The Word Teeluk

[uptheos]

Lots of farangs use the word teerak. It's one of twenty words they know and is usually accompanied by several large beers, some coloured water for her and centred around a game called connect four.

[Scott]

Thai script has been edited out of a post. This portion of the forum is English only. For a discussion of the Thai language, please use the Thai language forum, located here: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/forum/43-thai-language/

[IrishIvan]

My 2 mia nois use it all the damn time.

Wow! You must be really important to have 2 mia nois, very impressive. Glad you shared, now we can look up to you with the respect you deserve.

Im just assimilating into Thai culture. All Thai men have mia nois. I may not be a linguist i have not shaved my head to become a monk. But having mia nois is a Thai tradition. As traditional as somtum

Edited May 8, 2013 by IrishIvan

[Mosha]

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

That's what we call each other, even in public.

Teerak sounds like a carnivorous dinosaur.

I prefer "Monkey bum" too.

[uptheos]

Teerak stops girls making a mistake and calling you Tom or Dick, when your name is Harry.

[akspace]

My girlfriend just calls me moo, I think I would prefer teerak....

[Andre0720]

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.

Yes teelak is normally void of sarcasm...

Darling on the other hand... Beware of the intonations.....

Dta ling, monkey's ass

[Thakkar]

Teerak stops girls making a mistake and calling you Tom or Dick, when your name is Harry.

.

If we're sitting around a bar buying ladies' drinks, we are all Dicks.

T

[BrooklynNY]

Tee Ruk NOT Tee Luk

I always use "Tee Ruk" and also "Dear"

Also "Dearest" (Sood Tee Ruk).

I mean it when I call my loved one those words.

By the way, many Thai people seem to have "Lazy tongue" with words that spelled with "ร. เรือ" (-R-), majority Thais will pronounce as "ล.ลิง" (L) instead.

Edited May 8, 2013 by BrooklynNY

[Thakkar]

Tee Ruk NOT Tee Luk

I always use "Tee Ruk" and also "Dear"

Also "Dearest" (Sood Tee Ruk).

I mean it when I call my loved one those words.

By the way, many Thai people seem to have "Lazy tongue" with words that spelled with "ร. เรือ" (R), majority Thais will pronounce as "ล.ลิง" (L) instead.

.

Oh some may have a lazy tongue when it comes to enunciating the "R", but that tongue ain't so lazy when doing other work, I can tell you that!

T

Edited May 8, 2013 by Thakkar

[BookMan]

My girlfriend just calls me moo, I think I would prefer teerak....

I have been known to call my GF 'moo noi'...she calls me big pig in return.

On the 'teerak' front. We call each other teerak, amongst other terms of endearment. Sometimes I have used 'doll' or 'baby' or a nickname in other relationships.

Generally the only time she uses my actual name is when she introduces me to friends or family, or when she is pissed off with me.

It is all about context IMO. There is a difference in meaning between a shopkeeper or an acquaintance or a friend or a good friend or a partner calling me Hun/Honey/Darling/Sugar/Sweetheart.

They can all use the same words, but, their particular relationship to me creates a nuance that will be clearly defined in meaning to myself.

Edited May 8, 2013 by BookMan

[SteeleJoe]

My girlfriend just calls me moo, I think I would prefer teerak....

I have been known to call my GF 'moo noi'...she calls me big pig in return.

On the 'teerak' front. We call each other teerak, amongst other terms of endearment. Sometimes I have used 'doll' or 'baby' or a nickname in other relationships.

Generally the only time she uses my actual name is when she introduces me to friends or family, or when she is pissed off with me.

It is all about context IMO. There is a difference in meaning between a shopkeeper or an acquaintance or a friend or a good friend or a partner calling me Hun/Honey/Darling/Sugar/Sweetheart.

They can all use the same words, but, their particular relationship to me creates a nuance that will be clearly defined in meaning to myself.

But can we clarify - you use the word, are you a bargirl? Do you ever use it sarcastically with western men?

[ericthai]

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

Never heard anyone else ever say it.

True ive only heard bargirls use it

Odd, that.

I've heard it used often and not a b/g in sight.

Strange how people have to keep bringing b/g's into everything. There are many more women out there who have normal jobs and lives who will call their S.O. darling or use some other term of endearment.

