....as I have some friends urgently in need of being told what they are....

Thanks.

I very much doubt there will be a word in Thai that explains what you mean ? Maybe show them a picture ?

I assume that your friends are Thai?

'Kasikorn' (as in the bank) or 'ga(L) si(L) gaawn(M)' means 'farmer' but can also mean 'peasant'.

Maybe 'chao(M) din(M)' would be more insulting, meaning 'rural person' or 'peasant'.

บ้านนอก is a person who is unsophisticated in the ways of modern society. Is that a Hillbilly? Used in the same way as Country bumkin.

Edited February 13, 201115 yr by tgeezer

Are these people really your friends or are they socially superior to you?

If your intention is to try to insult these people in Thai, seriously or even jokingly, I strongly suggest you forget the whole idea.

People - Farang - who give you suggestions on this Forum can have no real idea of the relationship between you and the "Hillbillies" ........ and the nature of that relationship can totally change the meaning - or rather, the Thais' interpretation - of the word or phrase.

Don't do it.

Patrick

If your intention is to try to insult these people in Thai, seriously or even jokingly, I strongly suggest you forget the whole idea.

People - Farang - who give you suggestions on this Forum can have no real idea of the relationship between you and the "Hillbillies" ........ and the nature of that relationship can totally change the meaning - or rather, the Thais' interpretation - of the word or phrase.

Don't do it.

Patrick

I agree with this; we should never say anything which is designed to upset people บ้านนอก can only be properly used in the third person, and only then if the listener agrees with you.

As a joke to a friend who longs to eat fermented fish it is ok, because he is proud of the difference between you. I use it about myself when I tell people where I come from in UK, because it is obvious to them that it is not true.

If you want to tell a Thai off, agree with everything they say but don't act on any of it. Only acknowledge them when it is unavoidable and then only go through the motions, why, smile, minimum speech.

Friends,

Is the phrase "ตาสีตาสา" a pejorative?

If the term "hillbilly" is being used in a non-negative sense to describe someone of lesser sophistication, can this be the equivalent of คนตาสีตาสา ?

[1982 RID: [นาม] (การใช้: สำนวน) ผู้มีอายุที่ได้รับการศึกษาน้อย.]

I am asking outside of the context of the OP who apparently does want a fairly disparaging term.

Thank you for your help.