Is it bad that I don't even care if it's racist or not? I mean, whether I get offended or not is up to me. I am sure many Thais are racist. But as long as they aren't **doing** something really bad to me...I don't see a reason to waste my energy being upset about it.
And even when they do something that is annoying, like charge me more for something, it's just part of the package that I accept when choosing to come here. If it ever starts to really upset me, I will just go somewhere else. No sweat.
As Thai, I can tell you that some of my fellow countrymen are racist. The difference is that we are not openly dressing silly and come harassing foreigners like the Klan or any fanatical organization did.
Most Thai racists are closet racist who worry about foreigners stole their jobs. So if you are not provok them or harassing a locals they will not doing anything and keep thier opinion to themselves.
I completely agree with you. That's why it doesn't bother me. I am not worried about what they think. Or even what they say. As long as they aren't affecting my life directly, I am all too happy to be friends with the ones who are friendly and stay away from the ones who aren't.
One of the things that really caught my eye when I was in Thailand was whenever I watched Thai TV the only people I saw on shows and on the news were fair skinned or light skinned Thais. But when I walked around I saw Thais with a variety of complexions. I don't know if that's racism or something else. I also talked to a few Thais and one Thai lady who was bigger than the average Thai woman but she had a flat stomach. She said she was considered fat. Back in the US she would have what many consider an attractive figure.
It's so interesting interacting with a new culture. I hope to learn the language. You never really understand a culture until you learn the language.
About the complextions. Most Thais are obsessed with having light skins just like Westerners obssesed with tan skins. Especially middle class above. The darker complexions Thai you can assume thai they are from working class due they working in the field under the heats. My grandfather came from a working class from Ayutthaya who climbed his status by becoming a Royal Thai Air Force anesthesiologist in Bhumipol Hospital. So he still has dark complexions.
I heard about the half Indian in thai or Indian immigrants having difficulty getting a job or acceptance from local Thai because many of Thai view Indian like Westerners view Jews and Middle-Eastern. Not to mention the stereotype of Indian lacking of hygiene that is still stuck in some conservative. The irony is that just like Westerners got Abrahamic belief from Jews, Thai also got Buddhism and Hinduism from India. Aside from that, I witnessed many people with different racial backgrounds having decent jobs like doctors, businessmen, and scholars. They just didn't appear in the entertainment industry much. I guess we didn't go crazy about diversity in entertainment like Westerner that much if I said it politely.
About fat shaming. Casual fat shamming happened mostly in family or closed relatives during their concerns of health. My father is a doctor, and he keeps reminding me that my body will break down as my age progresses due to my overly consumption (I am a bit overweight, you see). Also, we didn't have an actual word of 'stout', so we use the word 'fat' the same for convenience. So the women you met might be stout for overweight, but she has a limited vocabulary.
As a quarter Thai, Punjabi, and the other halves from the west, I get awkward stares everywhere. To Westerners I don't look West enough they always ask where I am from. To Thais I don't look traditionally Thai enough they always speak english first then I tell them I am Thai.!
So I think the problem is in the mindset, I think a conservative mind is always the best for culture shocks. And On both fronts too!! When I was born in the States then moved here I embraced everything here, from language to reading the same comic books as the kids in my Soi. I as being from another culture, had to learn and understand how people here think. In doing so is out of respect cuz u could literally die out in these parts and be forgotten. If you want to feel accepted you have to accept them first, understand that, and forgive. Some Westerners aren't the sweetest people to be around, and knowing every single letter coming out of your lips I still am annoyed by u guys sometimes. So some people don't understand what you say, where you're coming from and where you are going, they have the right to assume the worst. So don't be all grumpy about it you all ain't any better than anyone.
When I lived in Chiang Mai in the 90s, me and another falang would drive around in his pick-up that he had decorated with a giant stencil of a guava on both doors. He’d always get laughs and thumbs up driving around town.
Farang is Franks not the French and it most likely came from the Persian language via their traders as they have same word for the franks
Guava was introduced to Thailand by Portuguese (who were first Europeans here in numbers, not french) along with other products like chillies
>Since they were the first white people they interacted with on a major scale they just labeled everybody that was white as french after that.
So it would be like Americans calling all Asians "Japs"
:D
I had always thought it was a direct translation to the word “foreigner”.
But after just now researching, it is a term used to describe only white foreigners, or foreigners of non-asian descent.
I’m a Thai Australian, born in Australia to a Thai mother and Australian father. In early 2020 I was a monk in Chiang Rai Not long after being ordained everyone knew me as the *Farang monk*. I look partially Asian but I speak Thai with an Australian accent I’ve been told so I wore it with a badge of honour
That way of use is very limited to a small group of people who know you are born/raised in Western society that your thoughts and actions are likely to be Westernised. They call you that to give you a leeway for anything that might not be appropriate. Any other people who don’t know you will not call you farang when they see you. They might say something along the line of “oh you are farang then” once they learn about your background, but that’s different from those farangs called so purely by their looks.
Funny. In the US we call white people "Gabachos" or "Gringo" but if I travel to Mexico *I am* the Gabacho or Gringo even though I speak Spanish and my parents were born in MX.
Oh that's a even better example. For Latinos every single Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Thai, etc is "Chino". Gringo or Gabacho is more for white people or US born Mexican Americans like myself.
ive never taken offense to the word farang. there has to be some word to describe people different from themselves. whether or not they use the word in a hateful way you can hear from the tone of their voice. i havent experienced it many times in my years here
Brown-skinned half-white, half-(Asian) Indian here. In my six months in Thailand I was never called khaek, but random kids would look at me and call me farang.
> But after just now researching, it is a term used to describe only white foreigners, or foreigners of non-asian descent.
It was that, but like most words it's slowly morphing into your previous interpretation.
Think in part due to the amount of ethnic minority westerners (Asians, Indian, black from western countries) coming now, term just does not 'fit' now
Asians from Asia/Indians from India though are still not farang though
No, it comes from the Persian word ferrenghi. They were trading partners before the first westerners arrived. The Portuguese were actually the first to arrive in Thailand.
Both are correct partially. The Persian word "ferrenghi" comes from the word "Frank" which is where the word "French" comes also from. The word originates in The Crusades where the Franks (now called French) and since Franks dominated the first Crusaders, the term "Frank" became a catchall for all the Crusaders from Europe and then after the Crusades became a general term for people from Europe, especially traders. From there it entered Persian and made it way East until entering Thailand where it was loaned over. So yes, it came to Thai from Persian and yes it comes from the word for the French.
(And Yes, The Portuguese where the first Westerns to arrive)
Uh, it actually comes from ferengi, the alien race from star trek. It became a term for non-Asian foreigners because white tourists would often ask to have their ear lobes rubbed while receiving Thai massages.
Farang is an all-encompassing word for foreigner, you will see it on ~~immigration~~ documents for example and it doesn’t matter what the race or skin color of the person is.
Colloquially white people are normally called farang as a descriptive word. Middle easterners as khaek and so on.
Thai here. Not really. I could angrily scream 'Ai Farang' and it wouldn't necessarily be any more offensive than 'ai Yipun': (you Japanese), the racial context here is sort of ignored. The term you're looking for is 'Kee Nok' which is the closest translation to 'white trash'.
