Answered5 years ago
What does "แก่" mean in Thai and how does it sound like "gay"?
I learned a new Thai word today:
I was sitting at the barber today getting a haircut and was talking in my limited Thai to him. I asked him where he's from, how long he's been in Chiang Mai, how old he was.... He tells me he's 34, I said I'm 29. He says "ahh I gay". I said "arai? Gay?" Chai, gay, gay, me gay" with a slight smile visible from behind his mask.
SLightly uncomfortable, I pulled out my phone and put "gay" into translator, he goes no no no 5555. He put the clippers down and pulled out his phone. He plugged "แก่" into his translator, "older" is "gae แก่" in Thai. Phonetically (at least from my POV) is sounds exactly the same as "gay". