The word farang (ฝรั่ง) is one that you will likely often hear when in Thailand. Thai people use it quite often when talking about foreigners and tourists visiting the country. Some foreigners even use it to refer to themselves, adding to the mystery.
Are you curious about its actual meaning in Thai? I know I was when first visiting, so we will be looking to answer the question of what does farang mean in Thai and when is the right time to use it. Hopefully, you will then be able to distinguish the different meanings.
Table of Contents
So, What Does Farang Mean In Thai?
The word we are talking about today actually has a couple of different meanings that are quite different from one another, but have a very subtle link.
Before we talk about what does farang mean in Thai, we need to know its history. Where were you when you first heard the word farang? This question is quite important, as it may help determine what the person was saying. For example, if you were walking randomly down the road and heard it, it is likely different from hearing it be shouted at a food market.
Farang In Thai: Is it Caucasian or white people?
Let’s look at that first example where you are walking down the road, as this scenario is probably the most common usage or at least one that most people are curious about. The word, in this case, is likely ฝรั่ง (fà ràng) and means Caucasian or white people.
However, you may find that most people will use it to refer to all foreigners, no matter where they are from or whether they are living in Thailand or just visiting. I haven’t usually heard it being used for referring to other Asian visitors, but apparently, it may still be used in that case. Don’t think of it as a bad thing, though. It is just a common way of referring to people and isn’t necessarily used in a mean or rude way.
It can be used in a more rude way. The phrase ฝรั่งขี้นก (fà ràng kîi nók) is used to describe a foreigner who is rude or disrespectful. It could be understood as white trash, too. However, directly translated, it means ‘bird droppings foreigner’, referring to the fact that bird droppings are white. That is pretty smart.
All in all, unless you are going out of your way to being disrespectful to Thai culture or its people, the word farang is likely being used in a nicer way.
Guava
I have talked at length about the many joys of Thai fruit. As it is a tropical country, you will find many exotic fruits that you may not be able to find elsewhere. One such fruit is the humble guava. Well, with its very high vitamin C content, it may not be that humble, but based on its look, it is quite plain.
Anyway, ignoring the benefits of eating healthy, the fascinating topic for today is its name. That’s right, the name for guava in Thai is ฝรั่ง (fà ràng). Those of you who are able to read Thai characters will likely have noticed that the Thai name for guava is the same as the Thai word for the Westerner. How does that work?
It is mainly to do with context. As there is no difference in tone or pronunciation, you would figure out your Thai friend is buying some guava due to the fact you are in a market (like I mentioned earlier) and is ordering local Thai produce.
It is said that this fruit got its name from the fact that the flesh on the inside is white, like the skin of a European person. However, it is more likely due to the fact that the fruit was introduced to the country by traders from Portugal. Either way, its origins come back to that first meaning we talked about above.
Potato
Next time you are out to buy some potatoes, listen out for their Thai name. They are known as มันฝรั่ง (man fà ràng). This is yet another name derived from the fact that it was first introduced by Westerners to the country.
In Thai, you have several types of มัน (man) or yams, as they are known in English. For example, มันเทศ (man têet) is the name for sweet potatoes, a personal favorite of mine. They belong to a similar family as potatoes. So, it makes sense that when these foreign versions were brought in, they were called ‘foreign yams’, or ‘man farang’.
Next time you are at a fast food place, remember that the word for French fries is มันฝรั่งทอด (man fà ràng tɔ̂ɔt), so that may be what you are hearing, rather than someone talking about you behind your back.
Asparagus
Here is another one to add to the list of fruits/vegetables named farang after being introduced from the West. In Thai, asparagus is known as หน่อไม้ฝรั่ง (nɔ̀ɔ mái fà ràng). This name is a bit more literal, though.
The ‘หน่อ’ (nɔ̀ɔ) part of the name means ‘shoot of a plant,’ so the whole thing can literally be translated as meaning ‘shoot of a foreign plant,’ which is a good description when you think about it.
French
Seemingly out of nowhere, the word farang can also mean French. As we discussed before, when looking at country names in Thai, France is known as ฝรั่งเศส (fà ràng sèet). Once again, the spelling and pronunciation of the word are familiar, though with an extra word at the end in this case. The story behind this one is quite interesting, though.
Looking back at the history of the Thai language, you should know that Thai was influenced heavily by its neighbors. The Frankish people of the 12th century made a name for themselves in the Middle East. The name of the people – the Franks – eventually made its way into the Thai language, changing slightly to ‘farang’.
I guess this one can be seen as the true origin of all these words, putting an end to the mystery behind it.
How Do You Say ‘Foreigner’ In Thai?
The formal word for ‘foreigner’ in Thai is ชาวต่างชาติ (chaao dtàang châat) , but the informal word is ฝรั่ง (fà ràng) .
Related Vocabulary
Now that you know the different meanings of the word farang in Thai, below is a vocabulary table of some words that we touched on, including a handy pronunciation guide!
If you’d like to learn more Thai conversational phrases or vocabulary, don’t hesitate to check out the Ling app!
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Why Do Thai People Call Foreigners ‘Farang’?
Thai people commonly use the word ฝรั่ง (fà ràng) to refer to foreigners, particularly Westerners. It is believed to originate from the Thai word for ‘foreigner’ or ‘Westerner’, which originated from the Persian word for the Frankish people. Over time, it became an informal term used to refer to any Caucasian foreigner or tourist visiting Thailand.
2. What Is The English Translation Of ‘Farang’?
While there is no English equivalent for farang, it broadly translates to ‘foreigner,’ ‘Westerner,’ ‘French,’ and even ‘guava.’ In Thai, it’s a term commonly used to refer to Western tourists or residents. The word farang can change its meaning depending on the situational context and tone.
3. What Does ‘Kaek’ Mean In Thai?
The word แขก (kɛ̀ɛk) in Thai traditionally refers to ‘guests’ or ‘visitors.’ It is also a common alternative to the term farang, being used to refer to non-western or non-caucasian foreigners.
Which Thai Word Will You Learn Next?
Although this not an exhaustive list of the meanings of farang in Thai, it does paint a picture of how versatile its use is. From fruit to people, it’s interesting to see that it all comes back to the name of the Frankish people, which came to mean ‘Western’ or ‘foreign’.
If you’re up for it, why not take a deeper dive into Thai culture by learning more about interesting Thai words? From Thai swear words, Thai names, and the common Thai word ‘jai’, there’s a wealth of cultural knowledge to be gained from understanding the ins and outs of the Thai language. Either way, I hope this look into the word farang has increased your interest in learning the Thai language – and hasn’t left you even more confused!
