Farang or Falang?

[finneus28]

Is the proper spelling of the term Farang or Falang,
if there is such a thing as a proper spelling for the term?

[IRISH JONNY]

Farang...but Pronounced Farlang By Thais...........

[patong_boy]

They say falang. But most people write down farang. I think it doesnt matter how you write it because the thai language has its own letters to write.

[Nicke]

Thai can pronounce r both as L or R. This is same for a lot of thai words, some people will use r and some others l.

[sting]

http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/Farang

[alibaba]

I have it on good authority, it's often pronounced as C**T STRUCK

[IRISH JONNY]

'Farang'

Even if you can speak no other words of Thai, most European and American visitors to Thailand will quickly become familiar with the Thai word farang (often mispronounced (even by Thais) as falang - farang with a slightly trilled 'r' is the correct pronunciation.) It's basically used to describe caucasians, though African-Americans will sometimes also be known as farang or as farang dam ('black farang'). Farang is also the Thai word for the guava fruit, so you can expect to hear farang eating farang 'jokes' if you happen to purchase any.

Other Asians are generally known by their country of origin (e.g. kon jeen - "Chinese people", kon yee-bpun - "Japanese people"), while people from the Indian Subcontinent are often known as kairk (which translates as "guest"). Kairk is used to describe even fluent Thai speakers of Indian descent who have been living in Thailand for generations and consider themselves as Thai - obviously being referred to as a 'guest' in these circumstances, while not particularly offensive, is not exactly complimentary either.

Some people get very offended at being called farang, but whether it's an insult should or not really depends on the context. A few Thais who are uncomfortable with using it will say kon dtahng bpra-tayt ('people from other countries') instead, but this is still pretty rare. Farang is basically a neutral word, but people who respect you (or who should respect you) will not use it - if you hear a work colleague, for example, refer to you as farang they probably mean it as an insult while a taxi driver or market vendor doing the same is unlikely to mean any offense at all.

[tomyam]

Originally Posted by IRISH JONNY

'Farang'

Even if you can speak no other words of Thai, most European and American visitors to Thailand will quickly become familiar with the Thai word farang (often mispronounced (even by Thais) as falang - farang with a slightly trilled 'r' is the correct pronunciation.) It's basically used to describe caucasians, though African-Americans will sometimes also be known as farang or as farang dam ('black farang'). Farang is also the Thai word for the guava fruit, so you can expect to hear farang eating farang 'jokes' if you happen to purchase any.

Other Asians are generally known by their country of origin (e.g. kon jeen - "Chinese people", kon yee-bpun - "Japanese people"), while people from the Indian Subcontinent are often known as kairk (which translates as "guest"). Kairk is used to describe even fluent Thai speakers of Indian descent who have been living in Thailand for generations and consider themselves as Thai - obviously being referred to as a 'guest' in these circumstances, while not particularly offensive, is not exactly complimentary either.

Some people get very offended at being called farang, but whether it's an insult should or not really depends on the context. A few Thais who are uncomfortable with using it will say kon dtahng bpra-tayt ('people from other countries') instead, but this is still pretty rare. Farang is basically a neutral word, but people who respect you (or who should respect you) will not use it - if you hear a work colleague, for example, refer to you as farang they probably mean it as an insult while a taxi driver or market vendor doing the same is unlikely to mean any offense at all.

I read somewhere that the word farang is derived from the early french settlers in thailand , they(the thais) pronunciation of francais being farang...

[butterflyblonde]

Originally Posted by tomyam

I read somewhere that the word farang is derived from the early french settlers in thailand , they(the thais) pronunciation of francais being farang...

Correct !!
The word farang used for Caucasians derives from the the word for the French settlers ....farangset.

[barfly]

Generally, saying "r" is correct and polite but saying "l" is slang but common and popular.

[urtheman]

In Hong Kong the term used to call white guys is Gweilo and means "white devil" so Falang to me is not offensice compared to Gweilo or Gweipo if your a women.

[Coolhand]

Originally Posted by STAC

Try it out ...ask your companion to say the following ......"Reg the Rabbit Ran down the Road """

I usually end up on the floor laughing.

