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

[carlyai]

5 hours ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

Some Foreigners here are ignorant, poorly educated. 

 

Yes they are.

[Scottie12]

The ones that p--s me off are the 'Ooh,look at me,I've been here a long time' who say falang.

[JJ-Thailand]

A white foreigner in Thailand calls another white foreigner for "Farang" is the same as when a black US guy call another black US guy for "Ni***r".

[newbee2022]

24 minutes ago, carlyai said:

It's because these people haven't lived in Thailand for over 30 years and never learnt to speak Thai and never lived in other parts of Thailand except Falang parts. 🙂

It's only an insult if you say ' look at that f....ing Farang'.

In modern Thailand, the Royal Institute Dictionary 1999, the official dictionary of Thai words, defines the word as "a person of white race". The term is also blended into everyday terms meaning "of/from the white race".

(Google)

So this term is only referring to Whites but not to all foreigners❗

[carlyai]

13 minutes ago, newbee2022 said:

In modern Thailand, the Royal Institute Dictionary 1999, the official dictionary of Thai words, defines the word as "a person of white race". The term is also blended into everyday terms meaning "of/from the white race".

(Google)

So this term is only referring to Whites but not to all foreigners❗

Well that's not how I use the word. I use it to mean me and most foreigners.

 

[Bday Prang]

19 minutes ago, JJ-Thailand said:

A white foreigner in Thailand calls another white foreigner for "Farang" is the same as when a black US guy call another black US guy for "Ni***r".

Don't be ridiculous

[Andycoops]

The term farang has been absorbed into the colloquial language used by many farangs who have lived here along time.

 

It just part of everyday speech, there is nothing pretentious or otherwise about it.

[newbee2022]

9 minutes ago, carlyai said:

Well that's not how I use the word. I use it to mean me and most foreigners.

 

So there is a discrepancy. I prefer to use it according to the Thai meaning.

(Chinese are foreigners too in Thailand but not called farangs) I mentioned the Explaination from Google 

[WDSmart]

I use the terms "expat" or "foreigners" when talking with other Farangs. I use the term "Farang" to designate expats or foreigners when talking with Thais.

[seajae]

while I dont refer to us as farangs when talking  I do use farang when writing as its what we are called by the locals, I dont take offence to it at all unless said with venom, its usually said in driendly spirits. Words do not always have negative feelings attached to them, I do not use farang as an insult and never would, I actually have several other words I can use if I wanted to insult someone, really think some people just have very thin skin if they take offence at slang, yes it can be said to be derogatory but mostly not.

[Gecko123]

3 hours ago, newbee2022 said:

In modern Thailand, the Royal Institute Dictionary 1999, the official dictionary of Thai words, defines the word as "a person of white race". The term is also blended into everyday terms meaning "of/from the white race".

(Google)

So this term is only referring to Whites but not to all foreigners❗

You are confusing the etymological roots of the word with how it is colloquially used in present day Thailand. In present day Thailand "farang" is synonymous with Westerners, quite often irrespective of their race. As several posters have pointed out, people with black, south American, middle eastern ancestry routinely are included under the colloquial umbrella term of "farang." In addition, treating the Royal Institute Dictionary (or any dictionary) as the absolute be all to end all authority on usage is a mistake. These reference tools have definitional imprecisions which oftentimes go decades before they are updated or corrected. If you don't believe me that the term "farang" is routinely used in reference to non-whites, ask the next non-Caucasian you pass on the street whether they are ever referred to as "farang" in Thailand. I can guarantee you that the answer will be 'yes.'

[PB172111]

22 hours ago, Harrisfan said:

So you pick up old Spanish speaking ladies?

I can clearly see why you have your nickname 🤣🤣🤣

[Harrisfan]

2 minutes ago, PB172111 said:

I can clearly see why you have your nickname 🤣🤣🤣

What does that mean?

[carlyai]

3 hours ago, newbee2022 said:

So there is a discrepancy. I prefer to use it according to the Thai meaning.

(Chinese are foreigners too in Thailand but not called farangs) I mentioned the Explaination from Google 

Yeah that's why I said 'most'. I call Chinese Khun Cheen.

[jippytum]

I am not offended by the term Farang no more than being called an  Alien or Foreigner by immigration. 

[newbee2022]

20 minutes ago, carlyai said:

Yeah that's why I said 'most'. I call Chinese Khun Cheen.

...and what about the other Asians?? How do you know where are they coming from?? 