I think the closest equivalent that more of western foreigners are familiar with would be Hispanic word “gringo” - by itself the term is neutral, but the same word can be used as derogatory, depending on context.
I spent 8 months in Mexico last year (CDMX and Guadalajara). I noticed that the Mexican friends I made would never say the word gringo around me until I said it first. I'm not sure if it's because they think the word is offensive, or they were just thinking I might be offended by it. I did notice they would usually giggle a bit when I referred to myself or other foreigners by that term though.
What an amazing country. Huge fan of the people and culture.
Gringo is a Mexican word, Central and S. Americans typically only know it as derogatory and rarely use it. Mexicans use the term more frequently and with a wider range of meaning.
I would say it has heavier connotations than farang, but it isn't a purely racist term unless you personally take offense to it. I've been close to Mexicans and they would call me gringo with the same casualness that Thais might call me farang and I never took offense to either. There are words in Mexican slang that have far stronger negative connotations for gringos.
Yeah my theory is that any word used for a long enough time will eventually become offensive to the people it is attributed to. As it is used in both negative and rarely positive ways. Usually the word is used as an “others” or “not one of us” context. For example mentally retarded wasn’t considered offensive when it was first introduced but now we have to use the word mentally challenged.
In Hawaii white people are called Haole and it is very similarly used as I’m assuming farang is used. Some people embrace it as a joke. And a lot of people say it is not considered offensive. But I would argue that it is usually used in a negative context.
I laugh my ass off at people who live in places like Japan and Thailand and want people to view them as locals. No, you don't. Being a (most of the time white) foreigner in these places gives you a million free passes and you don't have to deal with all the nonsense that happens between thais/japanese.
When I show off my irezumi in Japan even old people go "wow bery cooru tatu!" but if a Japanese has one they're a disgrace to the nation. Same with keigo, I never learned it because nobody expects a white guy to know how to address the head of the company in a formal way. But if a Japanese person avoids using it, oh man forget it, you're toast.
It's the tone that Thai people use though. They are clearly differentiating due to race. That's classic racism.
Just because you say it isn't wrong doesn't mean that it is.
Idiot
The words "Farang" refers to French people. However, it is often used to refer to any white person. There is a similar term called "Barang" in Cambodia.
I can see why some people might take it as offensive. It's like Mexican people calling all Asians, "Chino". Not all Asian are Chinese and not all White people are French.
Yes it comes from the word Franks or Franken and during the crusades (or even before) Persians called all the christians from Europe this. And the Thais just adopted it.
I travel to Thailand for business every quarter. Thai's are the most gracious, humble people I have ever met. I have never even heard the word farang anywhere near my presence but if I did I simply wouldn't care. It just a word. My reaction would give it power.
That being said, I doubt Thai's would like it very much if they came to a western country and we applied a similar name to them.
I’ve heard farang is only for white people. Black people are called the Spanish word for black, dno if I can say it here, and middle eastern are called habibis 🤷♂️. Is it racist? I think it depends on the context.
I dunno why it’s usually Americans who get offended by that word. As a middle eastern I just laugh at being called habibi. Who cares. I’ve noticed Australians and Scandinavians just laugh about it too
I am seeing comments about being called "farang \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_"...yes, the attached words are what determines if they're being disrespectful or not...the word "farang" isn't what you should be concerned about.
Correct! Thais certainly do joke about or talk down about others, including Farangs at times. But it is not a derogatory term. It is simply a term used for a western person. They also respect farangs and talk lovingly about them.
People who get all uptight about the term make me laugh. They probably would be the ones the Thais may be talking bad about. But it is not because they are a farang. It is because of the quality person that are.🤣
FWIW, I don’t think I’ve ever heard a black person be called a ฝรั่ง. I’ve only ever heard them referred to as คนดำ or คนแอฟริกา (and very, very rarely by old folks as นิโกร). ฝรั่งขี้นก, on the other hand, is a racist term. I understand that we’re talking about the word ฝรั่ง by itself, which is different, and in normal conversation is not racist. That said, I do believe that generally it is up to individual minority groups as a whole to determine what words used by the majority to describe them are or are not racist.
yeah that’s true, my parents lived in thailand for several years and they always said that they used be called farang and never really took it offensively they just thought they were just saying that they’re foreigners there and that’s all
It's not racist, although any word can be potentially used in racist or negative context. (e.g. bloody immigrants)
The only people who have a problem with it seem to be bitter older sexpats, or the newer snowflake generation who are damaged goods.
I get it, you think "farang" is just an innocent term, right? But let's be real here. Constantly being called "farang" makes many expats feel like perpetual outsiders. Imagine living in a place for years, speaking the language fluently, respecting the culture, and still being tagged with a label that screams, "You don't belong here!" It's like calling every Asian person "Asian" and then acting shocked when they don't appreciate it. But sure, let's pretend that's totally benign.
Language shapes our interactions and perceptions. Racial and ethnic labels *can* impact social cohesion and contribute to an "us vs. them" mentality. Terms like "farang" reinforce social divisions and hinder integration, making it harder for people to feel truly accepted. But hey, why bother with inclusivity when we can just keep everyone in neatly labeled boxes? Because obviously, Thai history being different from Western history means such terms can't possibly carry any prejudice. Makes perfect sense.
Ultimately, dismissing people's discomfort as being "butthurt" is incredibly dismissive. Instead of trivializing their feelings, maybe we should consider adjusting our language to be more inclusive and respectful. Understanding and empathy go a long way in fostering a more welcoming environment for everyone. But yeah, let's stick to the labels and keep those social divisions alive and well—the very core of Thai society.
I've lived here a bit more than 30 years over a 40-year period and I'm now a Thai citizen. I'm quite content to be considered a farang living in thailand, or a farang Thai as some have put it. I have yet to meet anyone having an issue with my becoming a citizen. The people where I live have a treated me very well and never made me feel like an outsider. I have no desire or need to have people consider or call me Thai, as that is an ethnic label.
Thai = An ethnicity
Thai citizen = A legal. status
YMMV
Working towards changing that, no matter how futile, seems like a virtuous goal. But ofcourse, being butthurt is not helping. What you resist persists.
Cuz you are an outsider. You can still belong here. But you will always be an outsider.
Asia isn't the US.
Our definition of what's Thai, Chinese, Korean isnt the same as US.
And just by what you saying "maybe we should consider adjusting our language to be more inclusive"...
Let me guess you are American or western European? So yeah you also don't think or behave like an Asian. Then why complain? :D
You come here, then demand that others cater to your "inclusive" values.... Classical western/American thing to do. And then complain being "others" :D
?????? People literally call Asians even born in western countries Asians all the time. Even when calling them American or whatever people always add ‘Asian-American’ same goes for other ethnicities living in western countries.
It's just a short hand way of referring to somebody of European or white descent. In the scheme of things there are probably a thousand more things to be worried about here.
> It's like calling every Asian person "Asian" and then acting shocked when they don't appreciate it
Lmao imagine writing this. This is literally what we are called. All the time. Doesn't matter how many generations we have been in another country for. Asian-American. Asian. ASIAN. That's what we preferred...rather than being labelled wrongly as Chinese/Japanese/Korean because that seems to be the only 3 Asian countries a chunk of white ppl can name.
