Anyone know where the แบ๋ว in แอบแบ๋ว comes from? I know แอบ means to hide but can't find แบ๋ว in the dictionary. I'm guessing it's a loan word. If I understand the word correctly, it means to make yourself prettier/cuter than you really are. Is that correct?

Edit: Nevermind, found the meaning here: http://asda.exteen.com/20070502/entry but still curious about แบ๋ว

Edited August 2, 200916 yr by Baannok

Anyone know where the แบ๋ว in แอบแบ๋ว comes from? I know แอบ means to hide but can't find แบ๋ว in the dictionary. I'm guessing it's a loan word. If I understand the word correctly, it means to make yourself prettier/cuter than you really are. Is that correct?

Edit: Nevermind, found the meaning here: http://asda.exteen.com/20070502/entry but still curious about แบ๋ว

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/and3649and36...49-t260483.html

Have a look here for encyclopaedic knowledge about the expression (it might not enlighten you much), and here for photographic techniques.

The word is most often written แอ๊บแบ๊ว.

There are a number of theories on the origin of this phrase, but the one that seems to have the most credence goes as follows:

แอ๊บ (pronounced with short vowel and high tone, not the same as แอบ, which is long vowel and low tone) is from English "abnormal", and is used in other combinations besides just แอ๊บแบ๊ว, including on its own sometimes. The meaning is to act with an affectation, or act intentionally in some artificial or unnatural way. For example, แอ๊บแมน is used when a gay guy tries to act manly, perhaps to hide the fact that he's gay, or to impress someone, whatever. (แมน, from English "man", of course, is Thai slang for "manly". ผู้ชายแมนๆ means "a manly man".)

แบ๊ว is from บ๊องแบ๊ว, meaning cute or cutesy.

So แอ๊บแบ๊ว means to act cute or cutesy, as an affectation. Like striking a pose for the camera with wide eyes, syrupy smile, fingers raised in a V, head cocked, that sort of thing. Just look it up on Google Images.

Thanks Rikker!