Farang

[midasthailand]

On TV, I have seen many negative references to the word "Farang" and its use by Thais talking about westerners and wondered why some people get so upset when hearing themselves referred to as "Farang". I believe that the origins of the word are not derogatory at all and in fact relate to the many colours of our eyes, which can be compared to the many hues of the Guava fruit (Thai word for Guava = Farang), in particular the miniature version (Farang Khee Nok). Apart from our skin and hair colour, one of our most distinguishing features is our eye colour and somewhere in the distant past I guess some Thai compared our eye colour to the fruit, Guava and the name stuck. I had this discussion with a Thai who assured me that this is the origin of the word.

Seems feasable to me. What do you think? any other versions of the origins of the word? I for one, do not mind being referred to as a Farang at all, what about you?

Dave

[jdinasia]

no

think this might have been covered a time or 20 so far?

[PREM-R]

This has been covered many times and the general view is that "Farang" is a derivative of "Farangsai" or French person. This is believed to be because of the French colonising most of South East Asia, but not Thailand, and so most of the Europeans seen in the region were French and so now all white "Europeans' are "Farang".

[jdinasia]

Prem .... no that's not the general view

[PREM-R]

Prem .... no that's not the general view

So what is your view?

[midasthailand]

Prem .... no that's not the general view

Gee JD, I wasn't aware of a rule that said a subject couldn't be covered more than once, seems to me there are plenty of threads on Thai BG/farang relationships etc..

The beauty of a forum such as this is that if you don't want to participate in a thread you don't have to. In a perfect world, people would respond to the thread with either an alternative view of correlating data for the original hypothesis. Unfortunately this is not a perfect world and there will always be people, that even though they have nothing to contribute to a thread, persist in posting anyway.

MAI BEN RAI KHRAB

[jdinasia]

try the search function ... but making statements that are not true .....

[bkkjames]

Perhaps this topic is worthy of pin seeing as it is raised on a monthly basis?

[jdinasia]

I think a topic ... "using the search function" would be worthy of a pinned thread

[ubonjoe]

This has been covered many times and the general view is that "Farang" is a derivative of "Farangsai" or French person. This is believed to be because of the French colonising most of South East Asia, but not Thailand, and so most of the Europeans seen in the region were French and so now all white "Europeans' are "Farang".

I agree with you.

I have also seen Farang defined as French in a dictionary.

[jdinasia]

Ubon ... can you let us ALL know what dictionary listed farang (not farangset) as french?

[Payboy]

farangi is an arabic or persian word meaning "foreign"...

[midasthailand]

I think a topic ... "using the search function" would be worthy of a pinned thread

So essentially you are the self appointed thread monitoring nazi? What you are suggesting is that there should never be any new threads regarding questions about Visa's as I would think every possible question about visa's has been asked and answered at some stage. We should also have no threads about relationships between farang and Thai, as over the years every possible scenario would have been covered.

Jesus, just ignore the thread if you have nothing to contribute! Just like I ignore the annoying threads on three word stories/ 5 word stories etc...

[jdinasia]

visas and relationships change .....

[neion2000]

This question may be legit to you and it means nothing but to describe a non-thai (European - White Person) as the norm, but describes all non-Thai's in the most part.. I was in the military on exercises in Pattaya.. We were all called Farang, whites, blacks, asian.. I thought it was the word for tourist.. I don't take offense of the word Farang.. unless the word 'fuc_ken" is mentioned before Farang, then I might get upset.

I've never had anyone straight try to get my attention by saying "hey, FARANG" It does not happen.. not even on the television!!

Things being covered over and over about this and any subject does get old.. But if you're new to this site, I understand... I only have a few post on this site, but read more than I respond..

[bkkjames]

to lighten the proceedings...

What's the difference between a gay farang and a Thai Fruit?

With the gay farang at least you know his postion.

[submaniac]

I think a topic ... "using the search function" would be worthy of a pinned thread

So essentially you are the self appointed thread monitoring nazi? What you are suggesting is that there should never be any new threads regarding questions about Visa's as I would think every possible question about visa's has been asked and answered at some stage. We should also have no threads about relationships between farang and Thai, as over the years every possible scenario would have been covered.

Jesus, just ignore the thread if you have nothing to contribute! Just like I ignore the annoying threads on three word stories/ 5 word stories etc...

Dave, you are the most obnoxious, arrogant SOB on this forum.

[wamberal]

There is a very similar word, with the same meaning, in Hindi.

In Tongan, the equivalent word is "palangi".

This suggests that there is a source word somewhere in one of the world's oldest languages.

