Here's why "FARANG" is a racist term 

Respect to you. I’ve been retired and living here for several years now. The word “Farang” has never bothered me. I think expecting/preferring Thais to refer to you as “Irish” is a tall order. In my experience, geography and knowledge of the world outside of their own country border is extremely limited at best for the Thais I’ve had experience with; the easy road is White Westerner/Westerner (a.k.a. “Farang”). IMHO, I think most Thais aren’t consciously being racists/derogatory using the term. Maybe unsophisticated or a lack of social etiquette in the same vein as their ease of blurting out, “you’re fat now!” I enjoy both of your channels. 👍💯

Seriously? Thai people use this word like forever and that means no harm In anyway we use, suddenly some of you come up with the idea of racism in Thai word just because you don’t like the word doesn’t mean it’s racist.

I am a Thai people and I disagree that Farang is racism term but in the opposite most of Thai people they really respect Farang and know that they are from western country and development 1st world country. Please do not mean that racism term and take serious as they do not mean that and angry them as my advise as they did not mean that and cause problem due to you feel angry. They really do not know how to call you and they will not say that man or that women are foreigners that might speak English that we thought rude and using Farang as respect word that why you can hear they saying in front of you about Farang (not gossip or slang or bad word otherwise you will not hear it as Thai people behavior very considerate or caring other people thought) and most of Thai people want to know and have Farang as friend as help them to improve English communication skill too. Sorry, I explained because I do not want people misunderstand on this word and angry, conflict then lose Thai friend. 🙂🙂

The word farang is from Persian word farang (فرنگ) or farangī (فرنگی), which refers to Franks, the major Germanic tribe ruling Western Europe. Frangistan (Persian: فرنگستان) was a term used by Muslims and Persians in particular, during the Middle Ages and later periods, to refer to Western or Latin Europe.

Words are, and mean what ever you want to be. Another person can't make you feel bad, only you can.

From thais perspective , the word "Farang" is simply meaning "a westerner" because it very easy to pronounce in thai , we usually talk about you as a third person to describe westerner look and It's not about racism at all and It is difficult for us to guess which country you come from and I believe that it difficult for westerner to differentiate thais and other Asians too, we thais even have a name to call chinese, india, myanmar, etc. actually, the real racism word for westerner that we do not like is not Farang.

In Thailand we love to make everything easy as much as possible, so we call the call the westerner Farang because we can't tell the different of people in west world like the US can't tell the different with China Japan or SEA people, so we call them all Farang and Farang word have been with Thai people before it was a Thailand this word been with Thai around 200+ year since Ayutthaya kingdom

The French were the first "westerners" in SE Asia (in great numbers at least). Francaise evalved into falang but today means caucasian. As a west European I am caucasian so I do not find it offensive at all. I will call Thais Asian if I am doing a comparison exampel of some sort.. Asians eat more rice then falangs. I never heard of a Thai getting offended being called an Asian. Edit, if people in the village call you falang just respond by calling them thai.

Very brave topic! Well done my friend! Coming from America, it's not too bad. 😂

I agree with you from our western or Irish perspective it is racist however consider that they may not mean it to be as despicable as we may see it is.. So don't let that anger build up in you, ask some of the women you interview if they view that word as racist or just as a casual term. You can always say I would prefer if you called me by my name as I don't see the word as friendly

farengse means france or french. the word fareng was broadened to foreigners in general from europe. remember we went there, they didn't come to us

Farang is just Thai shorthand and a convenient term which everyone understands. They use all kinds of descriptive terms to refer to each other too. Expecting Thais to follow someone else's rules from a country they will never visit seems like a bit much for me. If they come to your country then you may have a point but you came here uninvited and it is down to you to adjust to the way things are done here and will continue to be done.

We're not gonna change Thais. But you can educate them. I see your point I'd rather be called a expat.

Well, when the Mrs first came to London, she did wot most Thais do, worked in a Thai restaurant. She had to get some sort of licence to be able to serve alcohol. A very middle-class Thai from BKK, was the lady doing the course. I asked if she was married to a farang, she tore me a new one, asked why I was using such an abusive term. So there ya go, my Mrs still to this day tells me it's not an offensive term, make your own mind up.

As Thai people i want to said You guys create word and describe which one are good which one are racist by yourself and get pissed off when some group not following your rules. If i said being called asian are racist what you gonna say? Since I was born as Thailand why foreign don't called me Thai? If you don't like farang word just said to them. They mostly not try to mean to your people, that just a word like you called us asian.

It's right what you are saying...... It can't always be put down to niaeviety, or due to where a country sits in political circles...

I agree 100%. The term "farang"shits me. Thai are loverly people, but are extremely racist opposed to most western English speaking countries.

I am binge watching your videos.

Maybe they should sensor it and make it illegal or maybe offer safe spaces. Not

Thai racism is much more benign than anything you will find in the United States or Europe. I can deal with constantly being called "farang". Not a big deal for me.

