The Word Teeluk

[IrishIvan]

I was reading through some online articles late last night about the Thai language. In one persons opinion teeluk is used in an almost sarcastic and degrading way from Thai women to western men. It goes on to say that a nice Thai woman would never call their Thai partner teeluk. What are people's thoughts on this?

[TexasRanger]

Bullsh@t. I hear it used a lot to children as well.

[KhunBENQ]

Sarcastic and degrading?

No!

It just might sound "funny" (don't know the appropriate englisch word), as adult Thais are

generally not using too much terms of endearment (especially in public).

They would not shout for their "darling!!!".

(so far I would agree with the articles that you read).

If your Thai partner call you like that it not sarcasitc.

By the way: the official transkript for <Thai language removed> is "thi rak".

For you english people maybe like "teerug"? with that soft "r".

The "l" is the usual lazy dialect

[candypants]

which official "transkript" is that?

[Payboy]

I rather prefer "dakling", so much more loving.

[uptheos]

I rather prefer "dakling", so much more loving.

How about "my little duckling?"

[lannarebirth]

I was reading through some online articles late last night about the Thai language. In one persons opinion teeluk is used in an almost sarcastic and degrading way from Thai women to western men. It goes on to say that a nice Thai woman would never call their Thai partner teeluk. What are people's thoughts on this?

I've heard many references here to teerak, teelak, now teeluk. My wife has never called me any of them and I've never heard her use the term with others either. Maybe it's an Isaan thing?.

[pattayadingo]

Teerak. I've been called many times and never sarcastically.

Most start to say Darling after a while, or Sweetheart.

Deffo no sarcasm or any intent other than in a caring way.

[Payboy]

I rather prefer "dakling", so much more loving.

How about "my little duckling?"

Ugly duckling, that's what they call mini me.

[mickjn]

I remember the first time I said it to Lady Pla.She looked at me and she wasnt happy.She said I like if you say and mean,but you must mean if you do not never say to me again

[uptheos]

I remember the first time I said it to Lady Pla.She looked at me and she wasnt happy.She said I like if you say and mean,but you must mean if you do not never say to me again

What, teeluk?

[SteeleJoe]

I was reading through some online articles late last night about the Thai language. In one persons opinion teeluk is used in an almost sarcastic and degrading way from Thai women to western men. It goes on to say that a nice Thai woman would never call their Thai partner teeluk. What are people's thoughts on this?

Bo****ks.

(Think about it: it's a THAI word. Was it coined by Thais for not "nice" Thai women to use with western men? If not, how did it transpire that is now used only by these women exclusively with western men?)

[rawhod]

I was reading through some online articles late last night about the Thai language. In one persons opinion teeluk is used in an almost sarcastic and degrading way from Thai women to western men. It goes on to say that a nice Thai woman would never call their Thai partner teeluk. What are people's thoughts on this?

I've heard many references here to teerak, teelak, now teeluk. My wife has never called me any of them and I've never heard her use the term with others either. Maybe it's an Isaan thing?.

Chiang Mai...Teelak

[uptheos]

I was reading through some online articles late last night about the Thai language. In one persons opinion teeluk is used in an almost sarcastic and degrading way from Thai women to western men. It goes on to say that a nice Thai woman would never call their Thai partner teeluk. What are people's thoughts on this?

I've heard many references here to teerak, teelak, now teeluk. My wife has never called me any of them and I've never heard her use the term with others either. Maybe it's an Isaan thing?.

Chiang Mai...Teelak

Thai language - teerak

[SteeleJoe]

Translation of a Thai song entitled...

"Tee Rak"

"My sweetheart, can I call you that now?

Today we are official, finally I have a boyfriend like other people

My sweetheart- can I call you this forever?

I will only call you that and no one else.

*

My body, my heart, I will not share with anyone else

Do you know I have been waiting a long time for this day?

**

I will call you my sweetheart, my sweetheart, all day long

My sweetheart, my sweetheart, my sweetheart, is this person here.

I will only call you my sweetheart, my sweetheart

You are my sweetheart, my sweetheart, my sweetheart, my good person

Come closer to me, just a little more.

Hold my hand, I will never let go or let anyone take steal you away."

This song was performed by Thais for Thais. For "sweetheart" - an approximate translation - substitute "Teerak". Or find the song and have a listen - you can guess from the lyrics what an insipid song it is. There's another song, sung by a Thai male, in Thai, for his presumably Thai lover - "Soot Teerak". Thai film titles as well.

[Johnniey]

Where was the article, Pattaya Today ?

Rubbish, especially the bit about a ânice Thai woman never calling her husband teerak"

[hansgruber]

Teebaht?

[mickjn]

I remember the first time I said it to Lady Pla.She looked at me and she wasnt happy.She said I like if you say and mean,but you must mean if you do not never say to me again

What, teeluk?

