On 5/23/2026 at 9:06 PM, Nemises said:

You are definitely not alone in feeling this way, but it helps to keep a bit of perspective. Using the word "farang" is simply what Thais have always done, and it is what they always will do. While it can certainly annoy you after living there for a decade, it really is no big deal for most people once you look at the intent behind it.

Here is why it helps to let it go:

• Language habit: It is a deeply ingrained linguistic shorthand, not a calculated insult.

• Lack of malice: In the vast majority of cases, locals use it descriptively without any negative intent.

• Community bond: Since your neighbors know you well, they likely see you as "their" farang, which is actually a sign of acceptance in their own way.

It is completely normal to feel a bit reduced by the label after ten years of integrating. However, trying to change a country's everyday vocabulary will only cause you unnecessary stress. Try to take it as a quirk of the culture rather than a personal slight.

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Are all your replies AI now?

8 hours ago, novacova said:

Khon tang-chat is all foreigners. Farang is reserved for whitey’s, so get used to it or move on to somewhere else.

You almost never hear khon tang chat in everyday colloquial Thai. Yes, on news casts and in government edicts, but rarely in everyday usage, especially outside of urban centers. The obvious flaw with your claim that farang is a racial epithet is that were this term be reserved strictly for white skinned people that leaves a huge problem with how Thais should refer to Central and South Americans, Mexicans, Eskimos, Native Americans, Pacific Islanders, mixed race people, or even heavily tanned people? Please don't come back and tell me the answer is khon tang chat, as we both know that's not true to real life.

It's really annoying to hear people ignorantly parrot the misinformation that farang is a racial epithet, when it has been pointed out countless times on this forum that all you need to do is approach a non-white visiter to Thailand and ask them whether they have ever been referred to as a 'farang.' The answer is undoubtably going to be 'yes.'

All you are doing is promulgating a myth which fans racial tension and cross-cultural resentment. Invariably, those who cling to this 'racially-victimized-by-Thais' narrative have a mediocre grasp of the language, and hardheadedly refuse to listen to the insights of those who have a far greater understanding of the nuance of the language and how the term is used in real life.

You need to cut it out, not only for the good of the ex-pat community as a whole, but for your own social adjustment and mental health as well.

Edited May 26May 26 by Gecko123

31 minutes ago, Gecko123 said:

You almost never hear khon tang chat in everyday colloquial Thai. Yes, on news casts and in government edicts, but rarely in everyday usage, especially outside of urban centers. The obvious flaw with your claim that farang is a racial epithet is that were this term be reserved strictly for white skinned people that leaves a huge problem with how Thais should refer to Central and South Americans, Mexicans, Eskimos, Native Americans, Pacific Islanders, mixed race people, or even heavily tanned people? Please don't come back and tell me the answer is khon tang chat, as we both know that's not true to real life.

It's really annoying to hear people ignorantly parrot the misinformation that farang is a racial epithet, when it has been pointed out countless times on this forum that all you need to do is approach a non-white visiter to Thailand and ask them whether they have ever been referred to as a 'farang.' The answer is undoubtably going to be 'yes.'

All you are doing is promulgating a myth which fans racial tension and cross-cultural resentment. Invariably, those who cling to this 'racially-victimized-by-Thais' narrative have a mediocre grasp of the language, and hardheadedly refuse to listen to the insights of those who have a far greater understanding of the nuance of the language and how the term is used in real life.

You need to cut it out, not only for the good of the ex-pat community as a whole, but for your own social adjustment and mental health as well.

Farang is not a racist epithet, it can be used as a racial slur in a certain context just as any other identifier. The major flaw with your disposition is that you’ve been woke indoctrinated and you live your life waking on politically correct eggshells, you farang!

Edited May 26May 26 by novacova

18 minutes ago, novacova said:

Farang is not a racist epithet, it can be used as a racial slur in a certain context just as any other identifier. The major flaw with your disposition is that you’ve been woke indoctrinated and you live your life waking on politically correct eggshells, you farang!