Reminds me of the life of Brian when Pilate is trying to get the crowd to nominate someone to release and all he gets are "welease Wodewick" "He's a wapist" and a "wobber"
Then Biggus Diccus chimes in (trying to help) "Thitizens! We have Thamthon the Thadduthee Thtrangler, Thilus the Athyrian Athathin, theveral theditiouth thcribth from Thaetharea"

Cracks me up every time

[mayuree]

Hi all farang,

Farang = ฝรั่ง ( / )
Falang = ฝลั่ง (x )

Hope i can help.
Mayuree.

[butterflyblonde]

Originally Posted by Coolhand

Reminds me of the life of Brian when Pilate is trying to get the crowd to nominate someone to release and all he gets are "welease Wodewick" "He's a wapist" and a "wobber"
Then Biggus Diccus chimes in (trying to help) "Thitizens! We have Thamthon the Thadduthee Thtrangler, Thilus the Athyrian Athathin, theveral theditiouth thcribth from Thaetharea"

Cracks me up every time

Life of Brian,

One of the best comedy films ever made

[barfly]

If you want to be really really proper (like the King etc) you are supposed to roll the "r"s as well. Not easy for a farrrrrrrang!
As explained to me by the lovely Ood, sadly no longer at the Hard Rock bar opposite Play School.

[andy50]

on my last holiday in phuket ,i taught my l/t g/f to say "turn to the left /right"when we were on the m/cycle ,you can imagine how it sounded when she said it--"turn to l reff" turn to lii" !i used to have to pull over for a while till i stopped laughing!(in a nice way )!roundabouts were a scream if i missed the correct exit ! ill never forget her ,marryed a bloke from sweden she did,still i bet sheis back there when i return this xmas !if she is im going to give her a good old southern style porking

[BANGLA]

That is a correct statement BUT most common dialect among people coming from Isaan. If you concentrate to listen to people not from Isaan you never hear "L" intead of "R". But as most of you BM stay in Phuket and Phuket (Patong) is invaded by girls from Isaan you probably only hear the "L".

[domifletch]

english is ot my native language (I think you noticed it ) and it is sometimes difficult for me to understand native UK while they are speaking (far better when writing). It is easier for me to understand what foreign people say as we use simple words and not too much uk expressions. So i like to speak with thai ladies. I learned to translate "l" in "r" etc... I like english (the grammar is very close of french grammar) but when I chat or speak with TG, it is really easy fo me with a little use. First time I hear Belgium, it was "Belyyyyium", first time I hear "German" it was "yelloman" but now I understand. It is funny

If I could speak Thai as well as they speak english, I would be proud of me, sure.

PS : Hey my UK mates on this forum, the last thing I want is to offend you I learn a lot evreyday thanks you.

[r3aps]

a few bargirls have told me farang is derogatory and used more to insult than to be polite.they see us as people that go over there to hump the girls and thats it,by using farang they can be rude to us whilst we seem to be oblivious to the insult.
steve

[domifletch]

I think farang is a common word to say foreigner in Thailand. I have spoken with many Thai people and they font seem to use "farang" as an insult ... any thai lady here to help us?

[hugos]

Originally Posted by r3aps

a few bargirls have told me farang is derogatory and used more to insult than to be polite.

you`re right, some people use it this way.

but not all...

[Faranggirl]

Originally Posted by domifletch

I think farang is a common word to say foreigner in Thailand. I have spoken with many Thai people and they font seem to use "farang" as an insult ... any thai lady here to help us?

I am surrounded by Thai colleagues 9 hours a day and hear them use the word farang a lot but never know when they use it as insult They often are laughing when they speak about farang, can be either good or bad.
They are always very mysterious about it...but I always wonder if they're talking about me...

[Hobbsy]

Thais also pronounce the letter 'S' differently as well, usually as 'Sa' so 'Speak' is pronounced 'Sabeak', 'Snake' becomes 'Sanake'. Tho you'll probably notice this most often if you ever order a 'Sprite' which comes out as 'Sabite'.

Now go order your Sabagetti.

[Hobbsy]

And you may gather from that........that 'P' is often pronounced as 'B'

[Paddy]

Hi Hobbsy. Last time I was over, I ran into a lovely girl that I've met a couple of times on earlier tours. I said I'd take her somewhere nice to eat and asked her what she fancied. It took me ages to work out what 'sabagetti' was! Then once we'd finally established that and went to eat, it took ages more to figure out that the 'sabagetti boronye' she wanted was spaghetti bolognese!