On 5/24/2026 at 9:05 AM, Wuvu2 said:

Agree - especially by a girl you are about to barfine! Thais started calling me Papa when I was 50 😪

Depends on how you're looking and behaving. When I was 50 they called me "stallion".

On 5/24/2026 at 7:51 AM, rustinorman said:

some Thais themselves see the word “farang” as having a negative or condescending edge.

Might they use "farangs" as foreigners versus Thai citizens? Thailand with a 800 year history and minimal exposure to foreigners until maybe the 20th century creates an embedded xenophobia that might subconsciously label even Thai speaking foreigners as farangs if they are not full-fledged Thai citizens?

16 minutes ago, WDSmart said:

"The word Farang has a rich historical origin that goes back centuries. It is derived from the old Persian word “Frank,” which refers to the people from the region of France or Western Europe.

Over time, the term Frank spread to many parts of Asia, including Thailand, where it came to refer to all Europeans or Westerners." Is “Farang” a racist word? Understanding the Thai term for foreigners

I'm convinced that with the advent of mass tourism, the use of the word 'farang' has broadened even further to include almost all non-Thais, when referring to a group of tourists. What may be driving the expanded use of the word farang is the fact that the polite or formal words for foreigner "khon tang chat' and tourist 'nak tong tiaw' are multi-syllable mouthful words, and there is a natural tendency in all languages to use simpler vocabulary whenever possible.

For example, a bus load of tourists composed of Asian, Western Caucasians, South Americans, Mexicans, Middle Easterners, and Indians could easily be referred to as a bus load of "farang" as colloquial short hand for a bus load of foreign tourists. If a more specific breakdown of nationality or race was needed, that is, of course, entirely possible. In general, there isn't some racial litmus test applied before this term is used.

Even, when the use of "farang" is clearly derogatory such as when voicing frustration, resentment or anger, for example: 'ai farang,' it is used to emphasis your 'non-Thai-ness' or foreignness, almost never a racial categorization per se.

Edited May 25May 25 by Gecko123

58 minutes ago, still kicking said:

It depends on your age

Correct, watching the Thai news they would refer to a very old Thai as grandmother or grandfather. I'd probably qualify for that term.🫡

Edited May 25May 25 by roo860

1 minute ago, Srikcir said:

some Thais themselves see the word “farang” as having a negative or condescending edge.

Are you sure about that?..........I can't see it personally.............but i would be interested to hear any examples you might have.......

YES. You are "simply being too sensitive about it."

I really hope this is your biggest problem in life, for you sir, are "living the dream."
And you know who does this? White people all over the world when they lump all "Asians" into one group. Example: Mid-sized town / USA ... "Hey, whose car is parked in front of the school? "The ASIAN" ... not "The man from Thailand"

3 minutes ago, JustinTyme said:

YES. You are "simply being too sensitive about it."

I really hope this is your biggest problem in life, for you sir, are "living the dream."
And you know who does this? White people all over the world when they lump all "Asians" into one group. Example: Mid-sized town / USA ... "Hey, whose car is parked in front of the school? "The ASIAN" ... not "The man from Thailand"

If a person was describing someone they saw, and all they had was Asian, it's not really an insult, as many can't differentiate between the Asian nationalities.

When a local points at you and calls you farang, it's ignorance, as we've been here for many decades. If they were asked to describe someone they saw to another Thai, saying farang isn't an insult, as it's the same thing as the western doing so.

Many have children pointing at us and saying farang, and it's learned from their parents, and they haven't learned restraint yet so they blab it out.

If a crime was committed in either geographic area, the first way to describe the perp is by simple terms. Black, Asian, White, Brown, etc.

It all depends on the situation. Pointing out is ignorance and insulting. Talking to someone next to you out of hearing isn't.

Respect should always come first in meeting others, because prejudice gets it's beginning from disrespect, and it's a learned behavior.

Imagine walking along the main street of a Thai village in the middle of nowhere. Assuming you are a caucasian, what do you expect the locals to use as a way to describe you when talking to each other? Hey, did you see that chao dtang chart (ชาวต่างชาติ), or that khun piew kaow (คนผิวขาว), or chao dtang pratet (ชาวต่างประเทศ), etc? The go to word is "farang".

