[pertikuss]

I do

To be honest we are foreigners in their country but still i think its disrespectful to call us this. i would never dream of calling anyone in England a foreigner when they are on holiday or living here. Being called European or Western would be better and far more efficient.


any other thoughts on this matter?


kind regards
jay

[chppjdf]

well lets see,
I'm a foreigner in Thailand and the name for that is farang! well I'm a farang then, when I'm in England and i see people who are on holiday they are foreigners to me, but most are probably immigrants who live in the UK,

Foreign tourists stand out easily, normally camera and ruck sack,i have no problem being called a foreigner/farang when i live in Thailand as i believe that's what i am.

[Quaganoca]

HI

For me no big deal it is only a word .

but I am aware many farangs who don't truly understand Thai culture take it as a dis respectful word.
it is no different than westerners calling all asian people" asian" until we understand where they are from .
For most thai's Farang only means none asian. it is not a disrespectful word
to thas's it is only a factual word describing what they see

depending how a word is used and in what context any word can become offensive.

If you are setting somewhere and a busload of school kids come by you will hear shouts of Farang Farang to me " music to my ears."

If you are in tourist area you might hear Farang as a disrespectful word like saying "that stupid Drunk Farang "

Next time you hear the word look for it's true meaning not what you perceive as it's meaning
understand the context of what is being said.

[iNYZgxNC]

I guess the word farang does sound a bit blunt. But, it is the Thai word for us who travel to and I presume enjoy being in there country. So farang it is.

[trorseIrripsy]

Nope, does not bother me. I don't see it as a word that has inherent disrespectful connotations, although I am sure more than one Thai person has used it laden with pejorative tones.

[Borzopayn]

I like it, but possibly due to it being a visually oriented term, I rarely hear it.

[pertikuss]

we are what we are!

cant really see why anyone would like to be called foreigner but hey each to their own. I have met many people who regard farang as discourteous and offensive.

ian71 - i have many immigrant patients as i am doing voluntary work for a healthcare company and they say they hate being called a foreigner even tho they know they are, they hate being continuously reminded of this. dont see how its any different.

but as we know thailand will never change and i better get used to be called farang, cant be all bad tho being farang in their country has some benefits who agree's with that

smile tomorrow could be the best day of your life

[JacomoR]

Thank goodness PC language has not caught up to Thailand. It is out of control in the West. It gets so one has difficulty understanding what someone is actually saying anymore. In America, nobody is mentally retarded; they are just developmentally delayed. However, one is not "delayed" if one is never going to get there. Nobody is black; they are African-American. However, this term does not work for actual Africans or Caribbean Islanders, etc. In Thailand I am farang, which is reserved for white foreigners. I don't mind it at all. I often wear a t-shirt that says farang written in Thai, just as a joke. Lighten up and enjoy the ride.

[cemDrymnVem]

Farang is the Thai word for foreigner and thats what we are - foreigners. I suggest you don't take offence where none is intended.

However I have to admit that Benjawan Becker's dictionery does not give "Farang" as the word for foreigner (she says foreigner is "Khon dtaang chaat" - ¤¹µèÒ§ªÒµÔ). And her word for "European" is Chowyoorop - ªÒÇÂØâû). Which does make you wonder whether there might be a slightly negative connotation with the word "Farang".

I have seen a few situations where it was definitely meant to be insulting, usually from children not accompanied by their parents. Last time I went on a boat trip upriver from BK some kids were diving off a pier into the river and as we passed they laughingly called out "Farang khi nok" (Farang bird shit"!). And up in Isaan little kids used to run alongside my Landrover excitedly shouting out "Farang Dung dong! Farang Dung dong"!! (not sure what that means - anyone know?). But in all cases I think it was just kids being kids and having michievious fun.

On the very few occasions when I have been in a serious confontation with an adult Thai, (I used to work in their Dept of Public Welfare where even Mother Theresa would have been driven to expletives - and besides I was very young at the time) the word "Farang" was only one of very many other words that were spoken at me with intent to insult. So context and body language are probably the best indicators.

[Bejemoelemymn]

Being called a farang doesn't bother me.
But, I find being referred to as "the farang" a little rude.

Example:

If someone met me, and remarked "Farang", I wouldn't be offended. But, if the same someone then referred to me as "the Farang", I would find it rude.

[BalaGire]

I do

To be honest we are foreigners in their country but still i think its disrespectful to call us this. I would never dream of calling anyone in England a foreigner when they are on holiday or living here. Being called European or Western would be better and far more efficient.

I have been called a foreigner in England and in other countries where I am not a native of, and I don't find it offensive. I consider it just a neutral word. That's also how I would describe myself if it's not important or necessary to disclose where I come from.

[fetesiceWaist]

Anyone guess what I think of the word ?

.
.

[pertikuss]

hahaha your comment made me laugh

made my day.

[Hamucevasiop]

Thai call European 'farang' as for white people almost similar to the Malay's that use the term 'mat salih' which is quite soft. But normally if you speaks English the kids will also call you 'farang' either you are black or white. Even if the late MJ come to Thailand he is still call 'farang'. cosmetics technology can change anything

[BalaGire]

Thai call European 'farang' as for white people almost similar to the Malay's that use the term 'mat salih' which is quite soft. But normally if you speaks English the kids will also call you 'farang' either you are black or white. Even if the late MJ come to Thailand he is still call 'farang'. cosmetics technology can change anything

Now, that is interesting: Would MJ be called farang in Thailand?

[Hamucevasiop]

Now, that is interesting: Would MJ be called farang in Thailand?

He's one year older than me but previously we share the same colour, suddenly I'm left behind. hihihi

[RussellPG]

I do

To be honest we are foreigners in their country but still i think its disrespectful to call us this. i would never dream of calling anyone in England a foreigner when they are on holiday or living here. Being called European or Western would be better and far more efficient.

If you want to hate a word at least take the trouble to learn what it means.
Farang means westener not foreigner. So Europeans are farang but non-Thai Asians though foreigners are not farang.

[RBJamez]

For the thais....
Farang means a person with the caucasian in appearance, and it's just easier and shorter than saying "khon tang chad".
However you will find that many will use the word "khon tang chad" also, esp in just about all of the official government documents.

And even tho I'm a thai, quite often I am also being referred to as a "farang kid" by my family, because most times I'm a bit too westernized in my thinking....hehe
No I don't mind it at all...never feel offended.

[VoriEremiagem]

While the word Farang is not offensive to me, I do find it a little ill-mannered when people refer to you in the third person right in front of you, eg. to some other Thai person, "What does the farang want to drink?"

[L8fGLM4d]

whenever this discussion comes up, I always repeat that if HM the King of Thailand used the word "farang" to refer to foreigners in his birthday speech a couple of years ago, then it must be an acceptable word, because I cannot imagine him using inappropriate words in a formal speech, or in any context.