Thailand's 'F' word: Offensive or harmless?

[HooHaa]

To sums it all up whether it is offensive or not would be to conclude that it all to do with the context in

which the word is spoken, with disdain or just a way to refer to a foreigner....

Some years ago there was a report that a Phuket governor or vice-governor used the term "มัน" (mun = it) in the context of farang, which is obviously derogatory, but in general it is pretty neutral. And in Malaysia the standard Malay term for westerners is orang puteh (white people).

i am far more likely to be offended by being referred to as munn than farang.

[1FinickyOne]

Its a matter of usage... Farang, Brit, Yank... can be used either with affection or disdain. I hope mostly with affection. Where as Japs, Nips, Chinks, Slopes, Gooks, N....gers, etc only have one purpose -- racist disdain.

I've rarely heard the term Yank used with affection. I don't think people from the US like that term...at all...

I may not be up to date on the usage as I rarely here the word "yank" - and if so, maybe by a Brit... or another Yank - but my first thought is to a very patriotic American song from WW1 -

"Over There - Cause the Yanks are coming, ..." George M. Cohan

[ameadi]

The American so touchy,someone angry. . Anyway the topic is boring

[dieseldave1951]

your the sort of falang that would lay down and let people call you anything for a quiet life

when tourists come to the UK we dont generalise them in one catagory, if we dont know them better to say "excuse" me or "sir" or "madam" and not something just to generalise people who either live in the UK or tourists

If you feel offended by such terms, better leave Asia....why even write an article.....

[Pinot]

I once asked my Thai wife if farang was ever used to speak negatively.

She honestly didn't know what I was talking about. If you're sensitive about the use of the word "farang", you need a hobby. I suspect these fools have other issues as well.

[1FinickyOne]

As long as they don't call me Thai I won't be offended.

Actually, every once in a while I am called Thai - - usually occurs if meeting someone for the first time - it is spoken as a high compliment and usually after they hear me speak in Thai and find out I have been here for a while...

And I take it as a compliment...

[craigt3365]

The American so touchy,someone angry. . Anyway the topic is boring

Not angry, just pointing out a fact. If this topic is boring, how did you get this far?

[georgemandm]

IT IS RACISM ...pure and simple ...Cracker or dare i even type Nigg**. Pak*, chin* whats the difference (as these are actually shortened country names)

thailand is a very racist country ask them what they think of Cambodians or Burmese to start with

How true are you .

I have told my thai partner I don't like it and explain why now she dose not use the racist word at all .

You just have to teach them how bad it is like the word <deleted> can't stand it been called that all my life growing up in Australia now let's see if Australian use that word <deleted> no way , so thailand should look at trying to change it like we did back home in Australia with the word <deleted> .

[BangkokKen]

Thai people when abroad don't like either to be discriminated as foreigners.

Why does it make it OK here and not OK for Thais to be constantly singled out abroad?

Tolerance works both ways.

[georgemandm]

Farang yes i am a farang. Many Thais call me farang.

Is it offensive or not? Who cares ? Not me.

Thais who know me call me by my name. Thais who dont know me call me farang.

It is better than Thais saying YOU YOU when they speak to me.

You use the word <deleted> as well ?.

[georgemandm]

I think it depends on the situation and usage - - in a formal setting it is not likely appropriate or when a name can be used. My family calls me by my proper name with "Khun" preceding it. I did find it offensive when a neighbor who could or should have known my name, called me the farang while i was sitting next to her...

However - it is now Songkran and there will be out of country visitors... My wife holds no prejudice - but if she sees a caucasian roaming the village, she might report back to me that a "farang" is in the village... If speaking English, she surely doesn't know the word "caucasian" or even "Westerner" - nor do I know an appropriate way to make the distinction in Thai w/o getting very wordy..

I might even ask her if there are any new farang in the village.. not sure what other word I might use - this is easily understood.

If I go to the temple massage place, where they speak no English, they might tell me that a "farang" is there - and ask me to help translate. It is surely not used in a derogatory manner, just a descriptive word.

Yes ok then you as someone from the west should help and change the way your wife is like I have with my thai partner and now dose not use it at all because it is racist word but I would think you have never gone through your life and been called bad names like <deleted> , because if you did you would say something to your wife like I did .

