Confuse The Locals

[Samuinick]

I seem to have started something which all my Thai friends have been talking about for quite some time now.

I asked them to translate the name of the shop 7-11 into Thai, it can't be done!!

[mynextgig]

I seem to have started something which all my Thai friends have been talking about for quite some time now.

I asked them to translate the name of the shop 7-11 into Thai, it can't be done!!

ร้านเสะเฝน is generally understood, not sure if thats how you would spell seven in Thai...

[phaethon]

What's wrong with "jet-sip et" ?

AFAICH Thais call them "seven-eleven" (or "sewen-elwen")

[aanon]

What's wrong with "jet-sip et" ?

AFAICH Thais call them "seven-eleven" (or "sewen-elwen")

I take the original poster to be saying that "jet - sip et" sounds the same as "jet sip et" (71).

[DavidHouston]

I have had a similar bout of non-comprehension when I went to purchase an AIS telephone refill card and asked for "หนึ้ง-สอง-โทร"

[withnail]

What's wrong with "jet-sip et" ?

AFAICH Thais call them "seven-eleven" (or "sewen-elwen")

I take the original poster to be saying that "jet - sip et" sounds the same as "jet sip et" (71).

In that case the translation would be เจ็ดถึงสิบเอ็ด jet tung sip-et or เจ็ดโมงเช้าถึงห้าทุ่ม jet mohng chaao tung haa tum; seven o'clock AM until eleven o'clock PM. Originally that's what it meant because the stores were open from these times before they became 24 hour.

Edited April 10, 2009 by withnail

[khaowong1]

What's wrong with "jet-sip et" ?

AFAICH Thais call them "seven-eleven" (or "sewen-elwen")

I take the original poster to be saying that "jet - sip et" sounds the same as "jet sip et" (71).

In that case the translation would be เจ็ดถึงสิบเอ็ด jet tung sip-et or เจ็ดโมงเช้าถึงห้าทุ่ม jet mohng chaao tung haa tum; seven o'clock AM until eleven o'clock PM. Originally that's what it meant because the stores were open from these times before they became 24 hour.

Every Thai I ever met, knew exactly what I was asking or saying when I said, "where is 7" or "I go to 7".. half the time they didn't know what I was saying if I said " 7 - 11 "

[mark101]

Don't forget the Thai pronunciation of the second syllable (usually a falling tone) :

เซเว่น .No typical pronounciation of V. It becomes W. And as the previous post mentioned, Thais love to give things nick names or shorter names so most of the time you will never hear them call it : เซเว่นอีเลฟเว่น. Just plane old Seven! หิวแล้วเดี๋ยวไปเซเว่นดีกว่าครับ!! <H3 class=r> </H3>

Edited April 12, 2009 by mark101

[withnail]

What's wrong with "jet-sip et" ?

AFAICH Thais call them "seven-eleven" (or "sewen-elwen")

I take the original poster to be saying that "jet - sip et" sounds the same as "jet sip et" (71).

In that case the translation would be เจ็ดถึงสิบเอ็ด jet tung sip-et or เจ็ดโมงเช้าถึงห้าทุ่ม jet mohng chaao tung haa tum; seven o'clock AM until eleven o'clock PM. Originally that's what it meant because the stores were open from these times before they became 24 hour.

Every Thai I ever met, knew exactly what I was asking or saying when I said, "where is 7" or "I go to 7".. half the time they didn't know what I was saying if I said " 7 - 11 "

I don't think the original poster was suggesting that the name needed translating to be understood just that it couldn't easily be translated into Thai if you asked a Thai person to do so. Hence the confusion.

[OldenAtwoody]

What's wrong with "jet-sip et" ?

AFAICH Thais call them "seven-eleven" (or "sewen-elwen")

I take the original poster to be saying that "jet - sip et" sounds the same as "jet sip et" (71).

In that case the translation would be เจ็ดถึงสิบเอ็ด jet tung sip-et or เจ็ดโมงเช้าถึงห้าทุ่ม jet mohng chaao tung haa tum; seven o'clock AM until eleven o'clock PM. Originally that's what it meant because the stores were open from these times before they became 24 hour.

Good recollection. That is indeeed the origin of the name. We both must be ancients.

One Question: If 7-11's are open 24 hours, why do they have locks on the doors?