I laugh when a little kid points me out to his parents, and says "Oooh, look. A farang." I often answer back in Thai along the lines of "Yes, you are right. I am a farang". The parents usually laugh/smile back.

1 hour ago, WDSmart said:

"The word Farang has a rich historical origin that goes back centuries. It is derived from the old Persian word “Frank,” which refers to the people from the region of France or Western Europe.

Over time, the term Frank spread to many parts of Asia, including Thailand, where it came to refer to all Europeans or Westerners." Is “Farang” a racist word? Understanding the Thai term for foreigners

Thai apologist!

Naming people by their race is unacceptable, end of.

On 5/24/2026 at 7:51 AM, rustinorman said:

I have spent approximately ten years living in Thailand. I own a small condo, and everyone in my neighborhood knows me well.

What sometimes frustrates me is the way I am addressed. I am often simply “the farang,” a term that I personally perceive as dismissive or even somewhat derogatory, especially when I am around groups of Thai people. As I understand it, Thais may refer to themselves as “Khon Thai,” but they rarely say “Khon American.” Instead, it is simply “farang.”

This bothers me because, after countless conversations with Thai people over the years, I have come to understand that even some Thais themselves see the word “farang” as having a negative or condescending edge. At times, I question whether I am simply being too sensitive about it.

Many foreigners I have met in Thailand seem to have mixed feelings about the word as well, especially those who have lived there for a long time, speak the language, and understand how much tone and context can change the meaning behind it.

After so many years, it can feel frustrating to still be reduced to “the foreigner,” even though I have long considered myself part of the environment and community around me. I was wrong.,,

Mate just head home. Farang is a normal thai to refer to you

1 hour ago, newbee2022 said:

On 5/24/2026 at 9:05 AM, Wuvu2 said:

Agree - especially by a girl you are about to barfine! Thais started calling me Papa when I was 50 😪

1 hour ago, newbee2022 said:

Depends on how you're looking and behaving. When I was 50 they called me "stallion".

Sad news, brother. Thais call me "Boss" all the time, but I don't think they are quite sincere 🙄

10 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Thai apologist!

Naming people by their race is unacceptable, end of.

A bit late in life to become woke, no?

Most Thai's that know me call me uncle, ลุง.

I usually answer the phone, bahn farang.

I’m sorry precious that this word brings tears to your eyes. How about swallowing a bag of concrete and hardening up! If that’s all you can find to trouble you, why don’t you return home where you can use words to describe others than you! To be hurt by words! 😂😂😂😂😢

5 minutes ago, Beerzy65 said:

Mate just head home. Farang is a normal thai to refer to you

I was born and raised on the Big Island of Hawaii where it was way country back then and where haole was and is used to as a descriptor of a white person, mostly towards non locals and tourists also jokingly or angrily towards us white locals, totally normal. Though on Oahu the high populated island it was a bit different where it was more of a derogatory term where you might be acknowledging by “eah haole! whatchu louking at eah? You like beef or what brah?” Most of this came from pent-up local Japanese, Samoans, filipinos and Chinese that had a poor upbringing. Native Hawaiians were mostly pretty mellow friendly people throughout the islands.

I live in a southern Thai village where the 'lingua franca' is mainly Issan.
When I hear 'farang' I say 'mai bpen farang bpen bak-sii-daa'.
It's a humorous wordplay that translates loosely to: ' I’m not a thai foreigner I’m an Issan foreigner.
Saying this is a great icebreaker.
It shows that you don't take yourself too seriously.

Edited May 25May 25 by LosLobo

2 hours ago, newbee2022 said:

Depends on how you're looking and behaving. When I was 50 they called me "stallion".

So you have a horse face? Should call you Mr Ed🐴

We farangs living in Thailand will always be farangs, simply because we are farangs. This don't need to be negative — it's ancient tradition — and actually, the gate keepers at Wat Pho-temple in Bangkok are farangs...

I've been living permanently here for 21 years. For Thais that know me and remembers my name, I'm "khun Per". For those not knowing my name I'm "farang"; but when talking to me, they often address me "papa", in a polite meaning, if am older than the person talking to me. "Farang" is not different than if we Westerners talk about someone and call the person "the Asian", if we don't know or remember the name, or which Asian country that person originates from. Thailand's Royal Institute Dictionary describes farang as "a person of white race".