[ubonjoe]

Ubon ... can you let us ALL know what dictionary listed farang (not farangset) as french?

I don't remember what dictionary it was. That was many years ago.

This wiki page is interesting. Even makes OP's definition questionable. Since Guava was called farang because is was a forign fruit.

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

[grantbkk]

I believe the French, back in the day they were a global power, cheated the Kingdom out of a lot of land along the river which now runs through Bangkok. The word was derogatory back then and meant Frenchman. The word farang evolved and has many meanings depending on the user, some OK and some may be considered derogatory. I hope the French have evolved too.

[pampal]

farang is a Persian word meaning foreigner

[soundman]

Well, I reckon the transliteration is incorrect anyway and it should be spoken "farung" because the "อั" (ฝรั่ง) in farung is generally pronounced with an "uh" sound rather than an "a" sound.

So you are all wrong - take that!

Cheers!

[jdinasia]

Ubon ... can you let us ALL know what dictionary listed farang (not farangset) as french?

I don't remember what dictionary it was. That was many years ago.

This wiki page is interesting. Even makes OP's definition questionable. Since Guava was called farang because is was a forign fruit.

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

did you look at the beginning of that post? OR the fact that whoever wrote it didn't cite or explain any other reference?

There's a reason it said it needed documentation (plus citing wiki is lame!)

I am still hoping for the name of ANY Thai dictionary that says farang (not farangset)= french

[bkkjames]

I am going for lunch, when you guys have quit fighting about farang origins and have come to some consensus be it, persian french, fruit, animals, cosmic beings or whatever, please send out a general pm to everyone on TV so we can finally put this baby to rest.

Thanks

[DP25]

It's a corruption of the word 'Frank', which the term given by locals in the middle east to all Western Europeans during the Crusades. White people are called some version of Farangi, Farang, Barang, Farengi, etc all the way from the middle east to Persia, India, Thailand, Cambodia, etc. It has nothing to do with the French being the first to colonize SEA. The Portuguese were here first anyway.

[Stephen Cleary]

Contrary to popular belief, the word Farang probably did not derive from Francais (France/French) but instead Persian/Arabic as in Faranj/Farangi (The Franks). Here's why:

It was only during the reign of King Narai (1629-1688) that extensive relations with the European powers were built and especially the French. In 1662, Narai allowed the first French jesuits to settle in the kingdom to preach Catholicism to the masses. The French who visited before that, only came sporadically, just like the Portuguese.

Compare the first fervent French arrival in Siam (late 17th century) to that of the Persians (16th century)

The first Persian (Farangi) merchants to arrive in Siam were during the reign of King Naresuan the Great (1555-1605) and it was Naresuan himself who allowed the initial migration of Persians to permanently settle in Thailand. And it was these original Persian trader immigrants a century before the French who were the original 'Farangs'.

[DP25]

As for the guave theory, the guava fruit is native to Central America. It was brought to Thailand by European traders, much the same way the chilli pepper was. The guava was named after the people who brought it.

[jdinasia]

LOL... it doesn't help that the Portuguese were the foreigners in Thailand LONG before the French (1511 is when they established an embassy if memory serves ....)

[DP25]

The first Persian (Farangi) merchants to arrive in Siam were during the reign of King Naresuan the Great (1555-1605) and it was Naresuan himself who allowed the initial migration of Persians to permanently settle in Thailand. And it was these original Persian trader immigrants a century before the French who were the original 'Farangs'.

The Portuguese were trading in Siam in the early 1500s and were the first 'farang' in Siam. Portuguese diplomats and traders made contact and began relations with Siam soon after the Portuguese conquest of Malacca in 1511. They built a church in Ayuttaya and helped with fortifications, and Portuguese mercenaries even fought in the Siamese army against the Burmese.

[barky]

On TV, I have seen many negative references to the word "Farang" and its use by Thais talking about westerners and wondered why some people get so upset when hearing themselves referred to as "Farang". I believe that the origins of the word are not derogatory at all and in fact relate to the many colours of our eyes, which can be compared to the many hues of the Guava fruit (Thai word for Guava = Farang), in particular the miniature version (Farang Khee Nok). Apart from our skin and hair colour, one of our most distinguishing features is our eye colour and somewhere in the distant past I guess some Thai compared our eye colour to the fruit, Guava and the name stuck. I had this discussion with a Thai who assured me that this is the origin of the word.

Seems feasable to me. What do you think? any other versions of the origins of the word? I for one, do not mind being referred to as a Farang at all, what about you?

Dave

Although I have no real interest in the origins of the word in question, I do note however that your reference to "farang khee nok" is probably much closer to the real meaning far too many Thais place on the word.