I Finally Understand Why Some Women Are "Gibbons"

[nalaknarak]

Sawatdee Kha,

Please correct me if I'm wrong. According to this clip, the gibbons say "ผัว ผัว(onomatopoeia)" cf. ผัว = husband. Hence slutty women are called gibbons because of this? If not then why are they being compared to gibbons?

Looking forward to your replies.

[mikenyork]

Actually didn't know this slang word until this post brought it to my attention. The online T-L.com dictionary says it is used by gay men to insult women. I wonder if that's accurate or if it is, in fact, used more broadly.

I would say that it is used as a put down to women because the ชะนี goes about saying "husband, husband", implying that it is looking for sex.

[rgs2001uk]

Actually didn't know this slang word until this post brought it to my attention. The online T-L.com dictionary says it is used by gay men to insult women. I wonder if that's accurate or if it is, in fact, used more broadly.

I would say that it is used as a put down to women because the ชะนี goes about saying "husband, husband", implying that it is looking for sex.

It may have been adopted by gays as a put down on women, however in my experience it is used by all and is not an exclusively gay term.

I usually here the ชะนี preceded by ee, its a term I have heard woman use more than men.

[R7BKK]

Yes, nalaknarak, that's exactly the reasoning behind the term.

I believe it originated amongst ladyboys as a way to refer to biological women. (This is a community where a lot of colourful Thai slang comes from.)

Then the term migrated to the gay community.

Now it could be used by anybody but still has a definite gay man's and ladyboy's vibe to it ... probably why you don't hear straight men using it so often.