So You're Often Called Farang and You Wonder Whether To Be Angry? Read this!
Farang: The Ultimate Guide to Being a “Foreigner” in Thailand (And Not Losing Your Cool) So, you’ve just landed in Thailand, ready to embrace the Land of Smiles, pad thai, local beer (Chang, Singha, Leo, pick your poison) and inexplicably cheap rice whisky. But within approximately 3.2 seconds of existing here, you’ll hear it, the word that will follow you like a stray soi dog: “Farang.” “Farang!” (Pointing) “Look, farang!” (Whispering) “Farang price!” (Laughing maniacally while charging you double) But what does it mean? Is it offensive? Should you embrace it, ignore it, or start hissing like a territorial cat? Let’s break it down. What the Heck Does “Farang” Even Mean? The word “farang” (ฝรั่ง) is the Thai term for foreigner, specifically a white Westerner. (If you’re Black, you might hear “farang dam,” if you’re Indian, you’re probably “kaek,” and if you’re East Asian, you’re lucky enough to dodge the label until you open your mouth.)...