I have not been called farang directly ,occasionally hear it at a distance in passing but very rare. I think the term has Cambodian and/or French origins but it does not affect me at all ,I've been called worse . Thais will refer to our African cousins as "chocolate man" . People too touchy now ,don't join the woke brigade . If you asked me if Thais looked similar ("they all look the same") etc ,I would be lying if I said no . Try finding a Thai friend in a busy Mall ,say a 20 year old slightly overweight young man with the obligatory 'Beatles' hair cut and a ten to two walk ,impossible!

I’m not bothered about being called a farang.. Too much snow flaking and PC in this world ..

I'm seeing that with the new channel it is partially a platform for you to express some of your frustrations with Thailand. Today's episode seems to have you hot under the collar about the use of the term ,'farang'...I respect your right to an opinion but in my experience this term was rarely used in a disparaging way and ought not to be considered 'racist'..western societies have made much progress in more recent years dealing with damaging issues such as racism and now it is no longer acceptable to use certain terms but remember we can't impose our sensibilities on a much less developed culture, offence is not given only taken. The term is likely derived from Thais' earliest encounters with Europeans in the 17th Century mostly the French or francaise.. from this derived farangset and thence Farang it's possibly even earlier than that brought by Muslim traders in the region who have a word for Europeans: farangsi ..Persian language....either way it has simply become a generic term for western Europeans and is rarely meant to be insulting even if is sometimes taken that way.

What about "expat" ?

Imagine saying: come here African!!!

I read once that it means "bird droppings" because bird droppings are white. I know it's not meant in a bad way here but I find the word quite confronting when I hear it...especially since it doesn't mean "foreigner" but rather "white foreigner"....

Agreed... Been here 12 years and it still gets my goat. Even people that know my name, still call me "Falang". What really gets me is, when we go out to eat I get ignored by the waitress and they ask my wife what the Falang wants.....

I like your videos. keep up your superb work.

😶It is want it is Dave , so walk on and try and not let it get to you . Thumbs up and have a lovely Irish man 😉good man ☘

Well the farang word shouted around can being seeing as a tongue in cheek word to be brushed off. But in my experience, farangs shouldn't being so complacent to being perpetually called farang. The farang name calling has a real chance to transform in the farang ki nok appelation. It shows how some Thais despise westerners only to be jealous of the money they have. If you don't pay for everything,you won't be the "kind farang"but the farang ki nok.

in Hawaii they say Howley and use the same excuse

you are not wrong. being that you said you're irish, it would be like an african calling you mick. here in america could you imagine saying hey african come. how can people just not understand wrong from right?

Khun Pathai works well , after that they for sure will stop.

Most countries have a word ..in China it is Gweilo.. White devil / ghost ... ..

I believe there are very distinctive differences in how foreigners are treated in Thailand, for instance, the cost of getting into particular venues.

Asian is a term when you called us in English. Farang is a term when we called you in Thai. You can't tell the difference about Asian people. You can't tell which country in Asia we are from. Like wise. Racist is a word that is created by people who use the English language. Thai people like and welcome foreigners. Racism is not what we do here. Every language has a history behind it. Farang is not a word that created for Racism. If you are open-minded and truly understand the culture, you will not feel offensive. When people call us Yellow, Asian or Thai, we do not feel offensive because we rather focus on something positive and peaceful than thinking about racism. 😊👍🙏

😊Sorry ( have a lovely day Irish man )

I dont like it but I wouldnt attach to it with a painful response ! Its their Problem some dont mean harm some do ! In Japan they say Gaijin foriegner

farang = foreign?

Farang just means westerner. It's not meant in an insulting way. Same thing with Thais openly telling someone they are fat. They are straight out honest. It's not western culture like where you're from.

I think you are right, I am that American guy. Well done video.

farang = expat

Thai called white people Farang Mexican called white people Gringo

Who cares

Gotta disagree with you here. Let it go it's no big deal Irish.

Farang......your either a Frenchman or a yellow or green mango 🥭🤔

It's in the nature of dogs,when some dogs see strangers and start to barking. That racist word,at the same time came from Iran(Persia) or France or South America? Have an other lie story? So Nomaif* came from which country? Thailand haven't even a border with Iran (Persia) and far distance. Farang mean is "Guava Fruit" in the Thailand so some people use for scorn to west countries people. This is a racist term. We're not fruit but if some Thais can be a human even a little bit,they can be understand to just made and give hattred with exclusion for years.

Who cares you are guest in thailand get over it

When I asked a Thai person about the word and why they say it, I was given this answer. It derived from the French and it basically means a non-Thai or non-Asian. Even after this explanation, it still hits a nerve with me, but I just go with the flow. When I asked what do they call Japanese, Korean, etc. they do not say farang. I just smile and go on about my way. They don't know any other way and I've learned to not take it in an offensive way. It's 3rd world/developing country shit. Don't let it ruin your day or effect your mood.

Imagine saying: come here African!!!

Thai called white people Farang Mexican called white people Gringo