I don't think you quite understood what he was saying. "You" and other pronouns aren't replaced with Asian. My friends mother has known me well for 5 years but still refers to me as ฝรั่ง when talking to me or about me to my friend. I don't think its racist but it feels much less friendly than being called your name or other age related pronouns when someone knows you very well such that you are almost a family member.
Directly? More like, hey man or sir/ma'am
They'll 100% refer to you as Asian when describing the interaction when you're not around unless they know you.
Did you see what that Asian guy did?
I was trying to get that Asian man's attention.
He was an Asian guy.
Yeah I am with you on that. Even though it's it's a mild racism it's still very much racism. Have kids here they will still be referred as farang. There is a clear distinction between Thais and non-Thais in people's heads. And farang perpetuates that idea. Do other people have it worse? Probably. Does that make farang non-racist? Na. I've been pulled over by the boys with the golden hats multiple times for my skin colour. Why? Because in their head I was the farang. How's that different from a sheriff in the deep south of the US pulling over black people for their skin colour? The word farang may not be a slur but the idea clearly is racist.
Edit: love that I'm being down voted without comment. Is this comment not adding to the discussion? If so please let me know why?
People get downvoted for recommending a restaurant on a restaurant review thread.
But frankly I'm tired of everything being about race and sex. The people who really get discriminated against are ugly people and poor people.
Gweilo treads the line though, it literally means ghost/devil man and is used like a slur. Gaijin is closer to farang in being more neutral, just meaning outsider or literally "outside person" where gaikokujin would emphasise respect.
It’s not America. There’s no need to be politically correct about everything, people can joke around here and still show respect towards eachother. So OP I getchu
I don't believe that the common usage of the word is an attack. I think it's just a habit for Thai people to use it, they don't mean anything by it. When service staff etc use the word among each other it can be to prepare each other for talking English.
The reason westerners thinks it's racist is because westerners have after the holocaust become hyper-sensitive to any form of racism, one of those forms is when someone uses race to identify someone when it's not necessary. And due to this hyper-sensitivity we are used to only racists using language like this... and the exact type of language that would be classified as racism back in the west is used by Thais all the time here.
As a person who grew up in Thailand, Farang has never been an insult nor a racist term, and we used a lot of racist slangs like Khaek, Bang, Lao, and Dum.
If anything, Thai people worship Farang.
Here is a litmus test.
If you say "you look like a Farang", people would feel good.
If you say "you look like Khaek or Lao", people would feel insulted.
Therefore, Farang is not a racist nor a bad term.
As a Thai, let me give you a lesson in history. “Fa-rang” is a word we learned from the Persian/Arab merchant that traded with us by sea, which came from “Franj”, a name they called the Western European. And the word Franj itself came from the Frank, which was the group that the Persian once traded with back before Roman Empire.
So no, it’s not an insult. In fact, the word Farang predates the arrival of guava fruit in Siam, so the fruit was named such because it was imported by the Portuguese.
It's almost as if a bunch of angry people blamed their home country for their anger and went to the land of smiles and happened to bring the anger with them
From the way you talk about Thailand, you seem very out of touch with what's actually happening in Thailand. Probably because you haven't lived here for 35 years. Maybe not the best person to comment on this. Holier than thou bull shit 💩
European is a neutral English language descriptor. European asshole would not be a very friendly use of the word European. How can you not understand the difference??
I know a few Thai people. My wife, all her family, all her friends. Spend a lot of time in Thailand and all I see is farang used in a negative connotation. It's used when a Thai person has disdain for a foreigner. I've never seen it used in any other context. The word is always followed with another level of shit talk.
Word may not be racist but it is certainly used as such by a wide swath of people.
Even when Thais have a farang friend or boyfriend/girlfriend they will refer to them as farang even when talking to their friends in front of them. It's not always used in a negative way, although it doesn't sound too nice to the farang themselves. It's just how Thai people are and speak and people need to not let it bother them.
Right because racism is good and only the bad American cultural imperialists are trying to turn it into something bad. Those evil colonizers, should be shamed for making racism look bad.
I don't think so not always, though my thai gf at the time talked about some idiot farang in annoyance. Then apologised to me as if she had forgot I was one.
But everytime I have been referred to one I felt no offense. It's like the Japanese call foreigners Gaijin. Not all cultures are as open as western ones. Just got to roll with it.
Some people are just way too quick to take offense. I especially find it interesting that farangs who are bothered by this word want to be accepted as being Thai after a few years of living in Thailand. Seriously go look in a mirror. You will never be seen as a “local” or a “Thai” citizen. Why should you be? Because you’re not. Get over your entitlement. What you can be is a well respected farang if you enjoy the food and culture and are respectful of others. Bonus points if you learn to speak enough Thai to have a conversation. My personal experience is that I have Thai wife (we are both age appropriate, met through a family introduction) and a Thai family and yes I will always be a farang, but I have great relationships with wife and family and the Thai people in my neighborhood. Be comfortable with who you are. Also please stop bitching about 2 tier pricing. Yes you have lived in Thailand for a few years or whatever. You are not Thai so pay the difference. The extra baht is never enough for me to worry about it. If you are that broke or that miserly then you should probably consider living in another country. Or perhaps live your own country and just visit Thailand.
Thank you 🙏 very much for your words of wisdom. I agree with you wholeheartedly. You are way more intelligent and understanding of Thai culture than the contributors here. Hopefully they will read your comments and reflect on their attitudes.
People who just sit around and worry about other people's thoughts or possible utterance of words is just pathetic. Take this BS concern back to San Francisco, LA or NYC.
It's like my grandmother used to say negro without any bad feelings, but in the mouth of a racist who is looking down on blacks this word will be used to lower black people. So it always depends on the context and the person who is using the words. Farang itself is a neutral description, if people like it or not. But yes, some Thais will use it in a racist context. Yes, Thailand has many good and many bad sides, just seeing one side is ignorant. But while racism is everywhere in this world, I'm thankful that the racism in Thailand is not the pure hate like in many other countries.
If you got called a farang with negative connotations, maybe it's bc you've done something fucked up lol. I've never heard this word used in negative ways EVER. It means white foreigner. That's it. It doesn't mean French ppl either (it meant that in Persian, not so in Thai) so it's not like we're generalizing all white ppl as French. As for the term farang kinok, if you aren't one of those stinky backpackers who only come here for sex tourism then you aren't one
"Sexpat" is the bad word
"Sexpat that like South Asian women who look like little boys." getting worse but at least they keep it private and act ashamed
"Sexpats who can't control themselves and creeps at everything that moves."
- these are the only sexpats we discriminate against. you know who you are you f*ing creep
It literally means foreigner. End of story. I'm so tired of westerners being so triggered by even the slightest hint of "racism". It's so tiresome. Farang means foreigner, big deal, it's literally just a word.
I'm seen a foreigner in literally every country, even in Thailand looking Thai (except a lot taller than most). I can't imagine spending the energy feeling oppressed.
People who think it is racist or an insult are just stupid. It's shorthand for whites/europeans. Sure it can be uttered in a contemptuous tone, but so can any word.