I doubt anybody arguing that farang is not a racial epithet is doing so due to 'woke' political indoctrination. LOL, that's the first time I've ever heard anyone claim that. People are just sharing their insights into how the term is used in every day life.

You're the one who claimed that 'farang' is strictly reserved for "whitey's" which, were that to be true, would be, by definition, a racial epithet.

Contrary to your crazy accusation that my and other's opinions on this subject are driven by some 'woke' ideology, it's long been my observation that those who cling to the narrative that 'farang' is reserved strictly for white people and is thus a racial epithet, are most often ideologically right leaning.

My theory is that the reason why this narrative is so ideologically appealing to them is because: (1) it plays into the right wing victimhood mentality that white men are constantly being victimized, and (2) it justifies and legitimizes their own racial prejudices towards everyone who isn't white by giving credence to the idea that racial prejudice is universal.

Edited May 26May 26 by Gecko123

It's time for us to reclaim the term "farang." Whenever you meet an expat in the wild, we need to reappropriate it as a term of endearment and solidarity. You should say, "What's up, my farang?"

Does'nt bother me to much,Thai people back home still refer to you as farrang even in your own western country, i don't think they even think about how senceless it is!

54 minutes ago, Prubangboy said:

My GF is taking a week long course in applying makeup with the unlikely intention of visiting hospitals to cheer people up with these new skills.

I remarked that she would probably make some new friends from spending all week with the same ladies. She said:

I am not like a farang who talk to strangers about my life and become their friends in 10 minutes.

Her friends are from her university years and long years at the bank. She is amused and a little bit suspicious when she sees two westernstrangers in a bar talking to each other.

Thai people are obviously very different from us, and I think they feel that more acutely than we who tend to over optimistically paper over obvious differences do.

Farang seems to be a short hand way of summarizing their feeling of distance from us

I do not think there is one standard rule for this. I have seen Thais who call each other friends almost before they manage to sit down at the same mixed table. I have also met people only briefly who call me a friend very quickly.

So I think it is very individual.

For me, calling someone a friend takes time. It has to be earned. It is not just a word you use after a few hook-ups or a few good evenings together.

Friendship also means responsibility, but very few seem to think about it that way.

1 hour ago, Gecko123 said:

promulgating

Had to look that one up.

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.”

"10 years" living in Thailand and hardly a peep out of you until suddenly you're offended by the term, "farang"? I don't buy it.

I put three Thais to work and showed them what to do right now,

Then I heard them talking about the farang not being happy with just getting the work done. It has to be done right, the way he says it, or they have to do it all over again.

And yes, that is usually the norm if I do not stay with them while they work.

Should I be annoyed?

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

I am often simply “the farang,” a term that I personally perceive as dismissive or even somewhat derogatory,

Similar to the term 'Gringo', much can be told about their intentions by their tone of voice, facial expressions, body language, etc.. If they refer to you as 'it' (มัน), that's another story.

3 hours ago, BritManToo said:

The correct response would be 'Mare Mung Thai'

Nope, just making a fruit joke. But thank you for the correction... NOT.

30 minutes ago, ColeBOzbourne said:

Similar to the term 'Gringo', much can be told about their intentions by their tone of voice, facial expressions, body language, etc.. If they refer to you as 'it' (มัน), that's another story.

Would say 'farang' is calling you 'it' unless they add the correct human identifier in front of .........

Khon Farang = human

Farang = it

Ferengi, of Persian origin.

Frank, or Franc, referred to all Europeans in the Middle Ages.

France, derived from the term "Franc"

Français

Farangset, when the French intervened in the region.

The two origins, Ferangi and Farangset, intersect through semantic simplification to give Farang, and another simplification to designate all Westerners and even all white people.