[georgemandm]

Try calling a local, a 'Wok head' or 'Water Buffalo' and I'm sure the response would be one of it's offensive. Top Gear got in trouble last year when it was mentioned that a bridge in Myanmar was on a 'slope'. In the Vietnam conflict the terms 'Gook's' and 'Charlie's' was used. I hate being referred to as Ferrang especially when my daughter, who looks about 85% European and 15% Thai is also referred to in the same manner.

Yes agree with you 1 million %

[georgemandm]

Well I have no problems with it , in my home city we used to call some Asian people for "the Chinese guys" , because we didn't knew their names . We are the white people for them or at least most of us are, so for me its not offensive at all. If they learn my name they will stop saying farang whien talking to me or my freinds. If not they will hear it.

So that racism in it self Chinese guys what a joke you talk like that say something.

Could you no say MR if you not know they name .

[gandalf12]

IT IS RACISM ...pure and simple ...Cracker or dare i even type Nigg**. Pak*, chin* whats the difference (as these are actually shortened country names)

thailand is a very racist country ask them what they think of Cambodians or Burmese to start with

Tell me a country that is not racist? The UK, USA, Canada, Australia to name a few are racist. I consider it when it is obviously said as a word of contempt that is they are jealous, of what I wouldnt like to even guess at, but they probably are so why bother.

[TJR4ASR]

It is offensive to me, like g#@k or n#@*r.weather ment offensive or not. It seems to come out when drinking.if you tell them they will stop if comment is inocent. Nobody in my families village says that around me anymore. If it bothers you say it does.they dont think I understand anything. 555 I do.

[SoiBiker]

It's funny that so many who find the word offensive are happy to post here in the Farang Pub forum.

Shouldn't you be boycotting it or something?

[kiwikeith]

IT IS RACISM ...pure and simple ...Cracker or dare i even type Nigg**. Pak*, chin* whats the difference (as these are actually shortened country names)

thailand is a very racist country ask them what they think of Cambodians or Burmese to start with

I dont know how the word originated-- possibly from french, farancais , ????? anyone know.I dont think it's a Thai word.

I dont find it offensive unless used badly as the f word can be funny or obscene.

Pacific islanders use the word Palangi which is slightly simmilar and NZ uses Pakeha, all can be used nicely or derogatory.

Just read it comes from 16thcentury traders bringing the arabic word Farangi with their wares, from arabic Faranji meaning westerner.

Edited April 11, 2016 by kiwikeith

[Nielsk]

I think the guy storming out of the restaurant was being rude. This is just another case of “Why don’t they do it my way?”. People move to a foreign country and then expect the locals to follow the rules of etiquette derived in and coming from a place they have never even been to. We are the uninvited guests, so why do they have to adapt to our cultural norms?

So right You are

[derator01]

A post violating forum rules has been removed from view. Please abide by forum rules and show respect to other members.

[MRH1959]

All to do on the pretence it is spoken in.

Most countries seem to have a name for foreigners whether it is Pakeha in NZ, or Farang in Thailand.

Just don't add another F word in front.

[cesarm001]

Well I do not care if they call me farang ....in Australia they call me <deleted> becsuse i am not white english or european white with a name of Jhon Smtith ...so no difference ....

All depends the way and tone use when they call you farang for example if they call me f... farang or f...<deleted> then well they get a punch but farang or <deleted> with smile is ok he he

[Roomuck]

Farang yes i am a farang. Many Thais call me farang.

Is it offensive or not? Who cares ? Not me.

Thais who know me call me by my name. Thais who dont know me call me farang.

It is better than Thais saying YOU YOU when they speak to me.

You should not be offended when Thais call out You. You. They have merely translated one of the words - คุณ - that mean mister. They are being polite.

This is what happens when farangs come here and don't even learn the basics. They get all offended not because the Thais are being rude, but because they themselves are ignorant. Then probably are short or rude to the Thai who was doing his best to be polite and speak English. So who is the rude one here?

Farangness.

[GBK]

I have no problem with being called farang, BUT I do have one when referred to as an Alien by immigration.

Whaaat? You don't have a spaceship parked outside?