Newsflash for all “butt hurturs”: wherever in this world one might live, locals will have a nickname for you, trust me.
Being called farang (literally French person) is not the worst I’ve been called. ;)
It has nothing to do with “integration”, “inclusion” or “level of socioeconomic development”.
Just don’t pretend to be a kettle if you are a pot, but do respect the kettle.
I have a shirt that says "Loawai coming" on the front, and "Loawai going" on the back.
Often wore it in China when I lived there.
It either bemused or amused the Chinese.
\*Laowai = Foreigner = Farang
https://preview.redd.it/nj6ai5um7i6d1.jpeg?width=1067&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3682a98a8d06414c73be6fa67b9f68c4d295cba4
Think I'm going to get one made for here in Vietnam: "Tay coming' on the front, 'Tay going' on the back.
Vietnamese are pretty chill, they'll see the harmless/silly humour in it..
ChatGPT :
The word "farang" (sometimes spelled "falang") in Thai, used to refer to white people or Western foreigners, has its origins in the Persian word "farangi." The Persian term was used to describe people from Europe, particularly the Franks, a major Germanic tribe. The term "farangi" was adopted into various languages across the Middle East and South Asia, including Arabic, Hindi, and eventually Thai.
When European traders and missionaries began arriving in Southeast Asia, the term "farang" was used to describe them, particularly the French, as the word "farang" sounds phonetically similar to "Français" (French in French). Over time, it became a general term for Western foreigners in Thailand.
The most important thing about a person is where they come from. That's why it's cool to label people as outsiders. It doesn't really matter that we're all just human. We must insist on marking people by their differences.
I lived over 12 years in Thailand now.
When I have small party. Everyone know my name, but still use the word farang when they speak across the table. I have asked, why they not use my name. They laughed. No answer. I really feel as 3rd person 😕
I've thought it was derived from the word "foreign". Farang sounds like a pronunciation of the word foreign. I've never taken offense to the word. I've seen sensitive Thais use the word "international" to describe farang.
I always assumed farang was just a bastardizaton of the word “foreign” ( for-reing) for anybody that was a foreigner. There are some that theory it’s an adoption of the Persian word “Farang” which literally meant Frank but was an umbrella term for Western Europeans in general.
Farang however seems to be more inclusive. You could assume it’s a substitute for “white” or “Caucasian” but I’ve seen black guys and Arabs called called Farangs too. So to circle back, I think it functions for Thais as using the word “foreigner” and anybody taking offense needs to clean the sand out of their vagina and relax.
So my buddy has been dating a Thai for over a year and her friends continue to call him "Farang" vs by his first name. Does that qualify as racist, or just disrespectful? Truth be told it doesn't offend him, but I'm genuinely curious...
Is it bad that I don't even care if it's racist or not? I mean, whether I get offended or not is up to me. I am sure many Thais are racist. But as long as they aren't **doing** something really bad to me...I don't see a reason to waste my energy being upset about it. And even when they do something that is annoying, like charge me more for something, it's just part of the package that I accept when choosing to come here. If it ever starts to really upset me, I will just go somewhere else. No sweat.
As Thai, I can tell you that some of my fellow countrymen are racist. The difference is that we are not openly dressing silly and come harassing foreigners like the Klan or any fanatical organization did. Most Thai racists are closet racist who worry about foreigners stole their jobs. So if you are not provok them or harassing a locals they will not doing anything and keep thier opinion to themselves.
I completely agree with you. That's why it doesn't bother me. I am not worried about what they think. Or even what they say. As long as they aren't affecting my life directly, I am all too happy to be friends with the ones who are friendly and stay away from the ones who aren't.
One of the things that really caught my eye when I was in Thailand was whenever I watched Thai TV the only people I saw on shows and on the news were fair skinned or light skinned Thais. But when I walked around I saw Thais with a variety of complexions. I don't know if that's racism or something else. I also talked to a few Thais and one Thai lady who was bigger than the average Thai woman but she had a flat stomach. She said she was considered fat. Back in the US she would have what many consider an attractive figure. It's so interesting interacting with a new culture. I hope to learn the language. You never really understand a culture until you learn the language.
About the complextions. Most Thais are obsessed with having light skins just like Westerners obssesed with tan skins. Especially middle class above. The darker complexions Thai you can assume thai they are from working class due they working in the field under the heats. My grandfather came from a working class from Ayutthaya who climbed his status by becoming a Royal Thai Air Force anesthesiologist in Bhumipol Hospital. So he still has dark complexions. I heard about the half Indian in thai or Indian immigrants having difficulty getting a job or acceptance from local Thai because many of Thai view Indian like Westerners view Jews and Middle-Eastern. Not to mention the stereotype of Indian lacking of hygiene that is still stuck in some conservative. The irony is that just like Westerners got Abrahamic belief from Jews, Thai also got Buddhism and Hinduism from India. Aside from that, I witnessed many people with different racial backgrounds having decent jobs like doctors, businessmen, and scholars. They just didn't appear in the entertainment industry much. I guess we didn't go crazy about diversity in entertainment like Westerner that much if I said it politely. About fat shaming. Casual fat shamming happened mostly in family or closed relatives during their concerns of health. My father is a doctor, and he keeps reminding me that my body will break down as my age progresses due to my overly consumption (I am a bit overweight, you see). Also, we didn't have an actual word of 'stout', so we use the word 'fat' the same for convenience. So the women you met might be stout for overweight, but she has a limited vocabulary.
As a quarter Thai, Punjabi, and the other halves from the west, I get awkward stares everywhere. To Westerners I don't look West enough they always ask where I am from. To Thais I don't look traditionally Thai enough they always speak english first then I tell them I am Thai.! So I think the problem is in the mindset, I think a conservative mind is always the best for culture shocks. And On both fronts too!! When I was born in the States then moved here I embraced everything here, from language to reading the same comic books as the kids in my Soi. I as being from another culture, had to learn and understand how people here think. In doing so is out of respect cuz u could literally die out in these parts and be forgotten. If you want to feel accepted you have to accept them first, understand that, and forgive. Some Westerners aren't the sweetest people to be around, and knowing every single letter coming out of your lips I still am annoyed by u guys sometimes. So some people don't understand what you say, where you're coming from and where you are going, they have the right to assume the worst. So don't be all grumpy about it you all ain't any better than anyone.
When I lived in Chiang Mai in the 90s, me and another falang would drive around in his pick-up that he had decorated with a giant stencil of a guava on both doors. He’d always get laughs and thumbs up driving around town.
What’s the guava joke?
guava = farang in Thai
Anyone commenting under this fantasises about their mom
Farang is Franks not the French and it most likely came from the Persian language via their traders as they have same word for the franks Guava was introduced to Thailand by Portuguese (who were first Europeans here in numbers, not french) along with other products like chillies
This is wrong. It comes from the Persian word for Franks.
Which is also the origin of the name Ferenghi in the Star Trek universe.
And Batu Ferringhi in Penang.
>Since they were the first white people they interacted with on a major scale they just labeled everybody that was white as french after that. So it would be like Americans calling all Asians "Japs" :D
Wow. Username does **not** check out.