1 hour ago, Gecko123 said:

You're the one who claimed that 'farang' is strictly reserved for "whitey's" which, were that to be true, would be, by definition, a racial epithet.

You most certainly got that wrong. Since when in th is farang used as a descriptor as anyone other than us whitey’s?

1 hour ago, Gecko123 said:

Contrary to your crazy accusation that my and other's opinions on this subject are driven by some 'woke' ideology, it's long been my observation that those who cling to the narrative that 'farang' is reserved strictly for white people and is thus a racial epithet, are most often ideologically right leaning.

My theory is that the reason why this narrative is so ideologically appealing to them is because: (1) it plays into the right wing victimhood mentality that white men are constantly being victimized, and (2) it justifies and legitimizes their own racial prejudices towards everyone who isn't white by giving credence to the idea that racial prejudice is universal.

Good grief, delusional and in utter denial. Victim hood belongs solely to the woke left in their delusional world view that anything that is perceived to be offensive is racist including your ridiculous inverted self reflecting irrational woke justification nonsense.

22 hours ago, GarryP said:

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.

Pushing 80, I fear the language would stop me from citizenship although I would qualify under the "points" system, I think.

19 minutes ago, wwest5829 said:

Pushing 80, I fear the language would stop me from citizenship although I would qualify under the "points" system, I think.

You'd still have to be working, so I would go with enjoying retirement instead.

4 hours ago, Gecko123 said:

You almost never hear khon tang chat in everyday colloquial Thai.

I hear it a lot.

Many Thais would never use the word "farang" (for me or for others) in my presence.

As I said, it depends on the environment.

The Quiet Frustration of Being Called “Farang”

It doesn't bother me. If it is children and I am within earshot I usually turn around and say " Farang Tii Nai" while attempting to make an inquisitive gesture.

Farang could also be applied to Chinese/Japanese/Cambodian et al. But I suppose we are easier to spot. Might be worse if they said Big Nose in Thai?

Edited May 26May 26 by VocalNeal

37 minutes ago, Hish said:

I hear it a lot.

Many Thais would never use the word "farang" (for me or for others) in my presence.

As I said, it depends on the environment.

If you're talking about an academic, white collar, diplomatic, or high level government official environment, etc., I suppose that's possible, but in every day life??? Mark me down as dubious. To be frank, I suspect you of exaggerating in an attempt to gain the upper hand in the debate.

Edited May 26May 26 by Gecko123

1 hour ago, VocalNeal said:

Might be worse if they said Big Nose in Thai?

I was called 'Long Nose' once in Thai. I told her it wasn't the only thing I had that was long.

3 hours ago, Hish said:

I hear it a lot.

Many Thais would never use the word "farang" (for me or for others) in my presence.

As I said, it depends on the environment.

2 hours ago, Gecko123 said:

If you're talking about an academic, white collar, diplomatic, or high level government official environment, etc., I suppose that's possible, but in every day life??? Mark me down as dubious. To be frank, I suspect you of exaggerating in an attempt to gain the upper hand in the debate.

Worked in a law firm in Thailand for 30 odd years and I don't recall ever hearing "khon tang chat", unless it was being read from documents.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_British_regional_nicknames

Have you seen what people in the UK call each other?

Wouldn’t be polite in an office but quite normal to say something like “I’ll get the Geordie a pint as well” in a pub if your mate is from Newcastle.

26 minutes ago, GarryP said:

Worked in a law firm in Thailand for 30 odd years and I don't recall ever hearing "khon tang chat", unless it was being read from documents.

I recall former health minister Anutin caused quite a stir when, frustrated by a foreign man's refusal to accept a sanitary mask from him during the early stages of the Covid epidemic, he referred to the foreigner as 'ai farang.'

The point being that Anutin is a high level government official, and didn't seem to have any concerns at all about being stigmatized for using a so-called low-class word like farang, and in fact may have consciously chosen to use this word knowing it would resonate more with the general public (masses) than khon tang chat.