[newbee2022]

41 minutes ago, Gecko123 said:

You are confusing the etymological roots of the word with how it is colloquially used in present day Thailand. In present day Thailand "farang" is synonymous with Westerners, quite often irrespective of their race. As several posters have pointed out, people with black, south American, middle eastern ancestry routinely are included under the colloquial umbrella term of "farang." In addition, treating the Royal Institute Dictionary (or any dictionary) as the absolute be all to end all authority on usage is a mistake. These reference tools have definitional imprecisions which oftentimes go decades before they are updated or corrected. If you don't believe me that the term "farang" is routinely used in reference to non-whites, ask the next non-Caucasian you pass on the street whether they are ever referred to as "farang" in Thailand. I can guarantee you that the answer will be 'yes.'

You can think and do what you want🤣. And that dictionaries are not updated.....year by year.... I'm not sure. Be happy 🤗

[pakchongneil]

On 2/28/2025 at 7:00 PM, 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. 

What a load of <deleted>, quite simply it’s a simple way of identifying someone 

[AgMech Cowboy]

On 2/28/2025 at 1:00 PM, 123Stodg said:

but when used by an expat or tourist, it comes off as awkward and often just pretentious.

Only in your mind. I've never felt an awkward feeling of any kind.  If you're a white foreigner, you are a Falang (aka farang to those who can sound out an 'r').

[Burma Bill]

In reply to a useless post, here is today's useless bit of information (for reference).

 

When I lived in northern Lanna and Isaan, during my 20 years living in retirement, the word "falang" was used because the local Thais could not pronounce the letter "r".

 

when I attended a Thai conversation course at Chiang Mai University, the lady teacher from Bangkok kept trying to correct me by using "Bangkok" Thai. Another example -  nueng roi baht (one hundred baht), in my case "nueng loi baht". 

[Alidiver]

To start, Farang is not a Thai word. It is a corruption of a French word.
Second, Farang is easy to say and everyone understands the meaning whatever their language.

Third, ExPats do use the word Farang, maybe it's only you that doesn't.

 

[Kinok Farang]

My doctor used it when talking to the receptionist about me.

So if it's good enough for him,it's good enough for me.

[sharot724]

omg it is just a point of european heritage 

 

[digger70]

On 2/28/2025 at 1:18 PM, FriscoKid said:

Because it's a derogatory form of vocabulary. 

Derogatory is bad, but not necessarily insulting. Offensive is insulting, but not necessarily bad. For instance, Tom does not have sufficient credit history to get a loan. This is derogatory, but in no way reflects upon his character.

[digger70]

18 hours ago, freedomnow said:

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

 

The Thai word farang (ฝรั่ง) means "foreigner" or "non-Thai". It's often used to refer to someone from a Western country, especially a Caucasian person. 

[chuang]

On 2/28/2025 at 2:18 PM, FriscoKid said:

Because it's a derogatory form of vocabulary. 

Explain which part of the vocabulary is derogatory...Whatever name you called a Farang it's still a Farang..

[Kinok Farang]

1 hour ago, Burma Bill said:

In reply to a useless post, here is today's useless bit of information (for reference).

 

When I lived in northern Lanna and Isaan, during my 20 years living in retirement, the word "falang" was used because the local Thais could not pronounce the letter "r".

 

when I attended a Thai conversation course at Chiang Mai University, the lady teacher from Bangkok kept trying to correct me by using "Bangkok" Thai. Another example -  nueng roi baht (one hundred baht), in my case "nueng loi baht". 

You are collect.

[Ralf001]

Normaly I never use "Farang"... but I note the ones that take offense to the term.... then it is game on.

[Harrisfan]

1 hour ago, Burma Bill said:

In reply to a useless post, here is today's useless bit of information (for reference).

 

When I lived in northern Lanna and Isaan, during my 20 years living in retirement, the word "falang" was used because the local Thais could not pronounce the letter "r".

 

when I attended a Thai conversation course at Chiang Mai University, the lady teacher from Bangkok kept trying to correct me by using "Bangkok" Thai. Another example -  nueng roi baht (one hundred baht), in my case "nueng loi baht". 

R is used in many Thai words

 

Khrup

Chang (charng)

Sahm (sarm)

Farang (fararng)

 

 

[ChrisKC]

On 2/28/2025 at 1:13 PM, 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. 

It is SOMETIMES derogatory! And in many cases of its use over 20 years living in Thailand it is NOT derogatory!

 

This not my opinion but a fact involving myself!