Confused

Post by **Kraka's Dad** » Tue Apr 04, 2006 5:28 pm

I have seen on this site the use of the word farang meaning foreigner but have also seen falang used in the same context. Which is correct or can either word be used.

Sorry for my ignorance of the Thai language but am trying to understand more.

Post by **Bamboo Grove** » Tue Apr 04, 2006 5:34 pm

Farang = Guava (fruit)

Post by **Kraka's Dad** » Tue Apr 04, 2006 5:42 pm

Sorry Bamboo but that does not clairfy anything.
So Thais call us Guavas ??

Post by **buksida** » Tue Apr 04, 2006 5:53 pm

BG is correct as that is the literal translation of the word.

However when used by Thais and on here it refers to foreigners, "Farang" is the correct way to phonetically spell it, "Falang" is the way most Thais say it as they cant pronounce their r's.

Post by **lomuamart** » Tue Apr 04, 2006 5:54 pm

Either can be used. Many Thais can't pronouce an "r" so substitute "l" instead. not just for this word, but generally.

Post by **lomuamart** » Tue Apr 04, 2006 5:56 pm

Beat me to it by a minute

Post by **PeteC** » Tue Apr 04, 2006 6:00 pm

Maybe also useful to note that it only applies to us Caucasian folks, and perhaps sometimes to Blacks. If you're Asian but not Thai, you don't have any derogatory title (just comment that you're Chinese, Korean, Lao etc), and you don't get charged the "farang" prices at various attractions in the Realm.

I think there is a thread on here somewhere which goes into the subject much more deeply and also gives the origin of where the word "farang" came from. Pete

Post by **Kraka's Dad** » Tue Apr 04, 2006 6:05 pm

Thanks everyone

That makes things clearer.

Post by **Limey711** » Tue Apr 04, 2006 11:43 pm

So all Thais think we are fruits. nice one.

Post by **Mongo Slade** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 9:34 am

I agree that Farang applies to Caucasians and Blacks as well as non Asian
During my first visit I couldn't help but notice all the stares that we were receiving. It made my fiancee feel very uncomfortable and very pissed off. She is a Thai policewoman and wasn't use to the stares. I didn't care because I'm use to people staring.....but that's a another story......

Post by **lomuamart** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 10:19 am

Limey711 wrote:So all Thais think we are fruits. nice one.

There's a lot of evidence to support the theory the the word "farang" came about as an abbreviation of the word "francaise".
At that time, The French had French Indochina - Cambodia, Loas and Vietnam- and were trading a lot with the Thais.
Finding it difficult to pronounce Francaise, the word was changed to the above.
That's some of the theory anyway. Heaven knows if it's true.

Now if we were fruitcases or nutcases, I could partially understand it.

Post by **Bamboo Grove** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 12:50 pm

I have a fake memory that the Arabs call westerners with the word "Ferengi." A similar word may exist in Hindi and it could be there where Farang is derived from.
By the way other races do have derogatory nick names as well i.e.
Indians, Malays etc - khaek (= guest)
Chinese - jek

Post by **Kraka's Dad** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 2:11 pm

I thought the Ferengi were in Star Trek

I think it is effendi that Bamboo is thinking of.

Post by **Jaime** » Mon May 01, 2006 6:06 am

prcscct wrote:If you're Asian but not Thai, you don't have any derogatory title (just comment that you're Chinese, Korean, Lao etc), and you don't get charged the "farang" prices at various attractions in the Realm.

Is that true - the non-application of two tier pricing I mean? I am amazed that the affluent Japs & Koreans would be let off the hook by the poor downtrodden Thais. They (rightly) regard them as representing even bigger pay days than the humble farang.

Post by **Farang** » Mon May 01, 2006 4:30 pm

''
Ferengi is an Arabic name for European traders, or for Westeners in general. It is also pronounced "Feringhee" and similarly.
The name is likely derived from the Arabic word Faranj or Ifranj = "Franks". (In colloquial Italian ferengi means "Yankee Trader".)
"