Edited May 26May 26 by Gecko123

1 minute ago, Gecko123 said:

I recall former health minister Anutin caused quite a stir when, frustrated by a foreign man's refusal to accept a sanitary mask from him during the early stages of the Covid epidemic, he referred to the foreigner as 'ai farang.' The point is that Anutin was a high level government official, and didn't seem to have any concern at all about being stigmatized as having a low-class vocabulary, and in fact may have consciously chosen to use this word knowing it would resonate more with the general public than khon tang chat.

Anutin is known for his western hate. Hence, his use of "ai" before farang says it all. His tone also showed he was saying it in a derogatory way. But Anutin is Anutin, aka a (choose your favorite term of abuse).

6 minutes ago, Gecko123 said:

I recall former health minister Anutin caused quite a stir when, frustrated by a foreign man's refusal to accept a sanitary mask from him during the early stages of the Covid epidemic, he referred to the foreigner as 'ai farang.'

The point being that Anutin was a high level government official, and didn't seem to have any concerns at all about being stigmatized for using a so-called low-class word like farang, and in fact may have consciously chosen to use this word knowing it would resonate more with the general public (masses) than khon tang chat.

100% agree - Although many foreigners in Thailand reacted strongly to Anutin’s remarks at the time, he did not publicly say “dirty farang,” despite widespread reporting to the contrary.

What he did say was:

“Farang phuak ni, rao khuan lai ok jak prathet Thai”

“These kinds of foreigners, we should kick them out of Thailand”

For a statesman, the comments were remarkably clumsy. They revealed the nature of certain political personalities: some carry composure, diplomacy and restraint; others are driven so heavily by ego and loss of face that impulse overrides judgement.

The tourists themselves likely had no idea what was happening. They were on holiday in a country where foreigners are routinely warned never to accept unsolicited items from strangers because “free” often comes attached to scams, confrontation or demands for payment later.

In that moment, Anutin displayed poor judgement, thin-skinned pride, and a striking lack of diplomatic class under pressure.

Rather than showing patience or understanding, he responded with public irritation and political immaturity and his use of the word "farang" highly inappropriate give the context.

Instead he could have easily commented "I don't think 'khon tang chat' understood my intentions"

"Pom mai khit wa khon tang chat mai khao jai jet-ta-na khong pom" (or something to that effect).

I've been called a farang for over 43 years now but all sorts of Thai people that don't know me. It really doesn't bother me. It's just used as an identifier. I don't really think the Thais are going to stop using that word anytime soon.

5 hours ago, VocalNeal said:

Farang could also be applied to Chinese/Japanese/Cambodian et al. But I suppose we are easier to spot. Might be worse if they said Big Nose in Thai?

No, it couldn't.

Farang is reserved for people of Caucasian/Western origin, the word is not used for other (non-Thai) Asians.

Thais will refer to other Asians by their nationality if known - for example, Chinese: Khon Jiin (คนจีน), Japanese: Khon Yipun (คนญี่ปุ่น), Korean: Khon Kaoli (คนเกาหลี). Otherwise they just call them Khon Asia (คนเอเชีย).

7 hours ago, Hish said:

I hear it a lot.

Many Thais would never use the word "farang" (for me or for others) in my presence.

As I said, it depends on the environment.

Pfft. I live in a Thai village. It's THE most common term used when referring to the village's only pasty white dude from America with European heritage.
Everybody uses it if they are referring to me. When I hear it, I know who they are taking about.

It's an identifier. Does it have racial overtones? Of course. But I must have thicker skin than the OP and those "farangs" who are offended by the term.

Kon farang, luang farang, puu farang, pee farang, farang muu baan, phra farang, baan farang - I've heard them all.

Op - get over it.

I don't mind being call after a fruit , Guava fruit = farang.

I love farang fruit.

I often see them smile when I ask for farang at a fruit stall.