If the meaning is negative, the word farang would rprobably be said together with some other expression, like "farang khi nok".

"Farang" in a positive way, here is an example from my life: An elder Thai woman considered to sell her land plot in the village where I stay, Her neighbourg was interested, but she didn't like the neighbourgh and therefore would not sell it to the neighbourgh. As normally in Thailand a third part is used as messenger, who one day showed up where I lived and said that the old lady would sell her land, but not to her neighbourgh, instead to the kind "farang" that politely wai her, when he pass her. I had made it a habbit to wai the elder Thai people in the village first time I met them during the day, to show that I'm a guest and appreciate that you let me stay here. The kind farang — me — could buy the land for same price, as her nighbourgh had recently bout another plot of same size for.

14 minutes ago, LosLobo said:

I live in a southern Thai village where the 'lingua franca' is mainly Issan.

Excuse me? They speak Issan in Southern Thailand?? In the South the "lingua franca" is Pak Thai. I lived in the South the first 4 years of my stay in Thailand. Issan is the lingua franca of North East Thailand.

On 5/24/2026 at 7:51 AM, rustinorman said:

I have spent approximately ten years living in Thailand. I own a small condo, and everyone in my neighborhood knows me well.

What sometimes frustrates me is the way I am addressed. I am often simply “the farang,” a term that I personally perceive as dismissive or even somewhat derogatory, especially when I am around groups of Thai people. As I understand it, Thais may refer to themselves as “Khon Thai,” but they rarely say “Khon American.” Instead, it is simply “farang.”

This bothers me because, after countless conversations with Thai people over the years, I have come to understand that even some Thais themselves see the word “farang” as having a negative or condescending edge. At times, I question whether I am simply being too sensitive about it.

Many foreigners I have met in Thailand seem to have mixed feelings about the word as well, especially those who have lived there for a long time, speak the language, and understand how much tone and context can change the meaning behind it.

After so many years, it can feel frustrating to still be reduced to “the foreigner,” even though I have long considered myself part of the environment and community around me. I was wrong.,,

To each their own. The term, "Farang" does not faze me. After 16+ trouble free years here though, with Thai wife & Stepdaughter, it does grate not being recognized as a resident of the Kingdom of Thailand.

22 minutes ago, marin said:

Excuse me? They speak Issan in Southern Thailand?? In the South the "lingua franca" is Pak Thai. I lived in the South the first 4 years of my stay in Thailand. Issan is the lingua franca of North East Thailand.

Actually, I live in rural Ranong's agricultural belt.

During the 1980s tin crash, this area experienced a massive palm, coffee, and rubber boom. Along with the Phuket tourism boom, it drew a huge Isan labor force. Because the Northeast was ecologically full and land was scarce, many Isan migrants found open land here to clear and settle permanently. Through chain migration, entire Northeastern enclaves formed.

While Pak Thai is the overarching regional language, my specific farming village is overwhelmingly Northeastern. Isan is absolutely the local lingua franca; most people here speak it natively, while the rest at least understand it to get by.

Edited May 25May 25 by LosLobo

2 minutes ago, wwest5829 said:

To each their own. The term, "Farang" does not faze me. After 16+ trouble free years here though, with Thai wife & Stepdaughter, it does grate not being recognized as a resident of the Kingdom of Thailand.

I've been here for four decades now and managed to get citizenship, but accept that I will never be seen as Thai and I am fine with that. It is what it is.

On 5/24/2026 at 7:51 AM, rustinorman said:

I have spent approximately ten years living in Thailand. I own a small condo, and everyone in my neighborhood knows me well.

What sometimes frustrates me is the way I am addressed. I am often simply “the farang,” a term that I personally perceive as dismissive or even somewhat derogatory, especially when I am around groups of Thai people. As I understand it, Thais may refer to themselves as “Khon Thai,” but they rarely say “Khon American.” Instead, it is simply “farang.”

This bothers me because, after countless conversations with Thai people over the years, I have come to understand that even some Thais themselves see the word “farang” as having a negative or condescending edge. At times, I question whether I am simply being too sensitive about it.

Many foreigners I have met in Thailand seem to have mixed feelings about the word as well, especially those who have lived there for a long time, speak the language, and understand how much tone and context can change the meaning behind it.

