I
Infatuatedfool
Gast
Hallo ihr Neugierigen,
für alle, die sich schon öfter gefragt haben, was es mit den Thai Spitznamen und der Bedeutung von Farben auf sich hat.
Ist zwar in Englisch, aber ich glaube, leicht verständlich.
Thai Nicknames
Most Thai people have a nickname. But the nickname does not necessarily have a correlation with the formal name. The widespread practice of using nicknames is a reflection of our ´sabai-sabai´ culture.
Thais have a formal name that usually has a positive and traditional meaning. But at home or with those with whom we have a close relationship, the formal name is not usually used so we create nicknames. The nickname is also extended to the workplace. Usually, we use the nickname without the formal preceding title Khun, which is analogous to Mr, or Mrs, Miss, or Ms in English. It demonstrates an informal and close relationship.
In the office most women use their nicknames. On the other hand, most men rarely use nicknames in the workplace. My assumption is that men may want to keep a formal distance.
We can group nicknames into the following categories, with a few examples of each:
Fruit-based nicknames:
Som = Orange
Ple = Short form of Apple
Animal-based nicknames:
Moo Piggy ( Not abusive, as in the west)
Nok Bird
Kai Chicken
Noo Mouse
Ped Duck
Chang Elephant
Jeab Baby chicken
Number-based nicknames:
Nueng - One
Song - Two
Colour-based nicknames:
Daeng - Red
Leung - Yellow
Keow - Green
Dum - Black
English-based nicknames:
- A
- B
- C
Size-based nicknames:
To - Big
Yai - Big
Lek - Small
Miscellaneous:
Tee is popular used for a Chinese boy
Muay is popular used for a Chinese girl
Mam is popular used for kids who look farang
Ooan = Fat
Ead = No meaning
Neng = No meaning
Aood = the sound made by a pig (not abusive, as in the West)
It is nice if you can translate the meaning of the nickname. It creates a good impression on Thais if the foreigner lets them know they know the meaning.
Lots of nicknames have a history. For instance, Tee and Muay can tell us that the person is of Chinese blood. Ooan can tell us that during childhood the person was fat. Nueng can tell us that the person is the eldest child in the family. Moo can tell us that the person was a fat child like a piggy!
The nickname is also a good starting point to establish small talk. By simply asking the person their nickname, the following question can be asking for the meaning. You will learn lots of personal history very well. It works very well particularly with women.
Colours of the day:
Thais also believe in luck. We believe that if we dress with the colour synchronized with the day it will bring us a good luck. I have listed below colours appropriate for each day:
Monday is Yellow.
Tuesday is Pink.
Wednesday is Green.
Thursday is Orange.
Friday is Blue.
Saturday is Purple.
Sunday is Red.
If you wear a yellow shirt on Monday, people will notice and might say to you that you are wearing the "right" colour. On the other hand, if you see a Thai person dressing in a red colour on Sunday, by complimenting the person on their dress sense, you are demonstrating an understanding of Thai culture.
Black is not a lucky colour for conservative people. If you go to a party of Thais with an average age of over 40, please avoid dressing in black. People reserve black for funerals. However, if you go to a party for the younger generation, black is trendy. The best way is to ask the host.
für alle, die sich schon öfter gefragt haben, was es mit den Thai Spitznamen und der Bedeutung von Farben auf sich hat.
Ist zwar in Englisch, aber ich glaube, leicht verständlich.
Thai Nicknames
Most Thai people have a nickname. But the nickname does not necessarily have a correlation with the formal name. The widespread practice of using nicknames is a reflection of our ´sabai-sabai´ culture.
Thais have a formal name that usually has a positive and traditional meaning. But at home or with those with whom we have a close relationship, the formal name is not usually used so we create nicknames. The nickname is also extended to the workplace. Usually, we use the nickname without the formal preceding title Khun, which is analogous to Mr, or Mrs, Miss, or Ms in English. It demonstrates an informal and close relationship.
In the office most women use their nicknames. On the other hand, most men rarely use nicknames in the workplace. My assumption is that men may want to keep a formal distance.
We can group nicknames into the following categories, with a few examples of each:
Fruit-based nicknames:
Som = Orange
Ple = Short form of Apple
Animal-based nicknames:
Moo Piggy ( Not abusive, as in the west)
Nok Bird
Kai Chicken
Noo Mouse
Ped Duck
Chang Elephant
Jeab Baby chicken
Number-based nicknames:
Nueng - One
Song - Two
Colour-based nicknames:
Daeng - Red
Leung - Yellow
Keow - Green
Dum - Black
English-based nicknames:
- A
- B
- C
Size-based nicknames:
To - Big
Yai - Big
Lek - Small
Miscellaneous:
Tee is popular used for a Chinese boy
Muay is popular used for a Chinese girl
Mam is popular used for kids who look farang
Ooan = Fat
Ead = No meaning
Neng = No meaning
Aood = the sound made by a pig (not abusive, as in the West)
It is nice if you can translate the meaning of the nickname. It creates a good impression on Thais if the foreigner lets them know they know the meaning.
Lots of nicknames have a history. For instance, Tee and Muay can tell us that the person is of Chinese blood. Ooan can tell us that during childhood the person was fat. Nueng can tell us that the person is the eldest child in the family. Moo can tell us that the person was a fat child like a piggy!
The nickname is also a good starting point to establish small talk. By simply asking the person their nickname, the following question can be asking for the meaning. You will learn lots of personal history very well. It works very well particularly with women.
Colours of the day:
Thais also believe in luck. We believe that if we dress with the colour synchronized with the day it will bring us a good luck. I have listed below colours appropriate for each day:
Monday is Yellow.
Tuesday is Pink.
Wednesday is Green.
Thursday is Orange.
Friday is Blue.
Saturday is Purple.
Sunday is Red.
If you wear a yellow shirt on Monday, people will notice and might say to you that you are wearing the "right" colour. On the other hand, if you see a Thai person dressing in a red colour on Sunday, by complimenting the person on their dress sense, you are demonstrating an understanding of Thai culture.
Black is not a lucky colour for conservative people. If you go to a party of Thais with an average age of over 40, please avoid dressing in black. People reserve black for funerals. However, if you go to a party for the younger generation, black is trendy. The best way is to ask the host.