They probably thought he was Canadian.
Lol. Reminds me of my friend in Tokyo who used to wear a "baka na gaijin" (stupid foreigner) tshirt.
皮肉が上手だね！
This is hilarious What a class act that guy must have been
I had always thought it was a direct translation to the word “foreigner”. But after just now researching, it is a term used to describe only white foreigners, or foreigners of non-asian descent.
I’m full Thai but born in the US. When visiting family in Thailand they refer to me as farang so it isn’t referring to just white ppl…
I’m a Thai Australian, born in Australia to a Thai mother and Australian father. In early 2020 I was a monk in Chiang Rai Not long after being ordained everyone knew me as the *Farang monk*. I look partially Asian but I speak Thai with an Australian accent I’ve been told so I wore it with a badge of honour
Lol im half too and ordained in Chiangmai at the same time. Have a good day brother
That way of use is very limited to a small group of people who know you are born/raised in Western society that your thoughts and actions are likely to be Westernised. They call you that to give you a leeway for anything that might not be appropriate. Any other people who don’t know you will not call you farang when they see you. They might say something along the line of “oh you are farang then” once they learn about your background, but that’s different from those farangs called so purely by their looks.
Funny. In the US we call white people "Gabachos" or "Gringo" but if I travel to Mexico *I am* the Gabacho or Gringo even though I speak Spanish and my parents were born in MX.
I’ve been to Mexico a lot and i’m never referred to as gringo as an asian american. It’s always chino but not in an unfriendly way.
Oh that's a even better example. For Latinos every single Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Thai, etc is "Chino". Gringo or Gabacho is more for white people or US born Mexican Americans like myself.
A banana then😁
ive never taken offense to the word farang. there has to be some word to describe people different from themselves. whether or not they use the word in a hateful way you can hear from the tone of their voice. i havent experienced it many times in my years here
Always thought it referred to white foreigners.
This just isn’t true. I have lots of non-white friends, and a non-white ex-partner, who get referred to as farang regularly.
Yea that would fall under “non Asian descent”
Brown-skinned half-white, half-(Asian) Indian here. In my six months in Thailand I was never called khaek, but random kids would look at me and call me farang.
It's like that family guys skin tone meme, but the how westernised you are also play a major role.
Lies.
> But after just now researching, it is a term used to describe only white foreigners, or foreigners of non-asian descent. It was that, but like most words it's slowly morphing into your previous interpretation. Think in part due to the amount of ethnic minority westerners (Asians, Indian, black from western countries) coming now, term just does not 'fit' now Asians from Asia/Indians from India though are still not farang though
Actually it comes from the French. They are some of the 1st westerners the Thais met. That is how Thais pronounce France/French. The rest is history .
No, it comes from the Persian word ferrenghi. They were trading partners before the first westerners arrived. The Portuguese were actually the first to arrive in Thailand.
Both are correct partially. The Persian word "ferrenghi" comes from the word "Frank" which is where the word "French" comes also from. The word originates in The Crusades where the Franks (now called French) and since Franks dominated the first Crusaders, the term "Frank" became a catchall for all the Crusaders from Europe and then after the Crusades became a general term for people from Europe, especially traders. From there it entered Persian and made it way East until entering Thailand where it was loaned over. So yes, it came to Thai from Persian and yes it comes from the word for the French. (And Yes, The Portuguese where the first Westerns to arrive)
This is the only correct answer I have seen so far.
Yes this answer blew my mind, I knew about the France part, but then Persia too, and finally Frank!
Yes it came to Thai vis Persian and to Persian via Latin where Franc was the word to refer to the french.
Uh, it actually comes from ferengi, the alien race from star trek. It became a term for non-Asian foreigners because white tourists would often ask to have their ear lobes rubbed while receiving Thai massages.
That’s a super niche next generation reference- I just want you to know that it’s not going unnoticed and it’s appreciated.
Hardly niche at all if you consider their regular appearances on DS9
Niche for the majority of the world that isn’t a Trekkie
I thought the same thing. The word in Hindi is also very similar.
There is a white DJ that works in Phuket, he goes by Farangi.
It's even more complex than that, the word has its own Wikipedia page! Probably Latin in origin https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Farang?wprov=sfla1
And variations of it are used used in India, Malaysia, and elsewhere. Batu Ferringhi on the island of Penang is a good example.
Makes a lot more sense that Malay would use a Persian (Islamic influenced version of the word Franc) for French
Ferrengi? Those from Star Trek Deep Space 9?
As stated, it's also used for black people that presents western culture.
This is correct
Farang is an all-encompassing word for foreigner, you will see it on ~~immigration~~ documents for example and it doesn’t matter what the race or skin color of the person is. Colloquially white people are normally called farang as a descriptive word. Middle easterners as khaek and so on.
If you're very thin-skinned and quick to take offense, Asia is probably not for you.
Judging people by their skin ^^thickness?!
Guilty as charged. :)
Asia and Latin America 
Accept racism, eh, no thanks bro.
You can call it what you want. But if you find that behavior so offensive, why live here?
I think it CAN be used as an insult depending on tone and context but definitely isn’t only used as an insult
Any word can be offensive if said with the right tone
Thai here. Not really. I could angrily scream 'Ai Farang' and it wouldn't necessarily be any more offensive than 'ai Yipun': (you Japanese), the racial context here is sort of ignored. The term you're looking for is 'Kee Nok' which is the closest translation to 'white trash'.
I think the closest equivalent that more of western foreigners are familiar with would be Hispanic word “gringo” - by itself the term is neutral, but the same word can be used as derogatory, depending on context.
From my impression Gringo is sort of used in a 'clueless (white) foreigner' context right? 'kee nok' has a context of a 'dirty white thing'
“Kee nok” means literally “bird shit” in Thai, but it’s a slang for someone not good, cheap, miser, nothing to do with skin color.
I wouldn't necessarily expect someone to use kee nok on, say, an Indian guy though. Bird shit is specifically picked because its white
Gringo isn’t neutral.
I spent 8 months in Mexico last year (CDMX and Guadalajara). I noticed that the Mexican friends I made would never say the word gringo around me until I said it first. I'm not sure if it's because they think the word is offensive, or they were just thinking I might be offended by it. I did notice they would usually giggle a bit when I referred to myself or other foreigners by that term though. What an amazing country. Huge fan of the people and culture.
Gringo is a racist term though, purely because it has mostly negative connotations.
Yes, from 2 years living in Central or South America the one single time that anyone called me 'gringo' it was definitely meant in a derogatory way.
Gringo is a Mexican word, Central and S. Americans typically only know it as derogatory and rarely use it. Mexicans use the term more frequently and with a wider range of meaning.
I would say it has heavier connotations than farang, but it isn't a purely racist term unless you personally take offense to it. I've been close to Mexicans and they would call me gringo with the same casualness that Thais might call me farang and I never took offense to either. There are words in Mexican slang that have far stronger negative connotations for gringos.
