What is this phenomenon? Generally speaking, in the west we use the term 'women' or 'girls' , right?

Really , this is not a troll , i am curious! Why do women/girls in Thailand suddenly become 'Thai ladies' to western men who wouldn't usually use this term?

Perhaps it is the 'more mature' language of your average TV poster, and i'm out of touch with that ? I really don't get it and it actually creeps me out to be honest.

Any thoughts/insights welcome.

I guess not all of us are native english speakers. Girl, woman, lady, you may have to translate in the poster mother tongue to understand what he really means.

And sometime, as Freud was quoted to say, a pipe is just a pipe.

Part of it is political correctness. Some Western women and feminine feminist guys object to calling young women "girls".

Part of it is political correctness. Some Western women and feminine feminist guys object to calling young women "girls".

My understanding :

Up to 13 : girl

13 - 18 : teenage girl

18- 30 : young lady (actually 25 but I'm being nice here)

> 30 : woman

Now you can use "girl" if the "girls" are close friends and/or are the same age as you.

But, as I said, it probably mostly depends of your culture.

maybe it's becuause they call themselves that - i think the term "lady" is far more commonly used my thai females when describing themselves than the words "woman" or "girl". it's just caught on.

I think some of you are missing the point. The OP is asking why call Thai females 'ladies' and not farang females. What he is asking is why the difference?

I think it's a good observation and as somebody has alluded to already, it is possibly overcompensation for derogatory sentiments.

Part of it is political correctness. Some Western women and feminine feminist guys object to calling young women "girls".

My understanding :

Up to 13 : girl

13 - 18 : teenage girl

18- 30 : young lady (actually 25 but I'm being nice here)

> 30 : woman

Now you can use "girl" if the "girls" are close friends and/or are the same age as you.

But, as I said, it probably mostly depends of your culture.

I think we (UK) prob. use 'girl' for someone into their twenties , then use 'woman' upwards from that. We don't have that 'young lady' category you speak of. Anyway, still doesn't answer the question of the OP. We don't really use the 'teenage girl' thing either.

I think some of you are missing the point. The OP is asking why call Thai females 'ladies' and not farang females. What he is asking is why the difference?

I think it's a good observation and as somebody has alluded to already, it is possibly overcompensation for derogatory sentiments.

Because you're using different words for Thai and Farang "females" ? I don't

So I guess it's really a thread for native english speakers

I think some of you are missing the point. The OP is asking why call Thai females 'ladies' and not farang females. What he is asking is why the difference?

I think it's a good observation and as somebody has alluded to already, it is possibly overcompensation for derogatory sentiments.

Because you're using different words for Thai and Farang "females" ? I don't

So I guess it's really a thread for native english speakers

I don't use different terms either, but a lot do. I am a native speaker.

I'd have to agree with joe ekkamai: most English-speaking Thai women refer to themselves and others as 'lady. The word is easy for them containing two very common and therefore easily pronounced Thai syllables, the latter of which can also mean 'good'. Both girl and woman are not such attractive sound to the Thai ear, for one thing they both end in consonants.

I'd have to agree with joe ekkamai: most English-speaking Thai women refer to themselves and others as 'lady. The word is easy for them containing two very common and therefore easily pronounced Thai syllables, the latter of which can also mean 'good'. Both girl and woman are not such attractive sound to the Thai ear, for one thing they both end in consonants.

But we are discussing western men's use of the term here. Not Thai 'females'!

I always use the words Lady or Ladies to address or speak/write about both Thai and Western Human Beings of the Female Gender.

For Ladyboys ie Kathoeys it's a bit more complicated.

LaoPo

oh dear, didn't take long did it.

CLOSED

After a nice pm from the op I have decided to re open this topic. Several posts have been deleted & a suspension has been handed out.

If posters are not able to carry on without reorting to nastiness then it will be closed again

After a nice pm from the op I have decided to re open this topic. Several posts have been deleted & a suspension has been handed out.

If posters are not able to carry on without reorting to nastiness then it will be closed again

Thank you Boo.

Now, i'm off to bed anyway, so behave yourselves please.

After a nice pm from the op I have decided to re open this topic. Several posts have been deleted & a suspension has been handed out.

If posters are not able to carry on without reorting to nastiness then it will be closed again

Must have been quite a PM, since yoiu deleted the sensible responses but left the troll in place. <deleted>?

I suppose a matter of opinion then lannarebirth but I see nothing sensible in the posts that have been removed, only the usual viterol & "issue" venting against women.

I suppose a matter of opinion then lannarebirth but I see nothing sensible in the posts that have been removed, only the usual viterol & "issue" venting against women.

OH, OK. I see it is 2 threads now. These were the sensible reponses BTW:

I think your answer was provided....it is the term frequently used by Thai females to describe themselves or other Thai females......when using English.

It is pretty obvious for most of us isn't it? Perhaps not the answer the OP was looking for however

Whateva!

I'm not sure where the hostility is coming from lannarebirth but FYI, those replies are not & have never been on this thread. are you getting confused with another thread?

I think it's creepy too. I always use 'woman'. Or perhaps girl if they're truly young.

The people I know only use "lady" when referring to the truely old or if being polite to a customer. Everyone else is woman or girl. I always find it a bit cringy when someone uses thai lady, rather than thai woman, sounds a bit like 70's style groovy DJ speak but nothing inherently wrong with it I suppose. Much better than some other terms I have come across over the years

My wife is an extremely beautiful, charming, sensitive, loving Thai lady.

Why would I use any other description?

The word Lady is a noblewomen or peeress. I have used the term but normally say Thai Women or Thai Girl.

The word Lady is a noblewomen or peeress. I have used the term but normally say Thai Women or Thai Girl.

Remind me....... what does the notice usually say outside the toilets opposite the gents?

I believe the thai woman did it to make herself seem like A better person.To me lady's don't work in bars,in any way shape or form.But then what do I know,I have that old school mentality.Today's times I guess it's proper to marry them when they've been working at the bar most of their life.

The word Lady is a noblewomen or peeress. I have used the term but normally say Thai Women or Thai Girl.

Remind me....... what does the notice usually say outside the toilets opposite the gents?

Male / Female

Remind me....... what does the notice usually say outside the toilets opposite the gents?

You mean this..?

Love it....desperate attempts to disguise the obvious.......gentlemen......

I missed all the nastiness... Oh well.

I use all forms when referring to the female gender: women, ladies, girls, gals, lady friends, hotties, etc. I use whatever is appropriate at the time. Adult women themselves often refer to their own gender as "girls"... as in "Lets go girls". The "girls in question could be anywhere from 18 to eighty.

If someone takes offence then that is THEIR problem, not yours.

A more confusing question would be what to you call your adult offspring? I've got a son and daughter who are both in the late thirties. I can hardly call them children, even though they are/were my children. If I call them my "kids" that might also imply they are still teenagers.

I'd have to agree with joe ekkamai: most English-speaking Thai women refer to themselves and others as 'lady. The word is easy for them containing two very common and therefore easily pronounced Thai syllables, the latter of which can also mean 'good'. Both girl and woman are not such attractive sound to the Thai ear, for one thing they both end in consonants.

Yes, I agree with your analysis.

The W in women is difficult, as are the R and L in girl. (for Thai people).

My father (Lord rest him) always maintained that English was incorrect. e.g. Ladies and Gentlemen ---- should be ---- Ladies and Lords. (or Gentle-ladies and Gentlemen)

And then of course ( to mention only) there is the expression ------ ''Ladies of the night''. But, I doubt is this is what is meant. It seems to be more simplistic.

So, to be fair to the OP, I have also noticed this, and was mildly curious.