Is "farang" Impolite?

[Maigo6]

when thais are not jealous of the said farang they will most likely put an insult or name him fat or idiot instead of farang anyways.

all from experience.

Of course they're not jealous of you, I wouldn't want to be a Fat Idiot either.

From your experiences in Thailand this is what has happened to you, did it also happen in your own country ?

Edited August 26, 2008 by Maigo6

[gymshark]

Learn their names and they'll learn yours and will not call you falang, simple as that...

Maybe, but they will still refer to you as farang when talking to other Thais.

Actually, nearly ALL Thai say "mun" when referring to farang behind their backs.

Maybe the Thai's you hang around with

[Maigo6]

Learn their names and they'll learn yours and will not call you falang, simple as that...

Maybe, but they will still refer to you as farang when talking to other Thais.

Actually, nearly ALL Thai say "mun" when referring to farang behind their backs.

I call myself a Farang, I call other Farang a Farang when referring to them with Thai people.

In UK, how do UK people refer to Asians ?

[barky]

what are we then?

Foreigners?

Depends how the words used IMO, listening to other foreigners refering to themselves and other foreigners as farang's usually makes me laugh and is a sign of their ignorance...

The Thai's do it when they don't know u, and why not? Its pretty obvious if someone is trying to be rude/impolite just by their gestures, ususally its just the easiest way for them to distinguish you from others.. Most foreigners will have done the same in their own language also, how many times have you heard yourself saying "that thai guy/bird over there" when you don't know someone...

Learn their names and they'll learn yours and will not call you falang, simple as that...

Some of this just doesn't make sence. If you live in Thailand , almost everyone is Thai, so I just don't see anyone saying to themself "that Thai guy over there". I mean they're virtually all Thai.

Also, What do you mean "learn their names"? Like in every encounter: shops, restaurants, bars, department stores, busses, skytrain, taxi, street vendor etc. you are going to introduce yourself and ask for their name just to avoid getting called farang. Utter Rubbish!

You talk to yourself?

Who said every encounter? If you live in Thailand your going to have local bars/restaurants and would be on 1st name terms with a lot of the staff, you think the name cards employees pin to their chests are for fun?!?!? Why anyone in a department store / taxi, etc would have any need to call you farang is beyond me, the correspondance with them just does not go that far...

You seem like the type of person that should be refered to as a farang 24/7...

Oh dear, you almost hurt my feelings with that last clever and cutting comment. But, I still think much of what you say is rubbish. You think what you like and I'll think what I like .Bye!

[HS Mauberley]

What an impressive piece of research. I suggest you consider publishing.

[Neeranam]

Learn their names and they'll learn yours and will not call you falang, simple as that...

Maybe, but they will still refer to you as farang when talking to other Thais.

Actually, nearly ALL Thai say "mun" when referring to farang behind their backs.

Maybe the Thai's you hang around with

Actually, it was my English-educated Hi-So Thai friend that first told me this many years ago. She said that at her sports club(Royal Bangkok) she heard all the Hi-So Thais call farang "mun" as they didn't know her husband (US First Secretary)was a farang.

I've heard univerity professors talk about their foriegn colleagues as "mun" not knowing that I understod Thai.

So, yes, maybe it is the ones I hang out with.

[gymshark]

Learn their names and they'll learn yours and will not call you falang, simple as that...

Maybe, but they will still refer to you as farang when talking to other Thais.

Actually, nearly ALL Thai say "mun" when referring to farang behind their backs.

Maybe the Thai's you hang around with

Actually, it was my English-educated Hi-So Thai friend that first told me this many years ago. She said that at her sports club(Royal Bangkok) she heard all the Hi-So Thais call farang "mun" as they didn't know her husband (US First Secretary)was a farang.

I've heard univerity professors talk about their foriegn colleagues as "mun" not knowing that I understod Thai.

So, yes, maybe it is the ones I hang out with.

Drop a few more names why don't you? Seriously though, I never heard more foul langauge and rudeness than from the so calld "hi so", regular people are much more respectful and polite.

Edited August 26, 2008 by gymshark

[ChangMaiSausage]

Yeah all you farangs talk b*lls**t, most of us will always be referred to as Farang outside of our Thai friends.

Hey farang you want taxi?