After so many years, it can feel frustrating to still be reduced to “the foreigner,” even though I have long considered myself part of the environment and community around me. I was wrong.,,

The French were the first people the Thais came across during trading with the West so farang is short for farangsay (spelling ?) which has been shortened to farang, I do not care one bit if I am called farang.

I knew when I first visited Thailand and lived here full time I am and will always be a foreigner on a long term visitors visa extension which is my year by year retirement visa, anybody who tries to act as though they are a local just because they have been here a long time are barking up the wrong tree.

You will always be a farang so like it or leave just as if you are an American you will be called a Yank by many others or a Brit or an Auzzie, Frog for example, so farang is no different to a Thai using that word.

Edited May 25May 25 by JamesPhuket10

5 hours ago, brewsterbudgen said:

It's really something not worth getting frustrated about - even quietly!

5 hours ago, brewsterbudgen said:

It's really something not worth getting frustrated about - even quietly!

5 hours ago, brewsterbudgen said:

It's really something not worth getting frustrated about - even quietly!

Indeed- the poster has a lovely life if the subject of his post is the biggest issue he currently faces- if I am correct then truly I envy him in that event

2 hours ago, Off Piste said:

Are you sure about that?..........I can't see it personally.............but i would be interested to hear any examples you might have.......

His example is a friend of a friend of a friend while in a pub suppin' beer told him, the friend of a friend of a friend had ready it on a blog like this, it was from the same source many other things which are said negatively about Thailand originate from. 😀

In Hong Kong, where I lived and worked for many years, I and most other "westerners" ( not Indians or Africans) are referred to as a "guilo".

( there's even a beer branded "guilo")

I was told by my local Chinese (Cantonese not 'mainlanders' who refer to us as a "laowai" ....slang for 'old foreigner') friends that it's a semi derogatory term meaning literally "ghost person".... presumably because of our white skin!!

Doesn't bother me, nor does farang.

As my dear old Granny used to say "what's in a name. A rose by any name would smell as sweet "

We should own the term, in the same way African Americans now own the N word.

I've only heard Thai people who don't know me using the F word when talking amongst themselves, as Thai friends have a range of other names (mostly related to my age, so think I prefer 'falang' 😅

But when referring to myself when chatting with Thai friends I often call myself 'khon falang' as a joke.

1 minute ago, orchidfan said:

In Hong Kong, where I lived and worked for many years, I and most other "westerners" ( not Indians or Africans) are referred to as a "guilo".

( there's even a beer branded "guilo")

I was told by my local Chinese (Cantonese not 'mainlanders' who refer to us as a "laowai" ....slang for 'old foreigner') friends that it's a semi derogatory term meaning literally "ghost person".... presumably because of our white skin!!

Doesn't bother me, nor does farang.

As my dear old Granny used to say "what's in a name. A rose by any name would smell as sweet "

Sticks and stones may break my bones but calling names won't harm me.

19 minutes ago, JamesPhuket10 said:

The French were the first people the Thais came across during trading with the West so farang is short for farangsay (spelling ?) which has been shortened to farang, I do not care one bit if I am called farang.

I knew when I first visited Thailand and lived here full time I am and will always be a foreigner on a long term visitors visa extension which is my year by year retirement visa, anybody who tries to act as though they are a local just because they have been here a long time are barking up the wrong tree.

You will always be a farang so like it or leave just as if you are an American you will be called a Yank by many others or a Brit or an Auzzie, Frog for example, so farang is no different to a Thai using that word.

The history about the French is an urban legend. The Portuguese and Dutch arrived in Siam long before the French did. The word 'Farang' actually comes from Persian traders in the Ayutthaya court who used the Persian word 'Farangi' (derived from the medieval 'Franks') to describe Europeans. Thais adopted it from the Persians and shortened it. When the French arrived much later, Thais took the existing word 'Farang' and adapted it into 'Farangset' to match Français. The word for France was built out of 'Farang', not the other way around.
You can read the full historical etymology here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Farang

The fact is that if you are not Thai you are a foreigner in Thailand the same way that Thais are foreigners in other countries.

I can think of more derogatory terms that have been used in Australia,England etc to describe foreigners.

Foe me the only I don’t like to be called is early in the morning or late at night !