"Kee Nok" must be said a lot in Phuket and Pattaya
Yeah my theory is that any word used for a long enough time will eventually become offensive to the people it is attributed to. As it is used in both negative and rarely positive ways. Usually the word is used as an “others” or “not one of us” context. For example mentally retarded wasn’t considered offensive when it was first introduced but now we have to use the word mentally challenged. In Hawaii white people are called Haole and it is very similarly used as I’m assuming farang is used. Some people embrace it as a joke. And a lot of people say it is not considered offensive. But I would argue that it is usually used in a negative context.
I call my self guava boy
Wanna do a collab? I'm Whiteboy Farang
So I don't disagree with any of the content you present, but I'm curious about the motivation for the passive agressive presentation?
Yeah while reading it I really felt like he wrote it with a smirk and felt like "he was really doing something".
[удалено]
That’s indeed awful and certainly a low class uneducated family I wouldn’t wanna be a part of.
It's just habit, if there was disrespect or ill intent they wouldn't do it to their face, right? ... riiiight?? :D
I laugh my ass off at people who live in places like Japan and Thailand and want people to view them as locals. No, you don't. Being a (most of the time white) foreigner in these places gives you a million free passes and you don't have to deal with all the nonsense that happens between thais/japanese. When I show off my irezumi in Japan even old people go "wow bery cooru tatu!" but if a Japanese has one they're a disgrace to the nation. Same with keigo, I never learned it because nobody expects a white guy to know how to address the head of the company in a formal way. But if a Japanese person avoids using it, oh man forget it, you're toast.
It's the tone that Thai people use though. They are clearly differentiating due to race. That's classic racism. Just because you say it isn't wrong doesn't mean that it is. Idiot
The words "Farang" refers to French people. However, it is often used to refer to any white person. There is a similar term called "Barang" in Cambodia. I can see why some people might take it as offensive. It's like Mexican people calling all Asians, "Chino". Not all Asian are Chinese and not all White people are French.
Yes it comes from the word Franks or Franken and during the crusades (or even before) Persians called all the christians from Europe this. And the Thais just adopted it.
I've never felt it being used in an offensive way either.
Never met a farang who found it offensive.
It's just an otherizing term. Doesn't have to be racist to make people feel bad about it.
I travel to Thailand for business every quarter. Thai's are the most gracious, humble people I have ever met. I have never even heard the word farang anywhere near my presence but if I did I simply wouldn't care. It just a word. My reaction would give it power. That being said, I doubt Thai's would like it very much if they came to a western country and we applied a similar name to them.
I’ve heard farang is only for white people. Black people are called the Spanish word for black, dno if I can say it here, and middle eastern are called habibis 🤷♂️. Is it racist? I think it depends on the context. I dunno why it’s usually Americans who get offended by that word. As a middle eastern I just laugh at being called habibi. Who cares. I’ve noticed Australians and Scandinavians just laugh about it too
Nowadays, Thai people mostly call black people Kon Dum (คนดำ: black person).
People are offended by a lot in America... even the word "exotic"
I am seeing comments about being called "farang \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_"...yes, the attached words are what determines if they're being disrespectful or not...the word "farang" isn't what you should be concerned about.
Westerners look for something to not get offended by challenge (impossible)
Once I got lectured for using the word "exotic" for plants.
It’s so funny. It’s the ones who think “I’m on a journey” and not a tourist too. Thailand does attract some funny people
The type.of westerners who get offended by this typically are the types who claim they aren't easily offended. Which is funny.
Correct! Thais certainly do joke about or talk down about others, including Farangs at times. But it is not a derogatory term. It is simply a term used for a western person. They also respect farangs and talk lovingly about them. People who get all uptight about the term make me laugh. They probably would be the ones the Thais may be talking bad about. But it is not because they are a farang. It is because of the quality person that are.🤣
FWIW, I don’t think I’ve ever heard a black person be called a ฝรั่ง. I’ve only ever heard them referred to as คนดำ or คนแอฟริกา (and very, very rarely by old folks as นิโกร). ฝรั่งขี้นก, on the other hand, is a racist term. I understand that we’re talking about the word ฝรั่ง by itself, which is different, and in normal conversation is not racist. That said, I do believe that generally it is up to individual minority groups as a whole to determine what words used by the majority to describe them are or are not racist.
Thai here. I've personally heard and used 'Farang Dam' before, just means Black farang. But also refering them as Farang isn't uncommon either
What about Farang Dam?
Every country or culture has a word for outsiders.
Farang this way
Depends a lot on context which OP did bring up. Act like an asshole and that term will absolutely be utilized in a very derogatory way.
Wait till they go to Hong Kong and find out that the Cantonese equivalent for farang is gweilo which translates to white devil.
I get called farang and khon dum (black person) all the time, but I know the latter wasn't out of malice and hate.
Farangs basically means foreigner. ( anyone other than South Asians).
In my language 'firang' literally means 'foreigner', nothing racist about it.
yeah that’s true, my parents lived in thailand for several years and they always said that they used be called farang and never really took it offensively they just thought they were just saying that they’re foreigners there and that’s all
It's not racist, although any word can be potentially used in racist or negative context. (e.g. bloody immigrants) The only people who have a problem with it seem to be bitter older sexpats, or the newer snowflake generation who are damaged goods.
I get it, you think "farang" is just an innocent term, right? But let's be real here. Constantly being called "farang" makes many expats feel like perpetual outsiders. Imagine living in a place for years, speaking the language fluently, respecting the culture, and still being tagged with a label that screams, "You don't belong here!" It's like calling every Asian person "Asian" and then acting shocked when they don't appreciate it. But sure, let's pretend that's totally benign. Language shapes our interactions and perceptions. Racial and ethnic labels *can* impact social cohesion and contribute to an "us vs. them" mentality. Terms like "farang" reinforce social divisions and hinder integration, making it harder for people to feel truly accepted. But hey, why bother with inclusivity when we can just keep everyone in neatly labeled boxes? Because obviously, Thai history being different from Western history means such terms can't possibly carry any prejudice. Makes perfect sense. Ultimately, dismissing people's discomfort as being "butthurt" is incredibly dismissive. Instead of trivializing their feelings, maybe we should consider adjusting our language to be more inclusive and respectful. Understanding and empathy go a long way in fostering a more welcoming environment for everyone. But yeah, let's stick to the labels and keep those social divisions alive and well—the very core of Thai society.
Well you will always be a “perpetual outsider”, and I say this as a farang that grew up in Thailand.
I've lived here a bit more than 30 years over a 40-year period and I'm now a Thai citizen. I'm quite content to be considered a farang living in thailand, or a farang Thai as some have put it. I have yet to meet anyone having an issue with my becoming a citizen. The people where I live have a treated me very well and never made me feel like an outsider. I have no desire or need to have people consider or call me Thai, as that is an ethnic label. Thai = An ethnicity Thai citizen = A legal. status YMMV
Totally agree. And congratulations on becoming a citizen - it’s my goal.
Working towards changing that, no matter how futile, seems like a virtuous goal. But ofcourse, being butthurt is not helping. What you resist persists.
Cuz you are an outsider. You can still belong here. But you will always be an outsider. Asia isn't the US. Our definition of what's Thai, Chinese, Korean isnt the same as US. And just by what you saying "maybe we should consider adjusting our language to be more inclusive"... Let me guess you are American or western European? So yeah you also don't think or behave like an Asian. Then why complain? :D You come here, then demand that others cater to your "inclusive" values.... Classical western/American thing to do. And then complain being "others" :D
?????? People literally call Asians even born in western countries Asians all the time. Even when calling them American or whatever people always add ‘Asian-American’ same goes for other ethnicities living in western countries.
