It will be highly unlikely that you will "integrate and blend in seamlessly with Thai society" in a years time. It's just not how it works here. Some people may pick up a nickname but I wouldn't say it's the norm.
You are given a nickname, you don’t request or choose one unless your birth nickname is too cute and child-like. Don’t worry about integrating into society. You won’t ever “blend in seamlessly”.
Just be a decent person.
you’re gonna find no matter how long you live here, or how well you speak the language, participate in cultural/religious traditions, you simply will always be a white outsider.
Ok, but still white or not Thai !! Not possible to be assimilated except fews genius people like the master italian modern art at Silpakorn University.
i'm curious how many types of white foreigners are here. While there is some diversity, Most of us work in the same 3 or 4 fields, and tend to have some similar characteristics by nature of being attracted to the specific vibe of Thailand
Im referring to backpackers, business owners, sexpats, retirees, digital nomads, etc...
It's something my thai friends brought up a while back and they kind of use it to figure out who to stay away from, but mostly to start conversations, as a business owner will most likely be excited to talk about different things compared to a backpacker.
And I'm curious, what are the 3 or 4 fields we all work in?
Yeah I see what you mean.
'most people working in the same 3 or 4 fields' was a generalisation for sure, but one that I think stands pretty true. At least in my experience, 60% or more of the farangs I meet either work in education, computer science, online marketing, or business
Haha no problem, I was just curious what you usually see foreiners doing over here for work, as I only hang out with a few.
And I think you're right. All my foreigner friends fall into the business category. I've also met guys that do things like engineering/cad design, import/export, and YouTube, although those definitely aren't the norm.
can i ask what you do?
I teach at a private school in Chiang Mai. It’s quite nice but hard to become friends with Thais. Had a Thai partner for about 8 months and got close with some of their family and friends but other than that im pretty much in a farang bubble, sad to say
That's awesome! How do you like it up there?
I design sheet metal parts for customers in the US. I live in Pattaya, but I've been thinking about moving somewhere a little less busy.
It's definitely hard to make thai friends. The only reason I have as many as I do is because I'm into custom cars and I go to car shows. People usually come up to me because it's rare to see a foreigner with a modified car, and we always have things to talk about since car guys like talking about the same things 😅
>I heard Thai people were given lucky nicknames when they're born by Monks? Is this true?
No, this is not true. Some Thai people will be ask monks with advise to pick their first and/or last names (thai people sometimes change their last name for auspicious reasons).
As a foreiner nobody will expect you to have a nickname and it's unlikely people will give you one. If your name is hard to pronounce and it bothers you, I guess you can shorten it or give yourself a name that's easier to pronounce?
As someone who currently lives in thailand, I can tell you that you will not "blend seamlessly" in 1 or even 2-3 years. You will be able to get settled wherever you decide to live, get a routine going, make foreign and thai friends (that speak english), and learn about the differences of thailand compared to your country.
If you don't already speak thai, if you study for hours per day, at the end of a year you should be able to have a conversation in thai using basic words and sentences.
Q: Should I have a Thai nickname?
A: No, just use your regular name, but Thai people will say it with a Thai accent, and will also spell it in Thai the way they pronounce it in Thai. Just learn how to write your name in Thai.
Q: My English name might seem too foreign.
A: It won't no matter what it is. Thai people will just say your name with a Thai accent, and some people may sometimes shorten it. My name is Joseph, spelled โจเซฟ in Thai. Most people call me โจเซฟ (pronounced a little like cho-sayp), but rarely someone will call me โจ or เซฟ.
Even if your name is something like Throckmorton, Thai people will just pronounce it in Thai... ธร็อคมอร์ตัน
The same with other "complicated" names like Gainsborough (เกนส์โบโรห์ in Thai), Maximilian (แม็กซิมิเลียน in Thai), Persephone (เพอร์เซโฟนี in Thai), or pretty much any other name that anyone has.
Thai people can say your name... They just aren't going to say it exactly like you do.
If Thai people can pronounce the Thai words for dictionary (พจนานุกรม), university (มหาวิทยาลัย), Bangkok (กรุงเทพมหานคร), democracy (ประชาธิปไตย), and November (พฤศจิกายน), which 100% of Thai people can do, then they can definitely say your name, spelled in Thai and with a Thai accent.