[Jeddah Jo]

So a pinkish, 6 foot tall guy, with big nose weighing 90kg and wearing a tank top walks in to your shop. What term could you use that would eliminate all doubt about who you were talking about

[ade100]

Well just refer to a thai person as thai: "Hey Thai - come here" Interesting reaction...

Well yes but Thai is their nationality. Most will belong to the race known as Mongoloid (non-PC term I know).

So if they "Hey farang" you could say "what do you want Mongoloid?". Of course this would be fairly pointless as they would have no clue what you were talking about :-)

[PeaceBlondie]

When I was first here as a worker, I was called ajarn by about 8,000 Thais, repeatedly. Some still call me that. Hundreds still refer to me kindly as farang. No offense. No Thai has yet called me "Nearly superannuated, gay, White, American, educated, silly, blonde, Caucasian grandfather of ancient European ancestry from Chiapas by way of Chicago and South Texas."

Farang is an old Thai word that conveniently describes Caucasians.

[bkkjames]

So what shall we call the French if we cannot say falang sait.

Set (sait) farang?

[Neeranam]

Learn their names and they'll learn yours and will not call you falang, simple as that...

Maybe, but they will still refer to you as farang when talking to other Thais.

Actually, nearly ALL Thai say "mun" when referring to farang behind their backs.

Maybe the Thai's you hang around with

Actually, it was my English-educated Hi-So Thai friend that first told me this many years ago. She said that at her sports club(Royal Bangkok) she heard all the Hi-So Thais call farang "mun" as they didn't know her husband (US First Secretary)was a farang.

I've heard univerity professors talk about their foriegn colleagues as "mun" not knowing that I understod Thai.

So, yes, maybe it is the ones I hang out with.

Drop a few more names why don't you? Seriously though, I never heard more foul langauge and rudeness than from the so calld "hi so", regular people are much more respectful and polite.

No need to - was just making a point. Why the attack on who I hang out with?

You're a teacher in Sakhon Nakhon ain't you? That's probably why you get a lot of respect.

[Neeranam]

Farang is an old Thai word that conveniently describes Caucasians.

That's what my grandmother says about calling Asians, "chinkies". Times change.

[gymshark]

You're a teacher in Sakhon Nakhon ain't you? That's probably why you get a lot of respect.

How the hel_l did you come up with that? Teacher? Sakorn Nakorn? Hardly. Check the "from" part of my avatar, might give you a clue.

Edited August 26, 2008 by gymshark

[eek]

I call myself a Farang, I call other Farang a Farang when referring to them with Thai people.

I dont recall calling myself farang, but its not something i would avoid. When i talk to other westerners, i say westerner, but many times when talking with Thai friends I will say farang, as its such a normal term, especially if talking in Thai.

..actually has caused a few laughs along the way when Thai hear me say farang. I confess (and as silly as it may sound), i often get caught up with trying to understand the conversations in Thai around me that I get absorbed. Once, driving around the sticks with my bf, i was surprised and interested seeing a western man strolling around that my instant reaction was "Oooooh! Farang!". My bf nearly wet himself laughing at how silly it came across. I can see the funny side. I can also imagine that a Thai seeing another Thai or Asian in a predominately white western area would likely do similar (well, if they are anything like me that is. Im the occasional space-cadet type that will call out "oooh look a sheep..."..bit sad maybe..but nvm )

[ade100]

Farang is an old Thai word that conveniently describes Caucasians.

That's what my grandmother says about calling Asians, "chinkies". Times change.

Yes exactly.

I always make this point when we have our regular little "farang" debates but normally end up getting screamed at :-)

[Neeranam]

You're a teacher in Sakhon Nakhon ain't you? That's probably why you get a lot of respect.

How the hel_l did you come up with that? Teacher? Sakorn Nakorn? Hardly. Check the "from" part of my avatar, might give you a clue.

I remember you saying that you were offered a BJ from a female student. You were asking about building a house in Sakon Nakhon in the Isarn forum. No?

[Samuian]

So what shall we call the French if we cannot say falang sait.

We had this in another thread already if I recall correctly!

It sounds alright and looking back to history, Indochina, the francaise (farangs'ai't) just "next door"....and threatening..it would make sense, but then someone pointed toward the fruit "Farang" (Guava), Man Farang (Potato) or have they been introduced by the french? As Thais find it hard to stomach that chilies are NOT from Thailand and haven't always been here!

