i.e., foreigner. While this term is definitely more polite and, if you will, high brow, I think the main reason "farang" may have slipped in usage in more urban(e) settings is because Thais have picked up on social media that some foreigners dislike the term, labeling it as derogatory or even a racial label. It is however still widely used colloquially throughout Thailand.

[FriscoKid]

18 minutes ago, GammaGlobulin said:

NO.

Not cringe.

I am a Farang.

I call all other Farang in Thailand, FARANG.

i LIKE it this way.

I have lived in Asia most of my life.

But, I am not Asian.

I am FARANG.

 

I like being a Farang in Asia, though.

Sometimes, I refer to myself as a RoundEye.

Referring to myself as a RoundEye cracks me up.

 

When I first arrived in Asia, everybody was looking at me as an ODDITY.

 

But, not as a SpaceOddity.

 

When I walked down the street, people would not look at me as they approached.

Instead, after passing, they would turn around and stare.

So then, I would turn around and look back at them staring at me...and...

SMILE

 

This was my experience in Taiwan before the 1980s.

 

Also, speaking of an ODDITY....

I would often hum to myself that great Bowie classic.....SPACE ODDITY.

Sometimes, I would sing to myself I am a Moon Man, you know  the one.

 

If you don't, then I will link to these two songs below, for your edification:

 

Who does NOT ....LOVE....Ray?

 

Back in the Day....

Everyone would stare at me.

This was what I loved MOST about living in Asia.

 

 

 

Well done GammaFarang, another one of your cringe, largely off-topic posts, laden with YouTube music videos that nobody needs. A true oddity indeed. 

[GammaGlobulin]

One other observation:

 

Having lived in Asia a long time, and in Thailand for some years, and not a few years,...

I have noticed that Farang and Asian facial features are not quite the same.

 

This does not bother me, however, because, ....

I am happy and comfortable in my own skin.

Also, I am very handsome.

 

I like it best when they call out to me....

 

Hey...Handsome Farang!!!!

 

 

[StayinThailand2much]

Thais who use this word, except in a well-meaning tone, or unknowledgeable sense (both rare), I simply ignore. If they have a business, I vote with my feet. Similarly, ignorant foreigners that use the F-word, showing me that they have 'gone native', I usually ignore, or avoid as well. 

[FriscoKid]

1 minute ago, Gecko123 said:

"Khon tang chat" doesn't mean person of a different ethnicity. It means person of a different nationality, i.e., foreigner. While this term is definitely more polite and, if you will, high brow, I think the main reason "farang" may have slipped in usage in more urban(e) settings is because Thais have picked up on social media that some foreigners dislike the term, labeling it as derogatory or even a racial label. It is however still widely used colloquially throughout Thailand.

chat can mean both ethnicity or nationality, it depends on context. Whereas chat by itself might mean nationality, cheuh chat means ethnicity. So neither is wrong. 

[Harrisfan]

11 minutes ago, StayinThailand2much said:

Thais who use this word, except in a well-meaning tone, or unknowledgeable sense (both rare), I simply ignore. If they have a business, I vote with my feet. Similarly, ignorant foreigners that use the F-word, showing me that they have 'gone native', I usually ignore, or avoid as well. 

You must avoid a lot of businesses.