Why does Thailand use Khun?

Mr., Mrs., or Miss + family name are appropriate for visitors to use in formal situations. Thai given names are preceded by Khun (Mr. Mrs. or Miss), unless they carry a higher degree, such as doctor. Khun is used for men and women, married or single.

Why do they call farang Thailand?

It’s basically used to describe caucasians, though African-Americans will sometimes also be known as farang or as farang dam (‘black farang’). Farang is also the Thai word for the guava fruit, so you can expect to hear farang eating farang ‘jokes’ if you happen to purchase any.

Is Farang a bad word?

“Farang”, the Thai word to describe white foreigners, is not a word loaded with intent to harm. While many may object to being labelled in any way, it’s a neutral label and certainly not a negative one when used on its own – though it can be offensive if words are added.

Why do Thai people give nicknames to babies?

Nicknames evolved to describe a baby’s appearance, leading to colours and adjectives like fat, thin, big, small, long, and short being used. During the Ayutthaya era it was also common for babies to be given names of desirable characteristics or items, like strong, gold, brave, and similar.

Did the Thai royal family have nicknames?

Only the Royal Family had official names, taken from the ancient language of Sanskrit. Nicknames are cultural traditions in Thailand. The practice goes back to the Sukhothai era, when babies were commonly named according to their birth order. Names that translated as numbers or words like old and young were the norm.

What are nicknicknames in Thailand?

Nicknames are cultural traditions in Thailand. The practice goes back to the Sukhothai era, when babies were commonly named according to their birth order. Names that translated as numbers or words like old and young were the norm.

Why do people in Thailand have different first names?

By 1913, Thai law required the use of family names, mainly for practical reasons of identification. Interestingly, no two families can have the same name; anybody with the same last name is, therefore, related in some way. To enhance their own status, regular people later began to adopt longer and more official sounding first names.