The new "พจนานุกรมคำใหม่ เล่ม ๑" just released by the Royal Institute contains many "คำยืม" or "loan words" from English. Remember, these are not necessarily new words to Thai, but they are newly sanctioned words for the Royal Institute. Here are some of the more interesting formulations or transcription/transliterations from English:

จ๊อบ งานชิ้นหนึ่ง ๆ ในช่วงเวลวที่กำหนด "job. A piece of work which produced in a limited amount of time. Note that this does not mean "employment".

คิว – here is a Thai word which can be used for three English words: cubic as in "cubic feet"; queue as in "เข้าคิว"; and cue as in billiards.

คู่เดต – หญิงหรือชายที่รับจ้างไปเที่ยวหรือไปงานด้วยกัน, "a man or a woman who is hired to go out [on a date] or to go on a job together." This sounds like a word you do not wish to use with a casual or serious date as it implies compensatory work. Here is the example provided: "ธุรกิจ "คู่เดตให้เช่า" เป็นประกฏการณ์ใหม่ของสังคมไทย" "The concept of "date for hire" is a new phenomenon in Thai society." (Really?)

เคเบิ้ลทีวี – cable TV. Note the accent on the second syllable of the first English word via the "mai tho".

เบบี๋ – เด็กทารก เช่น อย่าทำเป็นเบบี๋ ต้องช่วยตัวเองบ้าง "Don't be a baby; you need to help yourself." What is interesting here is that the second syllable is specifically stated as a rising tone, not a falling tone. Maybe the Thais think that the word sounds Chinese in origin.

Edited November 24, 200718 yr by DavidHouston

The new "พจนานุกรมคำใหม่ เล่ม ๑" just released by the Royal Institute contains many "คำยืม" or "loan words" from English. Remember, these are not necessarily new words to Thai, but they are newly sanctioned words for the Royal Institute. Here are some of the more interesting formulations or transcription/transliterations from English:

คู่เดต – หญิงหรือชายที่รับจ้างไปเที่ยวหรือไปงานด้วยกัน, "a man or a woman who is hired to go out [on a date] or to go on a job together." This sounds like a word you do not wish to use with a casual or serious date as it implies compensatory work. Here is the example provided: "ธุรกิจ "คู่เดตให้เช่า" เป็นประกฏการณ์ใหม่ของสังคมไทย" "The concept of "date for hire" is a new phenomenon in Thai society." (Really?)

I think the term คู่เดต, as fashioned after the term "escort" in the escort service in the US is relatively new in Thailand.

It probably is true that Thailand has women for rent for various length of time for decades, as you seem to point out. But this new "service" of providing คู่เดต is a new twist. The girls are probably more high class, more presentable. You probably can take them to your business meetings, social functions, etc. ?

But what do I know? I have been out of loop for a long time.