It's been a long time, Don Muang was the main airport on my last trip out of Thailand. The transliteration for the new airport Suvarnabhumi leaves a lot to be desired. su-var-na-bu-mi ?? After looking up the Thai spelling I find the name is more properly pronounced soo-wan-na-phuum. How do frequent traveling farang communicate the name to cab drivers?

Most tourist  just say international airport, where the driver asks which one...... Done....

Swampy?

 

I go with "soo-wan-na-phuum"

48 minutes ago, PoorSucker said:

Swampy?

 

I go with "soo-wan-na-phuum"

 

 

Swampy for me.

 

Missus always tells the taxi driver "soo-wan-na-phuum" .

I detest the nickname Swampy. That and 'bum gun'..

 

I agree about the transliteration. That standard of Romanised Thai isn't accurately pronounceable by anyone that hasn't actually studied it.

 

at all comes down to transliteration.

 

although, in my example an English word:

 

falang say 'apple'

 

thai say 'appen'

 

I'd say suvarnabhumi, exactly how I have spelt it

 

but the magical thing,

is that this term must be one of the only words a falang can say to a Thai,

(and even make variations of it)

and the Thai understands what what you are (trying) to say

 

 

9 minutes ago, tw25rw said:

I detest the nickname Swampy. That and 'bum gun'..

 

I agree about the transliteration. That standard of Romanised Thai isn't accurately pronounceable by anyone that hasn't actually studied it.

 

Why? It sounds like an abbreviation, and the place was built on swampland. Perfect! 

Just now, Khun Han said:

 

Why? It sounds like an abbreviation, and the place was built on swampland. Perfect! 

I dunno. I just hate it. I always refer to it as BKK.

10 hours ago, PoorSucker said:

Swampy?

 

I go with "soo-wan-na-phuum"

 

Good one for the English or maybe: "sù-wan na poom"?

Click here to listen:

http://www.clickthai-online.de/cgi-bin/playmp3.pl?357000

(spoken a bit too slow)

 

I don't want to open the can of worms called "transcription"/"transliteration" here.

That's for the Thai language forum.

 

But using "Suvarnabhumi" which does not serve any purpose of correct pronunciation is a typical Thai hiso joke (we are the different class).

Strange kind of humor they have

And of course it does not follow their "Royal" (!) system which would read "Suwannaphum".

 

only Suwanapooomm   <3

On Wednesday, September 21, 2016 at 2:36 AM, ezzra said:

Most tourist  just say international airport, where the driver asks which one...... Done....

Wow things have really changed since I was last there. Taxi drivers understand "international airport" and can ask which one? :-)

 

soo-wan-na-phuum appears the best option. Thanks for the replies.