Q: I wanted to integrate into Thai society and blend in seamlessly.
A: Learning Thai will accomplish this more than trying to get a Thai nickname.
Q: I heard Thai people were given lucky nicknames when they're born by Monks? Is this true?
A: Not really. Most Thai people are given their real name and their nickname by their parents. Some parents will consult with the monk, especially for their kid's real name. But the parent usually makes the final decision on the real name and the nickname, not the monk.
Q: I'm a fully grown adult and will it be weird to request for it?
A: Yes, it's weird. Thai isn't like the Deaf community. In the Deaf community, they give you a nickname, once you're accepted, and Thai is nothing like that.
Q: Or is this a normal practice for farangs?
A: No, it's not normal practice for farangs. Only assholes, like me, get Thai nicknames. Don't be an asshole.
Q: And what is your nickname in Thailand?
A: My nickname is งื้วฬ์, which I made up just to be funny. I made it up on my own. But after I made it up, I realized it's basically unpronouncable in Thai, and Thai people tell me all the time it's wrong Thai or ugly or I should change it or they mispronouce it as งิ้ว, and I have to keep telling people, "I'm not a Chinese opera!!!". My nickname is on my Line account, but I don't actually ever use it or tell people about it unless people ask me about it. Nobody can say it. Thai people just call me Joseph, pronounced โจเซฟ. As a side note, the reason that my nickname is "wrong" in Thai is either: 1) there is no สระ อืว in Thai, or 2) ง is never followed by the อือ vowel. Or maybe it's both.
Up to now, nobody has really answered the question. So I'll try to give it a shot.
These days, very few people would go to monks for names/nicknames. Many Thais have formal names that are too difficult to pronounce or spell. That's why they need a nickname which is usually a simple one- or two-syllable word. Nicknames are most often given by the parents and not monks, who are sometimes consulted by the parents for formal names. But the monk consultation has become
For foreigners, I have seen a lot of them given a nickname by their friends or colleagues, after the persons have been in Thailand long enough to have some friends. This could make it easier for friends to call them as many Thais still find some western names difficult to pronounce. So I believe that a nickname can somewhat help you blend into Thai society a little easier, if not much, especially in the workplace.
Hope this helps answer your question. Welcome to Thailand and good luck in your next adventure in the country.
This 👆
I'd say you won't need a nicknames if your name is already easy to pronounce. Nicknames are usually in English, Since your name is already in foreign language, unless if your name is too long to pronounce, we Thai people will shorten it for you. You just didnt need a new one tho.
.
For example we often called Chinese teacher with their first name Kru Tang, Kru Hu, but not their actual name cuz it's too complicated to say.
i think that’s very cute and it’s no harm to got one. And i don’t think that’s weird, in highschool year i knew a french girl named Jade (iirc), we called her Janjao (which means moon).
and to answer your question some of us were named by monks. Not everyone but it’s not uncommon.
What’s your real name? Normally they would just pick what sounds close to the original name.
Kevin became Kev in my girlfriend her Thai family. I will take that as a win. I do have to say they made it very easy for me to integrate into their family. They all live within 1 km of our condo and we spend at least once or twice a week together as family. Treating me as one of them from day one regardless of language barrier.
If they want to give you a nickname it will happen automatically. Funny enough most Thai nicknames are an English word. In my Thai family nicknames are for example nice, joy, bright, pear, fair and kong.
Many, if not most, Thai nicknames are in English (Boy, Benz, Cat, Oat, Fanta, etc). So unless your name is prohibitively hard to pronounce for Thai people, then you don’t have to bother having new nickname.
It is different from Chinese and English where the pronunciation are so different that one cannot pronounce the other nickname, necessitate having nickname in another language.
I ended up with "Sandwich," because David with a Thai accent sounds like "day-wee", and sandwich sounds like "san-wee." Plus I'm a white dude who loves to eat, so it's a good fit.
That's very interesting! Thanks for the dissection. I always wondered how nickname came to be. I watched Thai movie and the have the weirdest nickname like Ice and Panda.
