Could someone familiar with the Northern Thai dialect possibly confirm that the following variants of HOM POM are related to the northern dialect and mean PHAK CHI FARANG?

a. HOM POM GULA (หอมป้อมกุลา)

b. HOM POM GULAWA (หอมป้อมกูลวา)

c. HOM POM PAO (ห้อมป้อมเป้อ)

Thank you for your help.

It would also be interesting to know how กูลวา is pronounced and what it means. I couldn't find it in any dictionary.

AyG,

I wish I could help you. Google translate sounds like GUNWAA.

An article which mentions it, although I don't know the connection, is:

http://www.muslimchiangmai.net/index.php?topic=497.0;wap2

Good luck!

My wife (from Chiangmai province) can confirm that they are connected as suggested. Her mother used to grow them, and her recollection is that -kulwa is a big form and -poe is a small form.

The first suffix contains the /lw/ cluster, which is present in northern Thai and at least some Lao, as in the word for 'donkey', which may account for the inconsistency. The best RTGS transcription is KULWA, though KU-LWA would be excusable. If you're using slapdash, perhaps you should use 'loi' for the last bit as in French.

PAO is an excellent choice for the third word to ensure that no-one understands you. RTGS is POE.

Edited July 23, 201510 yr by Richard W

Dear Richard W,

Thank you very much for that information.

Glad to receive the confirmation.

PAO is an excellent choice for the third word to ensure that non-one understands you. RTGS is POE.

Mea culpa. Was thinking of เผา.