Ill put it another way then...Ive heard plenty of farang men use teeluk. I have never heard a Thai man say it

That would be because it is a term used by women to describe their man.

(Foreigners don't understand Thai language where you often address men and women using different words, and just copy what the woman says)

A man would be more likely to use naarak as a term to describe his woman.

Anyone who replaces R with L is of poor rural farmer ancestry.

I think you better study more. We are talking about the word Teeruk which is same as darling, naarak or naruk however you want to try and spell it means "cute" or "adorable" which can be used by a female or male. Yes a guy can use narak to describe his GF/wife but has no relation to the word teruk. Teeruk can be used by both male and female and I have heard guys use this word. I don't recall any thai guys I know saying this to their wife, but I have heard a few thai guys I know use it when trying to pick up a girl or a new girl friend.

[BookMan]

My girlfriend just calls me moo, I think I would prefer teerak....

I have been known to call my GF 'moo noi'...she calls me big pig in return.

On the 'teerak' front. We call each other teerak, amongst other terms of endearment. Sometimes I have used 'doll' or 'baby' or a nickname in other relationships.

Generally the only time she uses my actual name is when she introduces me to friends or family, or when she is pissed off with me.

It is all about context IMO. There is a difference in meaning between a shopkeeper or an acquaintance or a friend or a good friend or a partner calling me Hun/Honey/Darling/Sugar/Sweetheart.

They can all use the same words, but, their particular relationship to me creates a nuance that will be clearly defined in meaning to myself.

But can we clarify - you use the word, are you a bargirl? Do you ever use it sarcastically with western men?

Im not a bargirl, but I might have used the word in humour with western friends

[Trembly]

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?.

It's about as Central Thai as it gets. Bit quaint now though . . .

[BradinAsia]

True ive only heard bargirls use it

1) How much time do you spend around bargirls?

2) How much time do you spend around people who are not bargirls or former bargirls?

3) How much time do you spend around Thai couples speaking Thai?

4) Do you speak Thai?

5) Do you think Thais would typically use terms of endearment- particularly around others - as frequently as westerners might?

6) Can you explain the Thai songs that use the word in lyrics or the Thai movies that have it in the title?

No need to answer these questions here but perhaps you'd like to consider them for your own improved perception.

Also Thai music IMO is like listening to someone scratching a blackboard. So no I probably won't have your linguistic experience of listening to rubbish. Thai soaps are utter rubbish too. Like Days of Our Lives in Thai. Give me a bullet. But if thats the way you spend your twilight years in LOS. Then good luck. As I stated I have only heard the phrase from bargirls

What is the meaning of rubbish?

Answer -- pitiful, narrow minded folks who move to a faraway country and then spend the

rest of their lives trashing the country, the people and their customs and traditions.

[Keesters]

My previous Thai neighbor would refer to her Norwegian husband as 'farang' when talking to her mother on the phone.

My present Thai child neighbor refers to her adopted British father as 'farang' when referring to him to other Thai kids while playing in the street.

I don't think I've ever heard the term 'teerak' used in my neighborhood. In fact most conversations between the Thai neighbors go something like: farang, nern, nern, nern, farang, nern etc.

Am I glad I live alone.

[SteeleJoe]

In fact most conversations between the Thai neighbors go something like: farang, nern, nern, nern, farang, nern etc.

Sure.

At least you are in no danger of your current status changing.

[Trembly]

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

Never heard anyone else ever say it.

True ive only heard bargirls use it

Odd, that.

I've heard it used often and not a b/g in sight.

Strange how people have to keep bringing b/g's into everything. There are many more women out there who have normal jobs and lives who will call their S.O. darling or use some other term of endearment.

Ill put it another way then...Ive heard plenty of farang men use teeluk. I have never heard a Thai man say it

That would be because it is a term used by women to describe their man.

(Foreigners don't understand Thai language where you often address men and women using different words, and just copy what the woman says)

A man would be more likely to use naarak as a term to describe his woman.

Anyone who replaces R with L is of poor rural farmer ancestry.

Cute is an adjective.

Teerak is a noun.

It is a term that can be used by anyone to show affection to anyone. The English interpretation would be "my love".