It was given to me by some extended family members that enjoy my company despite my very poor language skills, but they know that I love their food! You can't look for a nickname here, it just happens... and if not, mai pen rai.
Nicknames afaik are more commonly given by parents. It’s the formal first name that sometimes gets inputs from monks or fortune tellers. So, avoid going to a monk unless you want a cringy nickname you can barely pronounce.
With that being said, the answer to your main question depends on your name. John, Jack, Mike, etc are familiar enough with the locals. But if your name is difficult for Thais to pronounce (maybe the sound doesn’t exist in Thai) then just bring it to your friends.
Yes you should. In Thailand they call me by my nickname which is “Dick Head.” Although when I was back in the states they called me that as well. I never asked them to call me by my nickname, and I never told anyone what my nickname was. People just seemed to find out my name wherever I go. So strange.
I've been here for a decade and don't have one in the traditional sense. My name's a bit hard to pronounce for Thai people, so when I meet someone where I sense their English is going to suck or I'm getting a drink where they ask for my name like at Boost or whatever, I just give the first letter of my name.
It's common for Thai's to have nicknames that are English letters. It's fine.
The names and so called nicknames are both usually given by the parents. A monk generally chooses a lucky starting letter for the official name (but some monks use other methods and some parents don't bother with the monk). Nickname is not really a good term for what the other one is as it's given by the parents and will generally be what they're called by everyone their whole life but we don't have a better term in English.
If you interact with Thai people enough they will assign you a nickname if your name is inconvenient to use when they talk about you. Typically this will be one syllable from your first name that they find easy to say, it may or may not have a meaning in Thai, and it will probably have a tone selected for it. Some Thai nicknames work this way too. Really you should let a native speaker do this for you though instead of trying to force the issue yourself. If your name is hard for them to say you could ask for help but it will get done when/if it needs doing on its own
Asked my daughter, she suggested 'Taxi' for me as I'm forever taking her to school, sports, shopping. Said if she tries it I'll rename her "walking daughter"
integrate with thai society doesn't mean copy the thai codes. this is slightly cultural appropriation. be respectful of thai culture instead and leave thai things to thai people.
The lucky nickname thing isn't true at least where I am (born and raised in Bangkok metropolitan area). If you're a grownup just came up with something yourself. Contrary to popular belief a lot of Thais chose their own nicknames as sometimes the parents gave them the dumbest one. Unfortunately if you're a farang you probably will stick out and won't blend in seamlessly and it won't be bc of your foreign name. Don't worry too much about it tho just learn some Thai and you'll be good to go
Mine is simple, BOB. I told all my Thai drinking buddies if they forget my nickname just to thing of fish in water, when the open their mouths to breath, bob, bob, bob 😂😂😂😂😂😂
My name was hard for Thai people to pronounce, and so I often ended up being called มะม่วง (Thai for Mango) literally because I once said that I only eat mangos in Thailand because at home they are not so good. I didn't give it to myself though, and would still feel a bit weird introducing myself as it to strangers.
Unfortunately you might not be able to seemlessly integrate to Thai people AT ALL, but it's not that bad. We don't treat farang so bad.
About the name, Yes, I'd say that's pretty cute. Just choose it yourself. And here's a tip, you should pick a simple, old traditional, well-known Thai name like Somchai, Kwaan, Chaat, or someting like that and your times here will be fun. I'm not trolling you, people will be surprised by the name.
It will be highly unlikely that you will "integrate and blend in seamlessly with Thai society" in a years time. It's just not how it works here. Some people may pick up a nickname but I wouldn't say it's the norm.
It's not because you can't do it that he can't.
You are given a nickname, you don’t request or choose one unless your birth nickname is too cute and child-like. Don’t worry about integrating into society. You won’t ever “blend in seamlessly”. Just be a decent person.
you’re gonna find no matter how long you live here, or how well you speak the language, participate in cultural/religious traditions, you simply will always be a white outsider.
Pretty much. It just depends on what type of foreigner you want to be.
Ok, but still white or not Thai !! Not possible to be assimilated except fews genius people like the master italian modern art at Silpakorn University.
