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

[sungod]

2 hours ago, 123Stodg said:

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

 Says who?

[Harrisfan]

2 minutes ago, sungod said:

 Says who?

Says him.

[riclag]

1 hour ago, BritManToo said:

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.

Bravo!

I cringe when a falang offers up a  Wai 

in my direction!

 

 

[FriscoKid]

5 minutes ago, riclag said:

Bravo!

I cringe when a falang offers up a  Wai 

in my direction!

 

 

Are you sure the foreigner is giving you an actual Wai and not merely trying to block the BO from entering his nostrils? Could be neh?

[jas007]

2 hours 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. 

 If I had a "Why Would I Care" file cabinet, this is where I'd file this question.  

[carlyai]

2 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

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. 

I like it and always use it. You're not a foreigner but a Falang to me in Thailand.

[Harrisfan]

15 minutes ago, riclag said:

Bravo!

I cringe when a falang offers up a  Wai 

in my direction!

 

 

Some farangs wai at a temple

[dinsdale]

2 hours ago, 123Stodg said:

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.

Some????? All would be closer to the mark.

[StayinThailand2much]

1 hour ago, Harrisfan said:

You must avoid a lot of businesses.

 

Yes, but not my loss. And again, it always depends on the syllable stress. One can easily hear, if Thais use the word as a slur, or not.

[sammieuk1]

I like my Farang label more than my Alien status 🤔

[pomchop]

 

 

A few things I am more concerned about:

 

1.  Why did the baht bus not pick me up when I waved to him?

2.  Why did nobody stop when I tried to walk across the street in a clearly marked crosswalk?

3.  Why did the waitress not tell me that happy hour would end in five minutes?

4.  Why do Thai people always seem to be happy?

5.  Why do Thai people eat so much food and not get fat?

6.  Why do so many farangs live here for decades and not learn to count to ten in Thai?

7.  Why do so many farangs talk so loud?

8.  Why do farangs worry so much?

9.  Why do farangs talk too muttt?

10.  Why do farangs tink too mutt?

11.  Why would an old fat farang think a hot young thai babe actually is in love with him?

12.  Why do i have to fill out all those forms and what happens to them?

13.  Why do Thais not understand me when I talk louder?

14.  Why do so many Thai people have to talk so fast?

15.  Why is it so hot and humid here?

16.  Why do little old ladies jump the que at 7/11?

17.  How many times a day do I hear "hello welcome"?

18.  Am I a cheap charlie because I like to eat at cheap charlies?

19.  How many Thais can fit on one motorbike?

20.  Why do farangs call foreigners farangs?

21.  Why is pronounced like falang or falong but spelled farang?

[StayinThailand2much]

2 hours ago, FriscoKid said:

For many locals who aren't well educated, it might be the only word for foreigner that they know.

 

I think, there is a word for 'foreigner' in the Thai language...

[BangkokReady]

3 hours ago, 123Stodg said:

Are these people trying to sound more integrated into Thai culture?

 

Yes.  They're trying to show that they are part of the "in group".  What's funny is, you even get foreigners who use it as a pejorative, as if they themselves aren't also a foreigner.

 

There are a lot of low self-esteem people in Thailand, and they often need to believe that Thailand is superior to other countries, that they are superior to others as a result, and that they are "more Thai" than other foreigners.

[riclag]

1 hour ago, FriscoKid said:

Are you sure the foreigner is giving you an actual Wai and not merely trying to block the BO from entering his nostrils? Could be neh?

More insults from the forum kids!

 

 

[GammaGlobulin]

45 minutes ago, StayinThailand2much said:

 

I think, there is a word for 'foreigner' in the Thai language...

 

Of course there is.

Same goes for most languages.

 

[Harrisfan]

47 minutes ago, pomchop said:

 

 

A few things I am more concerned about:

 

1.  Why did the baht bus not pick me up when I waved to him?

2.  Why did nobody stop when I tried to walk across the street in a clearly marked crosswalk?

3.  Why did the waitress not tell me that happy hour would end in five minutes?

4.  Why do Thai people always seem to be happy?

5.  Why do Thai people eat so much food and not get fat?

6.  Why do so many farangs live here for decades and not learn to count to ten in Thai?

7.  Why do so many farangs talk so loud?

8.  Why do farangs worry so much?

9.  Why do farangs talk too muttt?

10.  Why do farangs tink too mutt?

11.  Why would an old fat farang think a hot young thai babe actually is in love with him?

12.  Why do i have to fill out all those forms and what happens to them?

13.  Why do Thais not understand me when I talk louder?

14.  Why do so many Thai people have to talk so fast?

15.  Why is it so hot and humid here?

16.  Why do little old ladies jump the que at 7/11?

17.  How many times a day do I hear "hello welcome"?

18.  Am I a cheap charlie because I like to eat at cheap charlies?

19.  How many Thais can fit on one motorbike?

20.  Why do farangs call foreigners farangs?

21.  Why is pronounced like falang or falong but spelled farang?

Nobody says falang or falong

[riclag]

1 hour ago, Harrisfan said:

Some farangs wai at a temple

I get wai’s at  restaurants  and the grocery stores from falangs

[SLOWHAND225]

3 hours ago, Alpha84 said:

Cracker! lol. 

 

Excuse me, 2 Coonasses in this home. Thank you. lol

[riclag]

4 minutes ago, Harrisfan said:

Nobody says falang or falong

Thai’s do, many not all have a hard time forming the R sound!

 My name is Ricky , when some Thai’s 

say Ricky, its  always Licky . 

[Gobbler]

Using that word is beyond the pale. Why not refer to every foreigner in the polite form: 

 

Good morning, Khun Potato Head. May I pour you a cup of coffee?

[Acharn]

4 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

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. 

This is absurd. It seems to have been adopted from Parsi "fereng" around 1500, and specifically refers to people of European extraction. Since the Vietnam War, most Thais also apply it to American blacks. It's not derogatory at all. You must be paranoid to think it is.

[impulse]

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

Because it takes too long to say "western foreigner who dresses kind of funny".

 

Same reason we expats in China refer to ourselves as laowai.

 

[jayboy]

4 hours ago, 123Stodg said:

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

 

Actually they do.It's a convenient shorthand way of describing Westerners.

 

Contrary to what some here believe, there is no particular derogatory meaning to the word.

 

 

[Harrisfan]

56 minutes ago, riclag said:

Thai’s do, many not all have a hard time forming the R sound!

 My name is Ricky , when some Thai’s 

say Ricky, its  always Licky . 

Thais add Rs to words all the time. 

[cdemundo]

Meh.

Who cares

 

[freedomnow]

What is the direct translation of farang ? White monkey in string vest with giant belly ?

[The Old Bull]

Lighten up it's not important. Didn't Hong Kong have a football team that called themselves "the foreign devils"?

[saintdomingo]

4 hours ago, Harrisfan said:

Some farangs wai at a temple

Some farangs may have done nearly 2,500 posts in their first 3 weeks on here.