Teerak

[SteeleJoe]

It just might sound "funny" (don't know the appropriate englisch word), as adult Thais are

generally not using too much terms of endearment (especially in public).

I missed this. Spot on.

[villagefarang]

Almost any term can be use sarcastically if one is of a mind to. Says more about the person than the word. While kids may use teerak, sweet married Thai couples often use the words for mother or father to show affection in their relationship but I suppose some might even take offense at that.

The wife and I don’t have children but we do have a golden retriever, which weighs as much as my wife, who is treated like a daughter. We took to calling each other mommy and daddy, for the benefit of the dog, and it seems to have stuck. I don’t think it matters what two people call each other as long as it is spoken with love.

[bangkockney]

Sarcastic and degrading?

No!

It just might sound "funny" (don't know the appropriate englisch word), as adult Thais are

generally not using too much terms of endearment (especially in public).

They would not shout for their "darling!!!".

(so far I would agree with the articles that you read).

If your Thai partner call you like that it not sarcasitc.

By the way: the official transkript for ที่รัก is "thi rak".

For you english people maybe like "teerug"? with that soft "r".

The "l" is the usual lazy dialect

Er, no.

T

Ee

R

U

K

[kblaze]

if its said "Teerak jaaaaaa..." probably being cutesy/funny/sarcastic

[richard_smith237]

I'm on the fence.

My Wife never calls me Teerak, we use an English equivalent.

I see a friend and his Wife use it all the time.

In both cases the respective uses in English or Thai are genuine and come across as very normal by couples who can communicate fluently.

However, A screech of 'Teeraaaak' followed by Pigeon English used by couples who can hardly communicate maybe viewed by some with a certain level of cynicism regarding the genuineness of its use...

[candypants]

if she is calling you tee rak after the first 20 minutes it just means she cant remember your name

[SteeleJoe]

I'm on the fence.

My Wife never calls me Teerak, we use an English equivalent.

I see a friend and his Wife use it all the time.

In both cases the respective uses in English or Thai are genuine and come across as very normal by couples who can communicate fluently.

However, A screech of 'Teeraaaak' followed by Pigeon English used by couples who can hardly communicate maybe viewed by some with a certain level of cynicism regarding the genuineness of its use...

That's not on the fence. Are you undecided as to whether "tee rak" is "used in an almost sarcastic and degrading way from Thai women to western men and that a nice Thai woman (sic) would never call their Thai partner teeluk"? (Keeping in mind that nothing in that posit suggests "sometimes" or "in some cases" or even "generally").

Your last paragraph is no doubt correct and, I would have thought, quite obvious.

[SteeleJoe]

if she is calling you tee rak after the first 20 minutes it just means she cant remember your name

I once had a girl (would be called a "gik" these days) who I knew had a sponsor in Europe. She very quickly switched from "Pi SteeleJoe" to ALWAYS calling me Tee Rak. She genuinely liked me, I'm sure as I spent virtually no money on her and she spent more on me (in those days, I was sexy young thing) and she was a very affectionate type. But she was a clever girl and it did occur to me that perhaps she used "tee rak" all the time so as to avoid calling me or her Sugar Daddy (on the phone) the wrong name.

[richard_smith237]

I'm on the fence.

My Wife never calls me Teerak, we use an English equivalent.

I see a friend and his Wife use it all the time.

In both cases the respective uses in English or Thai are genuine and come across as very normal by couples who can communicate fluently.

However, A screech of 'Teeraaaak' followed by Pigeon English used by couples who can hardly communicate maybe viewed by some with a certain level of cynicism regarding the genuineness of its use...

That's not on the fence. Are you undecided as to whether "tee rak" is "used in an almost sarcastic and degrading way from Thai women to western men and that a nice Thai woman (sic) would never call their Thai partner teeluk"? (Keeping in mind that nothing in that posit suggests "sometimes" or "in some cases" or even "generally").

Your last paragraph is no doubt correct and, I would have thought, quite obvious.

In the case I have witnessed its use by friends it seems genuine. However, I am often cynical of its use when I hear it used by couples I don't know.

I don't hear Thai couple using it. Thai friends (couples) I know usually refer to each other by their names or English terminology (i.e. honey, babe etc).

Is its use sarcastic?... by some perhaps, by others I don't think so... I'm sat so much on the fence on this subject the barbed wire is giving me a wedgie !

[uptheos]

I remember the first time I said it to Lady Pla.She looked at me and she wasnt happy.She said I like if you say and mean,but you must mean if you do not never say to me again

What, teeluk?

Teerak

Yes, I wanted to know what a teeluk is?

See post 14.

[krisb]

I rather prefer "dakling", so much more loving.

How about "my little duckling?"

Ugly duckling, that's what they call mini me.

S#it head, that's what they call me.

[breadbin]

The only people I hear use the word is a bargirl to her customer, sorry true love.

Never heard anyone else ever say it.