You should expect to be called "Papa" by Thais on the street at what age?

[Jingthing]

OK. I'm getting the "Papa" thing a lot more recently, so I know it's for real ... not a random Thai or two with bad eyesight.

I'm not exactly broken up but it reminds me of when in the U.S. younger people starting calling me "Sir" and that wasn't thrilling either.

So how old were you when this started happening to you Papa ... IF it has yet?

[Happy Grumpy]

I'm 36.

I just get teethsucking and *tsking*.

[CharlieH]

I have never come across this, nor heard of it, asked the wife and neither has she.

The closest she could come up with was "Da" or "khun Da" (meaning Grandfather).

Guess there must be regional variations.

[Jingthing]

Pattaya region ...

Hmm.

Kind of reminds me of PAPI that some Spanish speaking people use. Also English slang at least in the U.S.

PAPI is kind of hot at least compared to Papa.

Edited May 16, 2015 by Jingthing

[Stan42]

Despite my advanced age, I am genetically so young that almost everybody calls me Nong.

[arunsakda]

No "Papa" yet but no more "Welcome Handsome Man" either.

[Puwa]

Note that there are two "Papas," one means an old Uncle type guy, the other means sugar daddy.

[NoshowJones]

No "Papa" yet but no more "Welcome Handsome Man" either.

That must be because they know you don't have much money.

[Naam]

So how old were you when this started happening to you Papa ...

i was 46, had already grey hair but was not amused

here's the story:

-tourist in Pattaya,

-sitting at a bar at Beach Road,

-light rain and cool,

-the working girls faces unhappy,

-i ask "why make grim faces?"

-got as answer "habb lain, falang stay hotel",

-i sez "it's nice and cool... what about me? am i no falang?

-answer "oh you same same papa!"

approximately 45 minutes later the lady was howling.

Edited May 17, 2015 by Naam

[KarenBravo]

Around 45 years old.

[Jingthing]

OK, I'm quite a bit older than that. So I "look" 45 then. That's the ticket. I think I'll process this as PAPI and smile.

[NancyL]

I think it must be a Pattaya thing.

Here in Chiang Mai, I know some situations where household staff call their bosses "Mama" and "Papa" -- people over age 55 -- but not strangers.

I've been called "panrayaa" by songthaew drivers, which mean means "wife" when I've had a nice chat in Thai after a fairly long drive around town, but only after the Q & A where we determined each other's ages, along with marital history, age, sex and number of children, country of origin, time in Thailand, hobbies and whatever else the driver could think to ask me. Oh, these were drivers very, very close to me in age, incidentally. Frankly, I thought it a bit cheeky the first time one did it, but there wasn't anything untoward really, I think more just a term that recognizes we're about the same age and same place in life's journey.

Come to think of it, the first time a songthaew driver played 20 questions asking me my age, marital status, number of children, I was pretty annoyed, too. Of course, I've come to realize how Thai people are just nosy and it's boring work driving a songthaew, so when a customer comes along who seems a little unusual and can speak some Thai, why try to have a conversation? At least I get to enjoy the aircon up front. Chiang Mai's a small town and over the years some of gotten to know me, at least by sight, and are willing to drop me off in front of my condo, even though I I don't ask because it's off the main road.

Edited May 17, 2015 by NancyL

[EmptyHead]

I am being called something along the lines of "paw gnai"- anyone know what that means?

Edited May 17, 2015 by EmptyHead

[sipi]

My wifes girlfriends call me "Da Pill" (old Phil) in jest. I have never heard Papa.

[Jingthing]

Well, it seems I'm stuck with the Papa thing here at least.

Last night minding my own biz walking down the street I got ... Papa my fren lik yu ... okie dokie, whatever.

No, I don't like the Papa thing, but I do prefer it to farang.

Edited May 17, 2015 by Jingthing

[Jingthing]

Well, it seems I'm stuck with the Papa thing here at least.

Last night minding my own biz walking down the street I got ... Papa my fren lik yu ... okie dokie, whatever.

No, I don't like the Papa thing, but I do prefer it to farang.

Zimmer frame tells all, papa..........

Not even close, mate.

I step lively.

Hair isn't grey or bald either ...

Edited May 17, 2015 by Jingthing

[NickJ]

I got home....thought about it. Joined a gym. Lost weight. .....3 months later "Papa" was very much gone.....

Sad the old bast*@d is on his way back.

[White Christmas13]

Oh guys you missed one thing, he only called papa when

he rides the baht bus

[Jingthing]

OK, so obviously if they're calling you old it's based on looks and perception unless they're checking your age from your I.D.

It doesn't really seem disrespectful, the opposite actually. I have bigger problems and was just curious.

[JDGRUEN]

Yes ... down here in Krabi land ... Papa... I here it often. It has been explained to me - older Uncle. In every case it seems to be a respectful term. In the context and situations that I have been called Papa it has seemed appropriate - the maids didn't know my name or if they did using my name would have been too familiar and inappropriate. It has seemed a bit like being a village elder. Maybe it is a new thing and they have picked it up from some TV show... that's my bet.

[smokie36]

My life is one cheeky grin after another.

[uptheos]

I just pretend she's my daughter.

[angiolo]

So my G/F calls me daddy and I am happy with that .Some of her friends call me dad only rarely can they pronounce the last D

[Cypress Hill]

So my G/F calls me daddy and I am happy with that .Some of her friends call me dad only rarely can they pronounce the last D

And that doesn't bother you?

How much older than her are you?

[Jingthing]

I wouldn't mind having strangers address me as Daddy-O. Groovy!

Sent from my Lenovo S820_ROW using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[NancyL]

Hubby just returned from his morning 10K walk around Chiang Mai city. I asked him if people call him Papa. He thought for a long time and said "if you have a lot of grey hair and look infirm then people call you Papa, but no they don't call me Papa." So what do they call you? I asked. "My name if they know it, but otherwise Farang" Yes, I guess it is better than "Farang".

[bobbin]

Got it a few times in the last year. Not before.

Guess I should be happy that I made it to 64 before they twigged....

[Jingthing]

Got it a few times in the last year. Not before.

Guess I should be happy that I made it to 64 before they twigged....

That's pretty good.

You beat me on that.

[Jingthing]

Maybe they're just admiring my Dad Bod?!?

[KarenBravo]

I feel that selective "deafness" could be a bit of a problem here with some of the posters.

Don't forget, you also have to take into account the age of the person calling you "papa".

Teenager, or someone in their twenties is understandable. It's when they're in their forties and fifties that it gets worrisome.

Edited May 18, 2015 by KarenBravo