Hello,,A friend of mine said the meqning of the River Kwai ,,,is ,,,River River ....My wife tells me it means River Buffalo can any one clarify this for me thanks

Just dont call a Thai that................

Just dont call a Thai that................

Yes I know, in the north,,isan it means buffale and in the south it means Dick

I believe it is a question of pronunciation. The author of the book “Bridge on the river Kwai” chose that spelling, whereas it would normally probably be transliterated as “kwae”, as it rhymes with “mae” in the place name Mae Sai (but different tone, I believe). That’s what I have been told.

And the pronunciation of the Thai words for buffalo and dick are different to, I believe. Long vowel and short vowel, or something like that.

--

Maestro

Just dont call a Thai that................

Yes I know, in the north,,isan it means buffale and in the south it means Dick

No, in the South Kwai means buffalo. Khai (sounds like egg in Thai) means penis. It is also the term used for a small boy.

I believe Kwae means branch of the river. The Big and Little Kwae meet at the town of Kanchanaburi. The branches join to form the Mae Klong River, which flows to the Gulf of Thailand.

I heard the River was never called "Kwai", it was called something else. Because of the author of the book calling it that, however, it became known as that and Thailand promotes that name for tourism. Officially, though, isn't it still known as something else?

I believe Kwae means branch of the river. The Big and Little Kwae meet at the town of Kanchanaburi. The branches join to form the Mae Klong River, which flows to the Gulf of Thailand.

I think you're right! Kwae is similar to large canal, and should pronounce Ko-air (long air)

Buffalo is sound Ko-wy (long y)

Pen is sounds Ko-oyee (long e)

Sound will be difference to a specific region of Thailand.

Hello,,A friend of mine said the meqning of the River Kwai ,,,is ,,,River River ....My wife tells me it means River Buffalo can any one clarify this for me thanks

Is your wife Thai? If so, then she is seriously pulling your leg.

The original movie 'Bridge Over The River K...' spelt it 'Kwai - when actually the correct transliteration was/is Kwae Kwae แคว doesn't sound anything like Kwai as in Buffalo!

Kwai is a misspelling of the transliteration, but since tourists knew it by that (from the movie), it was decided to keep to that spelling.

แคว (Kwai/Kwae) = tributary, river tributary.

Edited September 1, 200718 yr by Stephen Cleary

When I went on a tour of this historic area, the guides were insistent that the correct prononciation is Kwaa, not Kwai and that the locals don't like to reference to River Buffalo. This happens a lot over the world. The city Honolulu is most frequently pronounced Hanalulu when actually the O is long.

And the pronunciation of the Thai words for buffalo and dick are different to, I believe. Long vowel and short vowel, or something like that.

--

Maestro

the short one must be for dick....

The correct transliteration according to the RTGS system would be 'Khwae'.

RTGS is the official system of the Royal Institute that should be used for transcribing Thai place names, and most often is.

'ae' in the RTGS system represents the Thai vowel แ ,which is a constant vowel sound - not a gradual glide from 'a' to 'e'; and nothing like the diphthong 'ai' as in 'Thai'.

The Swedish vowel 'ä' comes close, as does the Southern English pronunciation of 'air' (i.e. without the final 'r').

I understand from a Thai lady that buffalo is pronounced "fwai"as in Thai but starting with f.The correct way to spell the river Kwai is Khwae.This I understand is pronounced "fair" or at least that is what it sounds like to me.As far as I know dick is pronounced "kway".

Just dont call a Thai that................

Yes I know, in the north,,isan it means buffale and in the south it means Dick

it may be time to change your thai teacher.

I understand from a Thai lady that buffalo is pronounced "fwai"as in Thai but starting with f.The correct way to spell the river Kwai is Khwae.This I understand is pronounced "fair" or at least that is what it sounds like to me.As far as I know dick is pronounced "kway".

Ages ago, I was on a bus with the wife (before we were married) heading for Saraburi. Looking out the window, I could see a small herd of some kind of bovine animals off in the distance. My Thai wasn't all that great then. I asked the wife if those were "kway" out there. Evidently, a good number of people around us overheard me and started laughing which quickly spread to nearly everyone else on the bus. My wife quietly pointed out my error, and several other helpful people did the same. It was all in good fun for a laugh and I got a pretty good laugh out of it myself.

I have a friend who calls me falang kwai in a joking way any time I do something clumsy.. She knows I know what it means and find it amusing.. Other Thais give her looks or look at me hoping I don't react badly.

Maybe rehashing some of what has already been said, but :

ไกว (gwai) to swing.. verb

ควาย (khwaay) water buffalo.. noun

And for you guys who know your tones :

ไขว่ (khwai..low tone) busily.. adverb

ไขว้ (khwai.. falling tone) to swap.. verb

แคว (khwaae)..name of the river in Kanchanaburi...proper noun

แม่น้ำแคว(Maae Naahm Khwaae) is the correct way in thai script to write "The River Khwaae" (or Kwai in popular usage/culture)

Thai transliteration can lead to all sorts of confusion, just stick to

thai script I say..no grey areas.

The bridge on the river kwai is actually on another river. The author never came to Thailand so made an error. The Thai's have renamed a 10mile stretch the Kwae for tourism purposes. There are actually now 2 river Kwais. My place in on the Kwae yai (Big Kwai) there is also a little kwai.