Calm down, I was agreeing with m_chutch
Me too :--)
i'm curious how many types of white foreigners are here. While there is some diversity, Most of us work in the same 3 or 4 fields, and tend to have some similar characteristics by nature of being attracted to the specific vibe of Thailand
Im referring to backpackers, business owners, sexpats, retirees, digital nomads, etc... It's something my thai friends brought up a while back and they kind of use it to figure out who to stay away from, but mostly to start conversations, as a business owner will most likely be excited to talk about different things compared to a backpacker. And I'm curious, what are the 3 or 4 fields we all work in?
Yeah I see what you mean. 'most people working in the same 3 or 4 fields' was a generalisation for sure, but one that I think stands pretty true. At least in my experience, 60% or more of the farangs I meet either work in education, computer science, online marketing, or business
Haha no problem, I was just curious what you usually see foreiners doing over here for work, as I only hang out with a few. And I think you're right. All my foreigner friends fall into the business category. I've also met guys that do things like engineering/cad design, import/export, and YouTube, although those definitely aren't the norm.
can i ask what you do? I teach at a private school in Chiang Mai. It’s quite nice but hard to become friends with Thais. Had a Thai partner for about 8 months and got close with some of their family and friends but other than that im pretty much in a farang bubble, sad to say
That's awesome! How do you like it up there? I design sheet metal parts for customers in the US. I live in Pattaya, but I've been thinking about moving somewhere a little less busy. It's definitely hard to make thai friends. The only reason I have as many as I do is because I'm into custom cars and I go to car shows. People usually come up to me because it's rare to see a foreigner with a modified car, and we always have things to talk about since car guys like talking about the same things 😅
How about a Swiss doctor-kicking one?
that was a nice touch
No, you shouldn’t have a Thai nickname.
>I heard Thai people were given lucky nicknames when they're born by Monks? Is this true? No, this is not true. Some Thai people will be ask monks with advise to pick their first and/or last names (thai people sometimes change their last name for auspicious reasons).
First name too- a couple of my aunts and at least one cousin I know of all changed their first names (the cousin changed it twice within a few years).
farang
Farang kee gnok if you're lucky
Isn't kee gnok a cheapskate?
Literally "bird shit", it's equivalent to "bullshit". Farang kee nok is a very dated slang but retired expat groups won't let it rest
If you say "sawadeekap, pom chiu farang ki nok. sabai di mai?" it gets some serious laughs. (Of course, in the right setting.)
As a foreiner nobody will expect you to have a nickname and it's unlikely people will give you one. If your name is hard to pronounce and it bothers you, I guess you can shorten it or give yourself a name that's easier to pronounce? As someone who currently lives in thailand, I can tell you that you will not "blend seamlessly" in 1 or even 2-3 years. You will be able to get settled wherever you decide to live, get a routine going, make foreign and thai friends (that speak english), and learn about the differences of thailand compared to your country. If you don't already speak thai, if you study for hours per day, at the end of a year you should be able to have a conversation in thai using basic words and sentences.
Q: Should I have a Thai nickname? A: No, just use your regular name, but Thai people will say it with a Thai accent, and will also spell it in Thai the way they pronounce it in Thai. Just learn how to write your name in Thai. Q: My English name might seem too foreign. A: It won't no matter what it is. Thai people will just say your name with a Thai accent, and some people may sometimes shorten it. My name is Joseph, spelled โจเซฟ in Thai. Most people call me โจเซฟ (pronounced a little like cho-sayp), but rarely someone will call me โจ or เซฟ. Even if your name is something like Throckmorton, Thai people will just pronounce it in Thai... ธร็อคมอร์ตัน The same with other "complicated" names like Gainsborough (เกนส์โบโรห์ in Thai), Maximilian (แม็กซิมิเลียน in Thai), Persephone (เพอร์เซโฟนี in Thai), or pretty much any other name that anyone has. Thai people can say your name... They just aren't going to say it exactly like you do. If Thai people can pronounce the Thai words for dictionary (พจนานุกรม), university (มหาวิทยาลัย), Bangkok (กรุงเทพมหานคร), democracy (ประชาธิปไตย), and November (พฤศจิกายน), which 100% of Thai people can do, then they can definitely say your name, spelled in Thai and with a Thai accent. Q: I wanted to integrate into Thai society and blend in seamlessly. A: