Origins of the name "farang"

[kaptainrob]

The Thai word "farang" originally comes from a Persian-derived term used to refer to Westerners. Guava became known as "farang" because it was introduced to Siam by European traders during the Ayutthaya period.

Today, the meaning of "farang" depends on the context, as it can refer to either a Westerner or the fruit.

Full story here: https://www.nationthailand.com/life/art-culture/40068902

 

[Bacon]

Persians were hired by royal Khmer courts and others as administrators for centuries. Loads of stuff got transmited. In Indonesia even more so. I can understand about one out of every 10 words they say.

 

[bacwaan]

man farang=potato...transliterally a western tuber

plenty of farang men wandering around RLDs who look just like a potato/western tuber...55

 

[Bacon]

The evolutionary path. Doesn't mean you can't leapfrog.

 

[BigHewer]

Older Indonesians use the term “Prancis” as a generic term for “Land of White People”. Middle aged and younger people use “Bule” which is roughly equivalent to “Farang”, which itself is linked to France.

My Indonesian mother-in-law always introduced me to people as from “France” despite repeated correction and lived her life believing I was French. Some of my wife’s extended family still think I am from France and I have given up contradicting them.

@SpicyGirl and I even bought matching French football jersey (she Pogba, me Griezman) to reflect our “nationality”.