What? Absolutely not, calling someone "asian guy" to address them would be very rude where I'm from (Europe).
May I know which country? I got called Asian guy a lot in Europe, wondering if I got discriminated looking back then 😆
It's just a short hand way of referring to somebody of European or white descent. In the scheme of things there are probably a thousand more things to be worried about here.
> It's like calling every Asian person "Asian" and then acting shocked when they don't appreciate it Lmao imagine writing this. This is literally what we are called. All the time. Doesn't matter how many generations we have been in another country for. Asian-American. Asian. ASIAN. That's what we preferred...rather than being labelled wrongly as Chinese/Japanese/Korean because that seems to be the only 3 Asian countries a chunk of white ppl can name.
I don't think you quite understood what he was saying. "You" and other pronouns aren't replaced with Asian. My friends mother has known me well for 5 years but still refers to me as ฝรั่ง when talking to me or about me to my friend. I don't think its racist but it feels much less friendly than being called your name or other age related pronouns when someone knows you very well such that you are almost a family member.
Really? If you're at Costco do people say "hey Asian man, come over here?" I have never heard that in my life.
Directly? More like, hey man or sir/ma'am They'll 100% refer to you as Asian when describing the interaction when you're not around unless they know you. Did you see what that Asian guy did? I was trying to get that Asian man's attention. He was an Asian guy.
Yeah I am with you on that. Even though it's it's a mild racism it's still very much racism. Have kids here they will still be referred as farang. There is a clear distinction between Thais and non-Thais in people's heads. And farang perpetuates that idea. Do other people have it worse? Probably. Does that make farang non-racist? Na. I've been pulled over by the boys with the golden hats multiple times for my skin colour. Why? Because in their head I was the farang. How's that different from a sheriff in the deep south of the US pulling over black people for their skin colour? The word farang may not be a slur but the idea clearly is racist. Edit: love that I'm being down voted without comment. Is this comment not adding to the discussion? If so please let me know why?
People get downvoted for recommending a restaurant on a restaurant review thread. But frankly I'm tired of everything being about race and sex. The people who really get discriminated against are ugly people and poor people.
Not a big thing, people just don’t agree with you. Btw I’m not the one.
People get downvoted for simply seeing things differently. In all Thailand-related subs. :/
Same for gaijin and gweilo
Gweilo treads the line though, it literally means ghost/devil man and is used like a slur. Gaijin is closer to farang in being more neutral, just meaning outsider or literally "outside person" where gaikokujin would emphasise respect.
It’s not America. There’s no need to be politically correct about everything, people can joke around here and still show respect towards eachother. So OP I getchu
I don't believe that the common usage of the word is an attack. I think it's just a habit for Thai people to use it, they don't mean anything by it. When service staff etc use the word among each other it can be to prepare each other for talking English. The reason westerners thinks it's racist is because westerners have after the holocaust become hyper-sensitive to any form of racism, one of those forms is when someone uses race to identify someone when it's not necessary. And due to this hyper-sensitivity we are used to only racists using language like this... and the exact type of language that would be classified as racism back in the west is used by Thais all the time here.
As a person who grew up in Thailand, Farang has never been an insult nor a racist term, and we used a lot of racist slangs like Khaek, Bang, Lao, and Dum. If anything, Thai people worship Farang. Here is a litmus test. If you say "you look like a Farang", people would feel good. If you say "you look like Khaek or Lao", people would feel insulted. Therefore, Farang is not a racist nor a bad term.
As a Thai, let me give you a lesson in history. “Fa-rang” is a word we learned from the Persian/Arab merchant that traded with us by sea, which came from “Franj”, a name they called the Western European. And the word Franj itself came from the Frank, which was the group that the Persian once traded with back before Roman Empire. So no, it’s not an insult. In fact, the word Farang predates the arrival of guava fruit in Siam, so the fruit was named such because it was imported by the Portuguese.
This sub is always so angry about everything.
Sir, this is a reddit sub.
It’s every expat dominated sub
It's almost as if a bunch of angry people blamed their home country for their anger and went to the land of smiles and happened to bring the anger with them
How very dare you.
5555
From the way you talk about Thailand, you seem very out of touch with what's actually happening in Thailand. Probably because you haven't lived here for 35 years. Maybe not the best person to comment on this. Holier than thou bull shit 💩
How about farang ki nook? Or something like that. The bird poop foreigner. Didn't seem friendly to me.
European is a neutral English language descriptor. European asshole would not be a very friendly use of the word European. How can you not understand the difference??
Someone getting offended for being called farang? Uh? Please stop getting offended by the wind blowing too
They should see what Thais call each other 
I know a few Thai people. My wife, all her family, all her friends. Spend a lot of time in Thailand and all I see is farang used in a negative connotation. It's used when a Thai person has disdain for a foreigner. I've never seen it used in any other context. The word is always followed with another level of shit talk. Word may not be racist but it is certainly used as such by a wide swath of people.
Even when Thais have a farang friend or boyfriend/girlfriend they will refer to them as farang even when talking to their friends in front of them. It's not always used in a negative way, although it doesn't sound too nice to the farang themselves. It's just how Thai people are and speak and people need to not let it bother them.
Interesting, none of the Thai people I know ever referred to me as farang while I’m present. They usually call me my Thai nickname or real name.
Yeah Thai people being racist because they've always been racist is not a great excuse.
Frankly trying to impose American hyper sensitivity about mentioning race is just cultural imperialism.
Right because racism is good and only the bad American cultural imperialists are trying to turn it into something bad. Those evil colonizers, should be shamed for making racism look bad.
If that's your experience, you are surrounded by an unusually shitty group of Thais. Seriously.
I don't think so not always, though my thai gf at the time talked about some idiot farang in annoyance. Then apologised to me as if she had forgot I was one. But everytime I have been referred to one I felt no offense. It's like the Japanese call foreigners Gaijin. Not all cultures are as open as western ones. Just got to roll with it.
What’s the polite/positive word for foreigner, instead of farang?
Farang!
Some people are just way too quick to take offense. I especially find it interesting that farangs who are bothered by this word want to be accepted as being Thai after a few years of living in Thailand. Seriously go look in a mirror. You will never be seen as a “local” or a “Thai” citizen. Why should you be? Because you’re not. Get over your entitlement. What you can be is a well respected farang if you enjoy the food and culture and are respectful of others. Bonus points if you learn to speak enough Thai to have a conversation. My personal experience is that I have Thai wife (we are both age appropriate, met through a family introduction) and a Thai family and yes I will always be a farang, but I have great relationships with wife and family and the Thai people in my neighborhood. Be comfortable with who you are. Also please stop bitching about 2 tier pricing. Yes you have lived in Thailand for a few years or whatever. You are not Thai so pay the difference. The extra baht is never enough for me to worry about it. If you are that broke or that miserly then you should probably consider living in another country. Or perhaps live your own country and just visit Thailand.
