It never ceases to amaze me how difficult it is for me to pronounce Thai words properly. I listen, I practice, I record my speech, I look at it with a spectrum analyzer. But, I just never can seem to get it right.

Here's a good example: Yesterday I was up on the third floor of Da Mor in Korat. That's the where new IT section is. I was looking for a USB Flash Drive. As I walked by one of the mobile phone stalls, a woman calls out, in perfectly good English, "Sir, what are you looking for? Maybe I can help you."

I replied in my lovely Southern California English, "I need a flash drive."

"What? You want a phone?"

"No, a flash drive."

Then came the squint, the furrowed brow and the questioning look to which I have become way too accustomed.

I tried again: "Flat dribe. Flat drine." And many more.

Eventually I remembered that I had one in my pocket so I pulled it out to show her.

"Oh, you want fat die. I can help you."

Oh, yeah. That's it. Fat Die.

Next time perhaps you can get a Fet Mot while you're there: http://www.andrewbiggs.com/blog2/?p=288

Edited July 9, 201015 yr by AjarnPasa

Most Thais I have heard talking about it call it a "Handy Drive"

You were lucky she knew what a Fat Die was

In my experience the most common name I hear Thais use is 'flash drive', canonically spelled แฟลชไดรฟ์ (and pronounced 'fat die' ), but misspelled 101 different ways.

See the Thai Wikipedia article, for instance. It also lists the many other names for them.