Anyone who replaces Rs with Ls is of poor rural Thai ancestry

Nonsense, I'm afraid. Try telling that to some of the few who own the most in Thailand that I went to school with. Replacing Rs with Ls in this day and age has got nothing to do with agrarian ancestry and everything to do with the chosen level of formality in speaking and / or one's familiarity with formal speech (or lack thereof). [Thai] Vocabulary and syntax are far better indicators of socio-economic background.

Edit : by the way, there are more and more Thais these days (particularly in Isan because of the Laotian language's complete lack of R) who may even be educated to degree level and still have enormous difficulty in using Rs and Ls correctly. This is not to say that they don't use Rs and only use Ls, but they just keep getting it wrong and swap them around all over the place. I believe it is basically down to a chain of ineffective education both at school and at home (including the teachers, and their teachers too).

Edited May 8, 2013 by Trembly

[SteeleJoe]

What is the meaning of rubbish?

Answer -- pitiful, narrow minded folks who move to a faraway country and then spend the

rest of their lives trashing the country, the people and their customs and traditions.

If someone strongly dislikes Thai music, that equates to trashing the country, the people and their customs and traditions? It means that person is pitiful and narrow minded rubbish?

If a Thai moved to America and said American music was rubbish, would you say he was trashing the country, the people and their customs and traditions and HE was pitiful narrow minded rubbish?

I wouldn't.

Edited May 8, 2013 by SteeleJoe

[SteeleJoe]

Nonsense, I'm afraid. Try telling that to some of the few who own the most in Thailand whom I went to school with. Replacing Rs with Ls in this day and age has got nothing to do with agrarian ancestry and everything to do with the chosen level of formality in speaking and / or one's familiarity with formal speech (or lack thereof).* [Thai] Vocabulary and syntax are far better indicators of socio-economic background.

*Perhaps unless your first language is Lao, which doesn't have Rs at all.

Thanks for posting that.

I used to make the same argument but got tired of arguing with condescending Farang Thai language snobs telling me that I clearly only associated with low class Thais - despite the fact that not only was that not true but I've heard countless upper middle class Thais using Ls in place of Rs (in certain situations).

That was another reason why I generally stopped arguing the fine points of Thai with Farangs (aside from the fact that I think it makes us look foolish and pretentious); thankfully there is someone here like yourself that can do it - very well - without looking like an ass.

[Docno]

Look, "teeluk" is NOT the "lazy way" of saying "teerak", as one poster said, nor does it have anything to do with how 'poor farming' people talk, as another poster suggested. It is simply the Isaan pronunciation of the word. In the Isaan dialect, the "r" of central Thai is usually replaced with an "l" both in speech and writing. So in Bangkok, a 'restaurant' is 'ran ahaan' but in Korat it is 'lan ahaan' (and it's spelt in the Thai alphabet that way). It's ignorant and offensive to say this is a "lazy" pronunciation."

Now, I've heard "teeluk" said among a lot of Thai couples (always by the woman) in Isaan. My gf also calls me it, and she was never a bargirl, etc. It's simply the equivalent of 'dear' or 'darling'. Of course, if a bar girl in Patpong calls you 'teerak', there may be an element of sarcasm, or (more generously) it could simply be the false affection that they need to convey in their work. And, if it is the case that girls from poorer Isaan are disproportionately represented among bargirls in Bangkok and elsewhere, you may be more likely to hear the word from them if it is more of an 'Isaan thing'. But that doesn't mean that only 'dodgy' girls will use the word: similarly, if a man hears western prostitutes saying 'dear', he shouldn't become concerned about his Western wife.

Edited May 8, 2013 by Docno

[bender92]

It means "I forgot your name again".

[Trembly]

Look, "teeluk" is NOT the "lazy way" of saying "teerak", as one poster said, nor does it have anything to do with how 'poor farming' people talk, as another poster suggested. It is simply the Isaan pronunciation of the word. In the Isaan dialect, the "r" of central Thai is usually replaced with an "l" both in speech and right. So in Bangkok, a 'restaurant' is 'ran ahaan' but in Korat it is 'lan ahaan' (and it's spelt in the Thai alphabet that way). It's ignorant and offensive to say this is a "lazy" pronunciation."