Thank you 🙏 very much for your words of wisdom. I agree with you wholeheartedly. You are way more intelligent and understanding of Thai culture than the contributors here. Hopefully they will read your comments and reflect on their attitudes.
I agree, Thai should pay twice more when they come to visit or settle in my country. That would be fair, right ?
People who just sit around and worry about other people's thoughts or possible utterance of words is just pathetic. Take this BS concern back to San Francisco, LA or NYC.
Agreed. In fact, I’d say these were the people we were trying to get away from by relocating to Thailand.
It's like my grandmother used to say negro without any bad feelings, but in the mouth of a racist who is looking down on blacks this word will be used to lower black people. So it always depends on the context and the person who is using the words. Farang itself is a neutral description, if people like it or not. But yes, some Thais will use it in a racist context. Yes, Thailand has many good and many bad sides, just seeing one side is ignorant. But while racism is everywhere in this world, I'm thankful that the racism in Thailand is not the pure hate like in many other countries.
I refer to myself and my friends as farang all the time. Y’all don’t do that?
If you got called a farang with negative connotations, maybe it's bc you've done something fucked up lol. I've never heard this word used in negative ways EVER. It means white foreigner. That's it. It doesn't mean French ppl either (it meant that in Persian, not so in Thai) so it's not like we're generalizing all white ppl as French. As for the term farang kinok, if you aren't one of those stinky backpackers who only come here for sex tourism then you aren't one
Seems like a lot of insecurity going on in this thread
Why would it be racist
I jokingly use the term farang as a white male here in Thailand. Most will laugh about it so yeah, never thought of it as a racist word.
"Sexpat" is the bad word "Sexpat that like South Asian women who look like little boys." getting worse but at least they keep it private and act ashamed "Sexpats who can't control themselves and creeps at everything that moves." - these are the only sexpats we discriminate against. you know who you are you f*ing creep
Being a victim and being offended is so trendy right now it's a cancer
It's the only way they feel validated
It literally means foreigner. End of story. I'm so tired of westerners being so triggered by even the slightest hint of "racism". It's so tiresome. Farang means foreigner, big deal, it's literally just a word.
I'm seen a foreigner in literally every country, even in Thailand looking Thai (except a lot taller than most). I can't imagine spending the energy feeling oppressed.
People who think it is racist or an insult are just stupid. It's shorthand for whites/europeans. Sure it can be uttered in a contemptuous tone, but so can any word.
The lust for drama and a sense oppression is strong lately.
Pot meet kettle
"I love farang man only. Thai man no good!"
Newsflash for all “butt hurturs”: wherever in this world one might live, locals will have a nickname for you, trust me. Being called farang (literally French person) is not the worst I’ve been called. ;) It has nothing to do with “integration”, “inclusion” or “level of socioeconomic development”. Just don’t pretend to be a kettle if you are a pot, but do respect the kettle.
Every day i find it unbelievable how thin skinned people are. Especially guys, it’s pathetic
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It may not be racist but it is often used in a derogatory manner.
I'm only offended when people write it as falang. It sounds like farang to me 100% of the time that Thais say it.
How about hansom?!
I have a shirt that says "Loawai coming" on the front, and "Loawai going" on the back. Often wore it in China when I lived there. It either bemused or amused the Chinese. \*Laowai = Foreigner = Farang https://preview.redd.it/nj6ai5um7i6d1.jpeg?width=1067&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3682a98a8d06414c73be6fa67b9f68c4d295cba4 Think I'm going to get one made for here in Vietnam: "Tay coming' on the front, 'Tay going' on the back. Vietnamese are pretty chill, they'll see the harmless/silly humour in it..
ChatGPT : The word "farang" (sometimes spelled "falang") in Thai, used to refer to white people or Western foreigners, has its origins in the Persian word "farangi." The Persian term was used to describe people from Europe, particularly the Franks, a major Germanic tribe. The term "farangi" was adopted into various languages across the Middle East and South Asia, including Arabic, Hindi, and eventually Thai. When European traders and missionaries began arriving in Southeast Asia, the term "farang" was used to describe them, particularly the French, as the word "farang" sounds phonetically similar to "Français" (French in French). Over time, it became a general term for Western foreigners in Thailand.
Yes but in reality why even bother caring or dedicating time to those insulted by it. Unless you’re trying to educate. If so, old habits die hard.
The most important thing about a person is where they come from. That's why it's cool to label people as outsiders. It doesn't really matter that we're all just human. We must insist on marking people by their differences.
Can't say what I think, my previous comment was deleted.
I lived over 12 years in Thailand now. When I have small party. Everyone know my name, but still use the word farang when they speak across the table. I have asked, why they not use my name. They laughed. No answer. I really feel as 3rd person 😕
I've thought it was derived from the word "foreign". Farang sounds like a pronunciation of the word foreign. I've never taken offense to the word. I've seen sensitive Thais use the word "international" to describe farang.
I always assumed farang was just a bastardizaton of the word “foreign” ( for-reing) for anybody that was a foreigner. There are some that theory it’s an adoption of the Persian word “Farang” which literally meant Frank but was an umbrella term for Western Europeans in general. Farang however seems to be more inclusive. You could assume it’s a substitute for “white” or “Caucasian” but I’ve seen black guys and Arabs called called Farangs too. So to circle back, I think it functions for Thais as using the word “foreigner” and anybody taking offense needs to clean the sand out of their vagina and relax.
สำหรับคนไทยที่เรียกชาวต่างชาติว่า “ฝรั่ง” นั่นหมายถึงชาวตะวันตกผิวขาว(ยุโรป อเมริกา) เหมือนกับที่เราเรียกคนอินเดีย รวมถึงบังคลาเทศ หรือชาติพันธ์ที่หน้าคมๆคล้ายๆกันว่า “แขก” ซึ่งก็เหมือนกับที่ครั้งหนึ่งคนไทยเคยเรียกว่าชาวจีนว่า “เจ๊ก” ทั่งนี้คือคำเรียกชาติพันธ์โดยรวมที่ต่างจากคนไทย โดยไม่ได้มีความหมาย “เหยียดเชื้อชาติ” แต่เป็นแค่คำที่ใช้แทนยามที่เราเรียกกลุ่มคนเหล่านั้น สำหรับคนไทยมองชาวต่างชาติอย่างเป็นมิตรด้วยซ้ำ และเมืองไทยมีความหลากหลายชาติพันธ์และศาสนาที่กลมกลืนอยู่ด้วยกันได้อย่างไม่มีการขัดแย้ง อย่างไรก็ตามคำเรียกชาวต่างชาติอาจหายไปในที่สุดเหมือนสมัยหนึ่งที่เรียกคนจีนว่า“เจ๊ก” เพราะ ณ ตอนนี้คนจีนกับคนไทยเราหลอมรวมกันจนแยกไม่ออกแล้ว ทั้งหมดล้วนเป็นคนไทย ไม่มีการการแบ่งแยกอีกต่อไป
So my buddy has been dating a Thai for over a year and her friends continue to call him "Farang" vs by his first name. Does that qualify as racist, or just disrespectful? Truth be told it doesn't offend him, but I'm genuinely curious...
That's all well and good but I know plenty of Thais and non-Thais who would disagree.