Guess it's similar to the term "pommie" in Australia, some say so, others so...

Still intriguing is that the Asians are all "Khun" Malay, Jippon, Chine, Indo... Loa and Kamen seem to be the exception, why?

then who cares?

[onethailand]

I'd say it was the group of people you surveyed.

Farang is not so nice in polite company, but it isn't necessarily impolite. Amongst a group of friends, it certainly isn't impolite.

One of my good friends always refers to me as "farang" or "dang chat" in the presence of his other Thai friends. Wouldn't call it a term of endearment myself, but it's plainly clear that this is no different than a special nickname you might give to someone amongst your group (and many of these nicknames ARE impolite!).

Your students would automatically respond "impolite" because it would be impolite for them to call you that - after all, you are their "ajarn".

[mizzi39]

I thought that "farang" was Portuguese? Maybe I'm wrong.......... Again! anyway the term doesn't offend me. I have been called worse.

[Nignoy]

what are we then?

chao tang chat

ชาวต่างประเทศ to be more accurate

I call myself a pakeha.

Silly me I thought it was spellt PAKI!!

[jdinasia]

Last weekend, I was asked to teach an intensive course to 4th year, university Sociolgy Students.

I taught them about describing one's ethnicity but first asked them to fill in a group questionaire as to what was polite to say in Thailand.

I found the results interesting but actually thought as much:-

1 - Black - polite

2 - Kaek(Indian) - impolite

3 - Jaek (Chinese) - impolite

4 - Farang - impolite

PLease don't embarass yourselves by calling yourself a farang.

LOL ... such silliness

Of course no word in itself is impolite

[NaiGreg]

To My Darling Children,

I know you are as proud to be half-Farang as you are to be half-Thai. Rightfully so. But you will discover that many fellow "full" farang are confused by the very term, and (crazy as this may sound) are even threatened by it. They tend to be a little "khriat" and maybe a little paranoid. Or, perhaps they are always on the wrong end of "farang" being used pejoratively. I have heard occassional rumors that this actually happens here in Thailand. I suspect backpackers [and other inappropriately-dressed pinkish-white people] get this sort of undeserved verbal treatment from time to time, with a resentful "khee-nok" added on for good measure. (Especially the obese ones!) Please don't join your miscreant school friends when (or if) they do this. "Mai-dee-leuy!"

You can learn more about these confused farang by reading some posts at Thaivisa.com when you get older.

Oh, well. As for me, I tend to capitalize the word "Farang" when not intending to write about fruit.

Love,

Paw

[PeaceBlondie]

Maybe it does not mean the same to all Thais. Or to all farang. Or to all portions of the kingdom.

[pnustedt]

In UK, how do UK people refer to Asians ?

I recall South Asians being referred to as Packies (as in Pakistanis) in the UK.

My understanding is that Farang is a derivative of Farancais (as in French). Calling a Brit Farang is as derogatory as calling a Thai a Packie. Hopefully, most people now know it is not correct to use Packie when referring to South Asians, this cannot be said of the use of Farang in Thailand.

When I lived in Hong Kong westerners were often referred to as Gweilho (translated from ghostly old man). However, most educated Chinese did realise that this was offensive, and its use often said much of the ignorance of the user.

[gymshark]

as far as the wife is concerned, Farang is just a term for someone with white skin, nothing more and certainly no racism or impoliteness intended.

[jdinasia]

In UK, how do UK people refer to Asians ?

I recall South Asians being referred to as Packies (as in Pakistanis) in the UK.

My understanding is that Farang is a derivative of Farancais (as in French). Calling a Brit Farang is as derogatory as calling a Thai a Packie. Hopefully, most people now know it is not correct to use Packie when referring to South Asians, this cannot be said of the use of Farang in Thailand.

When I lived in Hong Kong westerners were often referred to as Gweilho (translated from ghostly old man). However, most educated Chinese did realise that this was offensive, and its use often said much of the ignorance of the user.

You understand the origins of the word farang incorrectly

[Jingthing]

If Thailand gets to the point, where the common Thai peasant doesn't use the word FARANG, rather he uses English, American, Russian, French, Spanish, Australian, etc., well, I can guarantee if and when that day comes, this country will have alot less appeal to us farangs!

[pnustedt]

You understand the origins of the word farang incorrectly

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=farang

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Farang

Really?