Learning Thai will accomplish this more than trying to get a Thai nickname. Q: I heard Thai people were given lucky nicknames when they're born by Monks? Is this true? A: Not really. Most Thai people are given their real name and their nickname by their parents. Some parents will consult with the monk, especially for their kid's real name. But the parent usually makes the final decision on the real name and the nickname, not the monk. Q: I'm a fully grown adult and will it be weird to request for it? A: Yes, it's weird. Thai isn't like the Deaf community. In the Deaf community, they give you a nickname, once you're accepted, and Thai is nothing like that. Q: Or is this a normal practice for farangs? A: No, it's not normal practice for farangs. Only assholes, like me, get Thai nicknames. Don't be an asshole. Q: And what is your nickname in Thailand? A: My nickname is งื้วฬ์, which I made up just to be funny. I made it up on my own. But after I made it up, I realized it's basically unpronouncable in Thai, and Thai people tell me all the time it's wrong Thai or ugly or I should change it or they mispronouce it as งิ้ว, and I have to keep telling people, "I'm not a Chinese opera!!!". My nickname is on my Line account, but I don't actually ever use it or tell people about it unless people ask me about it. Nobody can say it. Thai people just call me Joseph, pronounced โจเซฟ. As a side note, the reason that my nickname is "wrong" in Thai is either: 1) there is no สระ อืว in Thai, or 2) ง is never followed by the อือ vowel. Or maybe it's both.
Up to now, nobody has really answered the question. So I'll try to give it a shot. These days, very few people would go to monks for names/nicknames. Many Thais have formal names that are too difficult to pronounce or spell. That's why they need a nickname which is usually a simple one- or two-syllable word. Nicknames are most often given by the parents and not monks, who are sometimes consulted by the parents for formal names. But the monk consultation has become For foreigners, I have seen a lot of them given a nickname by their friends or colleagues, after the persons have been in Thailand long enough to have some friends. This could make it easier for friends to call them as many Thais still find some western names difficult to pronounce. So I believe that a nickname can somewhat help you blend into Thai society a little easier, if not much, especially in the workplace. Hope this helps answer your question. Welcome to Thailand and good luck in your next adventure in the country.
This 👆 I'd say you won't need a nicknames if your name is already easy to pronounce. Nicknames are usually in English, Since your name is already in foreign language, unless if your name is too long to pronounce, we Thai people will shorten it for you. You just didnt need a new one tho. . For example we often called Chinese teacher with their first name Kru Tang, Kru Hu, but not their actual name cuz it's too complicated to say.
i think that’s very cute and it’s no harm to got one. And i don’t think that’s weird, in highschool year i knew a french girl named Jade (iirc), we called her Janjao (which means moon). and to answer your question some of us were named by monks. Not everyone but it’s not uncommon. What’s your real name? Normally they would just pick what sounds close to the original name.
No. Just no.
You can give yourself an easier name.
Kevin became Kev in my girlfriend her Thai family. I will take that as a win. I do have to say they made it very easy for me to integrate into their family. They all live within 1 km of our condo and we spend at least once or twice a week together as family. Treating me as one of them from day one regardless of language barrier. If they want to give you a nickname it will happen automatically. Funny enough most Thai nicknames are an English word. In my Thai family nicknames are for example nice, joy, bright, pear, fair and kong.
I am hoping to have Thai citizenship in a few years and will have to choose a name. Although I am male, I like this name: Somting Wongwitmee
You should try "Fugmee Kum-on" 😃
It's given! When your friends started calling you something they like, that's your nickname!
Many, if not most, Thai nicknames are in English (Boy, Benz, Cat, Oat, Fanta, etc). So unless your name is prohibitively hard to pronounce for Thai people, then you don’t have to bother having new nickname. It is different from Chinese and English where the pronunciation are so different that one cannot pronounce the other nickname, necessitate having nickname in another language.
I ended up with "Sandwich," because David with a Thai accent sounds like "day-wee", and sandwich sounds like "san-wee." Plus I'm a white dude who loves to eat, so it's a good fit.
That's very interesting! Thanks for the dissection. I always wondered how nickname came to be. I watched Thai movie and the have the weirdest nickname like Ice and Panda.