Now, I've heard "teeluk" said among a lot of Thai couples (always by the woman) in Isaan. My gf also calls me it, and she was never a bargirl, etc. It's simply the equivalent of 'dear' or 'darling'. Of course, if a bar girl in Patpong calls you 'teerak', there may be an element of sarcasm, or (more generously) it could simply be the false affection that they need to convey in their work. And, if it is the case that girls from poorer Isaan are disproportionately represented among bargirls in Bangkok and elsewhere, you may be more likely to hear the word from them if it is more of an 'Isaan thing'. But that doesn't mean that only 'dodgy' girls will use the word: similarly, if a man hears western prostitutes saying 'dear', he shouldn't become concerned about his Western wife.

Whilst it is correct that Laotian does not have an R at all, the practice of swapping Rs for Ls is not confined to Thais with Isan / Lao cultural influence; it is every bit as prevalent in other parts of Thailand bar the south, where the R is a more rhotic (like the Mandarin Chinese or standard American R).

[jamles]

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

Yes, I agree, "<Thai language removed" is a much clearer term. There can be no question about it being sarcastic or degrading.

Edited May 27, 2013 by metisdead
English is the only acceptable language, except within the Thai language forum, where of course using Thai is allowed.

[Docno]

Look, "teeluk" is NOT the "lazy way" of saying "teerak", as one poster said, nor does it have anything to do with how 'poor farming' people talk, as another poster suggested. It is simply the Isaan pronunciation of the word. In the Isaan dialect, the "r" of central Thai is usually replaced with an "l" both in speech and right. So in Bangkok, a 'restaurant' is 'ran ahaan' but in Korat it is 'lan ahaan' (and it's spelt in the Thai alphabet that way). It's ignorant and offensive to say this is a "lazy" pronunciation."

Now, I've heard "teeluk" said among a lot of Thai couples (always by the woman) in Isaan. My gf also calls me it, and she was never a bargirl, etc. It's simply the equivalent of 'dear' or 'darling'. Of course, if a bar girl in Patpong calls you 'teerak', there may be an element of sarcasm, or (more generously) it could simply be the false affection that they need to convey in their work. And, if it is the case that girls from poorer Isaan are disproportionately represented among bargirls in Bangkok and elsewhere, you may be more likely to hear the word from them if it is more of an 'Isaan thing'. But that doesn't mean that only 'dodgy' girls will use the word: similarly, if a man hears western prostitutes saying 'dear', he shouldn't become concerned about his Western wife.

Whilst it is correct that Laotian does not have an R at all, the practice of swapping Rs for Ls is not confined to Thais with Isan / Lao cultural influence; it is every bit as prevalent in other parts of Thailand bar the south, where the R is a more rhotic (like the Mandarin Chinese or standard American R).

True. I did not mean to suggest that this pronunciation is confined to the Isaan dialect alone. What would be interesting to know is, when the southern dialect is written in Thai alphabet, whether the 'l' sound is represented by an 'l' letter or an 'r' letter. If the former, it would suggest a dialect difference, if the latter, an accent difference. Anyway, apologies for drifting off topic. I would suspect that you have more people from Isaan living in Bangkok than from the South, so the 'teeluks' you may hear are more likely Isaan in origin.

[toybits]

Say her name is Duangporn or Phataravadee, wouldn't you prefer to call her teeruk or sweetie? Say your name is Frederick or Bjorn. I would guess Thai girls would rather call you Teeruk as well.

Edited May 8, 2013 by toybits

[tenaceous]

Hi guys, the word you are referring to "TEELUK" is correctly pronounced " Teerak" and is used by a Thai male or female as " My Darling" it is only used towards teenagers and adult romantic couples or married couples, it is not used towards children as I have been told by my Thai wife and it originated from Isaan.

It is definitely not a derogatory or insulting word,

I hope this clears everything up for you my little Teeraks!

Tenaceous

[BradinAsia]

Quote:

Edit : by the way, there are more and more Thais these days (particularly in Isan because of the Laotian language's complete lack of R) who may even be educated to degree level and still have enormous difficulty in using Rs and Ls correctly. This is not to say that they don't use Rs and only use Ls, but they just keep getting it wrong and swap them around all over the place. I believe it is basically down to a chain of ineffective education both at school and at home (including the teachers, and their teachers too).

I don't quite understand all this debate about Thai people's pronunciation of Rs and Ls.

What about that large percentage of Brits who can't pronounce a final R in their own

language. Nobody seems to get upset about that.

Edited May 8, 2013 by BradinAsia

[AhFarangJa]

My wife calls me "Dahling need Baht to go chopping"