I do. ;-)

[khunano]

It's partially the need to categorize, and that applies to more than just people. That couple should have been more understanding, that person was serving food in a restaurant, probably too simple to think beyond seeing a westerner. Given the chance, I usually reply in Thai and let them know, it's Khun Farang.

actually it is ชาวต่างชาติ chao tang chaat this is the proper and polite word for foreigner

[swerver]

The word is not offensive in itself

But the way it is used to refer indifferently to any white foreigner shows the general lack of interest of Thais for the diversity of the world that surrounds their country

The example in the OP summarize it well; the way the word has been used, first, indicates the waiter sees the American like merely something that has been brought in the place by the Thai customer.

Second, it illustrates the way foreigners are not perceived like individuals coming from specific places, with specific cultures or history and that referring to them using a generic term is the norm

The "farang" word means "the non-us" in the Thai mindset.

It suffices them. Unfortunately

Interesting - "the non-us".

In that case then tomato is the "non-us" because that is what Thais in their everyday talk call TOMATO.

Or when I was standing at the Carre Four (meaning four corners. Next called Big C EXTRA now called just Big C, Central Group bought 25% of the shares from Casino Investment in Paris) Mango and Sticky rice with a small pouch of coconut milk stand heard a mother say when her teenage daughter asked her when pointing at the pouch with coconut milk say, "THAT IS FARANG". Meaning I guess in your explanation, "non-us". Yes, I guess it is the "non-us" because sure as h#%^ I do not look like a Thai or for that matter coconut milk or a tomato.

LOL in LOS

[nikmar]

Isnt all to do with attitude and not the word itself. There's a huge difference in the ways it is used.

1. My Mother in law comes to my home. Says "Hello Farang (which is about the sum of her English), smiles and gives lots of lovely food that she's been cooking.

2. The slighly unhinged old lady down the soi shouting about my "stupid Farang kid" in Thai.

A huge difference.

One of my own Mother's popular comebacks is "oh you silly arse" . Should I label my Mum antisocial or abusive?

[khun custard]

But don't forget the equivalent salutations from whence we foreign scum did a cometh? :-), :-)

T'othersider (1800's speak), Niger, Abo, Dago, Slope, Curry Muncher, Jungle Bunny, T-Towel Head, Pommie, Kraut, etc., etc.

Please add to this list as you choose!!!

Makes Falang seem like a one word fits all solution be it good, bad or indifferent!

When Thai's include the F word quite necessarily (an repeatedly) - that usually puts me on Xenophobia/ about to be conned alert.

But as it occurs in general conversation, it is harmless enough, and an ingrained figure of speech in their daily vocabulary.

[Stargeezr]

I am a Canadian, but when I am in Thailand, I guess I am a Farang. That is okay with me because at least

i am not a Kon Jeen, or Chinese, farang. My Thai relatives are now saying that is not a complement as

they do not really like some of the New Chinese tourists that come to Thailand and act a bit like

animals, spitting and crapping in urinals, and being generally rude, and ignorant. There are Cninese who are more world

travelled, and do behave them selves, but there are a ton of these New Chinese who are very

ignorant of what the world is like outside of China.

[Tchooptip]

Farang yes i am a farang. Many Thais call me farang.

Is it offensive or not? Who cares ? Not me.

Thais who know me call me by my name. Thais who dont know me call me farang.

It is better than Thais saying YOU YOU when they speak to me.

As a general term, I don't find it offensive. But as written in the article about the man in the restaurant, I would be upset also. In many other countries, they'd say something like "what would the gentleman like". Or something similar. Farang shouldn't be used in that situation. Rude. IMHO.

Farang shouldn't be used in that situation. Rude. IMHO.

"Maybe" it shouldn't have been used, but...

...this "western man", I'm sorry, has kind of a pathological ego, for leaving a restaurant for such a trifle, he is hardly more mature than the waiter not concerned to spoil the evening of his girl friend for a supposed to be lack of respect to his highness...by an uneducated illustious unknown, it means HE was not personally targeted by a word used millions of times a day in this country, sorry he behaved like an immatured teen.

But for sure he is far from alone with this type of tickling ego suffice to read TV comments every days

[crankshaft]

Its a matter of usage... Farang, Brit, Yank... can be used either with affection or disdain. I hope mostly with affection. Where as Japs, Nips, Chinks, Slopes, Gooks, N....gers, etc only have one purpose -- racist disdain.

Why can't you say the "N" word but you can say Japs, Nips, Chinks, Slopes, Gooks....I'll say it for you...Nigger