I was told by a Thai girl today that saying urrr is considered rude
I hear them saying it to each other all the time
I know chai means yes also
Why is it rude for a farang to say it to a Thai?
Printable View
I was told by a Thai girl today that saying urrr is considered rude
I hear them saying it to each other all the time
I know chai means yes also
Why is it rude for a farang to say it to a Thai?
Urrrr
To urrr is to be human
Never heard that one before mate...........
Which end of your body did the urrrrr come out of?
Commonly used in Isaan. Odd you should bring it up. Was just yesterday the 3 year old granddaughter came home from school and pointed out to my missus she should say ja not urrr. It's considered rude by all not just when farangs use it.Quote:
Originally Posted by sabaii sabaii
It's just the same as using 'uh huh'. It could be considered rude depending upon who you're speaking to.
I use it all the time, even if it's just to show them what a bunch of inbreds they are.
Thais hate to hear Farang using that word, I've been pulled on it many times by Thai girls both in Thailand and at home, which makes me use it all the more :D
Urr, Ok, but the girl who told me is from South Thailand.
I've heard loads of taxi drivers say it too, when they understand where I want to go, after the magical mystery tour. But i guess most of them are from Isaan
It gets quite addictive saying it
Southern Thais consider it very rude and gutteral, their own dialect being far superior of courseQuote:
Originally Posted by sabaii sabaii
I wouldn't say it's rude...just informal
Urrr, Urr UrrrQuote:
Originally Posted by sabaii sabaii
It's nothing more than an acknowledgment or agreement
I've been told by many Thais including the Issan mob that it is indeed a rude way to speak and not to do itQuote:
Originally Posted by Orroz
doesnt sound right coming from a falang, same as ''wotchah, orwhite mate'' or "eeh bah gum" coming out of the mouth of a thai in the uk.
Probably a better description.Quote:
Originally Posted by Orroz
wife's from chiang mai she says it.s rude.
Eeh bah gum I think the lads nailed it:)Quote:
Originally Posted by taxexile
Urrrr, Cheers Tax
Double post whoops
Ohhhhhhhhh that Urrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrhhhhhhhhhh at the back of the throat.
I f##king hate the sound of it and when a Thais addresses me with it I address him/her straight back with the same.
Listen to them on the phone HAA - ERR ERR - HAA - KA KA
Same as what and yeh.
I use it all the time same as marmite - fuck 'em their always rude to us.
^
its lazy language, and as with falangs using thai swear words, it just sounds ridiculous to thais, you may think that you are justifiably returning a discourtesy, but the perception to the thai is not one of discourtesy, but of ignorance.
its always better to rise above these things and rather than meekly sinking down to their level of speech with ones reply, to reply with an increased level of courtesy is the way to respond and to gain respect.
And here's me thinking they all loved ya mate? :confused:Quote:
Originally Posted by Smug Farang Bore
You could have fooled me..........................:)
Quote:
Originally Posted by Smug Farang Bore
Hmm, 2 long term expats with different attitudes I think.Quote:
Originally Posted by taxexile
I'm siding with Smug when it comes to this girl who got offended, as I have known her as a friend and no more for 2 years now and we fell out 1 night when I learned what farang meant and everytime we got a taxi she would repeat the destination I'd already told the taxi driver (and I do know Bangkok soi number Taxi thai) and the word farang would always be in there somewhere when she repeated what i'd said
You kept that quiet.Quote:
Originally Posted by Smug Farang Bore
I saw this guy fresh off the boat in the villa market the other night looking for marmite.
and his face when he saw the 400 baht tag--priceless
Anyhow I shall be browsing behind your bar next time :)
Quote:
Originally Posted by sabaii sabaii
There's no doubting Thais can and often are a rude bunch of buggers and I think that the most of us deal with each situation according to circumstance, context and relationship being the most important of course, I do think Tex's advice is the best way to deal with it "on a daily basis" but when it's more personal, who knows?
..........the dog.Quote:
Originally Posted by sabaii sabaii
I find it gives one better "mileage" to refrain from using these gutteral grunts.
I`ve received comments when I used it in a conversation.
"It is not polite"
"Well, you use it yourself"
"That is different, I am thai"
Go figure.
I think taxexile has it nailed.
I do agree with Taxelie, but when I see this girl soon in the UK, it wouldn't phase me if she came out with wotcha or eebahgum but do you think she will get offemded by me calling her foreigner in a cockney accent at every drop of a hat?:)
I use issan or lao that pisses the Bangkok Emporium Thai off too.
Taxis and bar girls understand it though.:)
I take that back. It would be the same as calling her Indian not foreign
I don't like hearing it but within a couple of hours of landing i find myself at it too!
Do you mean like uh? (what?) Don't think I've heard it. What context is it used?
Uhhhhh, uhhhhhh not urrrr, urrrrr
You hear Thais using it on the mobile more than talking. Quite a waste of 12 call baht if you ask me. :)
I am not sure it is rude where it comes from in Issan, it's just an acknowledging sound replacing "yes" - "I understand" - "sure" ect. , but all other Thais the ones not from Issan think Issan Thais are low class scum, and that the way they speak is inferior and rude, infact their existence is to a lot of Thais rude in itself.
So among common normal Issan folks I don't think you have a problem acknowledging a question or agreeing to something with that sound. IMO. but everything in it's right place and time.
My GF is northern and I was surprised how deep the resentment actually is towards anything Issan, and totally unfounded as far as i can see, just traditional deep Thai regional class divides.
They use that too.Quote:
Originally Posted by HollyGoodhead
But that sounds more like: haah? High pitched tone.
I never appreciated grunts replacing verbal conversation.
I couldn`t agree more.Quote:
Originally Posted by larvidchr
Not that the Isan crowd is much different.
I have heard often enough how they describe Khon Phaak Tay/southern thais as Jai Dam/black heart.
Bangkokians as Kee Gohng/cheaters, scammers.
Not ever recall having overheard some derogatory terms about Khon Phaak Nuea/northerners though.
But mayby that is just because most Isan folks find employment either in the central region or in the south.
Not so much in the north.
taxexile has it right, it's just lower class scum who use it, rise above it, we are white for gods sake, well apart from any black members and other colored members.
They haven't got me with this one, but I have taken "awwhaww" on board..indicating something is excessive, over the top, etc. Great for if someone is trying it on.
Yes its rude but I also use it, as I picked it up from living in the village where most use it. When they tell me that its not nice talk I just reply with URRRRR CupQuote:
Originally Posted by Sdigit