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Nicknames THROUGH THAI EYES ETHAILAND.COM 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-_base_d nicknames: Som = Orange Ple = Short form of Apple Animal-_base_d nicknames: Moo Piggy ( Not abusive, as in the west) Nok Bird Kai Chicken Noo Mouse Ped Duck Chang Elephant Jeab Baby chicken Number-_base_d nicknames: Nueng - One Song - Two Colour-_base_d nicknames: Daeng - Red Leung - Yellow Keow - Green Dum - Black English-_base_d nicknames: - A - B - C Size-_base_d 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. *snip*

The article did not explain which nicknames are for boys and which are for girls. Can someone in SCT help? Vagabond

VAGABOND The nicknames are not in most cases gender specific. ROBERT B.HAUGER

Could yo tell me what Oi  or Oy means as a nickname.  Thanks, Don

Pui and Noi are popular nicknames for ladies.  Any idea if they have a meaning ?