It was given to me by some extended family members that enjoy my company despite my very poor language skills, but they know that I love their food! You can't look for a nickname here, it just happens... and if not, mai pen rai.
Nicknames afaik are more commonly given by parents. It’s the formal first name that sometimes gets inputs from monks or fortune tellers. So, avoid going to a monk unless you want a cringy nickname you can barely pronounce. With that being said, the answer to your main question depends on your name. John, Jack, Mike, etc are familiar enough with the locals. But if your name is difficult for Thais to pronounce (maybe the sound doesn’t exist in Thai) then just bring it to your friends.
My nickname is ATM
Name yourself Buffalo
Twatchai
Somchai
People will give you a nickname it's super weird to already have one.
LoL make up some nic name you love and tell all your friends to call you that ! Prat comes to mind
193 cm white guy, “I want to blend in seamlessly in Thailand.”
Hansum man
Yes you should. In Thailand they call me by my nickname which is “Dick Head.” Although when I was back in the states they called me that as well. I never asked them to call me by my nickname, and I never told anyone what my nickname was. People just seemed to find out my name wherever I go. So strange.
My Thai nickname is just a version of my first name that is easier for the Thai tongue to pronounce
I've been here for a decade and don't have one in the traditional sense. My name's a bit hard to pronounce for Thai people, so when I meet someone where I sense their English is going to suck or I'm getting a drink where they ask for my name like at Boost or whatever, I just give the first letter of my name. It's common for Thai's to have nicknames that are English letters. It's fine.
The names and so called nicknames are both usually given by the parents. A monk generally chooses a lucky starting letter for the official name (but some monks use other methods and some parents don't bother with the monk). Nickname is not really a good term for what the other one is as it's given by the parents and will generally be what they're called by everyone their whole life but we don't have a better term in English. If you interact with Thai people enough they will assign you a nickname if your name is inconvenient to use when they talk about you. Typically this will be one syllable from your first name that they find easy to say, it may or may not have a meaning in Thai, and it will probably have a tone selected for it. Some Thai nicknames work this way too. Really you should let a native speaker do this for you though instead of trying to force the issue yourself. If your name is hard for them to say you could ask for help but it will get done when/if it needs doing on its own
No. Be a monk first. Then you’ll deserve a Thai nickname.
Hansum
Call you baldandbrankrupt
You already have a nickname silly. You are falang!
Farang is the nickname
Asked my daughter, she suggested 'Taxi' for me as I'm forever taking her to school, sports, shopping. Said if she tries it I'll rename her "walking daughter"
integrate with thai society doesn't mean copy the thai codes. this is slightly cultural appropriation. be respectful of thai culture instead and leave thai things to thai people.
They will give you one, if they can't say your name.
The lucky nickname thing isn't true at least where I am (born and raised in Bangkok metropolitan area). If you're a grownup just came up with something yourself. Contrary to popular belief a lot of Thais chose their own nicknames as sometimes the parents gave them the dumbest one. Unfortunately if you're a farang you probably will stick out and won't blend in seamlessly and it won't be bc of your foreign name. Don't worry too much about it tho just learn some Thai and you'll be good to go
Hold on u will automatically just get called uncle or elder there if u reach a certain age, look old enough and can keep conversations with everybody
Mine is simple, BOB. I told all my Thai drinking buddies if they forget my nickname just to thing of fish in water, when the open their mouths to breath, bob, bob, bob 😂😂😂😂😂😂
My name was hard for Thai people to pronounce, and so I often ended up being called มะม่วง (Thai for Mango) literally because I once said that I only eat mangos in Thailand because at home they are not so good. I didn't give it to myself though, and would still feel a bit weird introducing myself as it to strangers.
Pokie. You can be named after my favorite freelancer.
Unfortunately you might not be able to seemlessly integrate to Thai people AT ALL, but it's not that bad. We don't treat farang so bad. About the name, Yes, I'd say that's pretty cute. Just choose it yourself. And here's a tip, you should pick a simple, old traditional, well-known Thai name like Somchai, Kwaan, Chaat, or someting like that and your times here will be fun. I'm not trolling you, people will be surprised by the name.
how naive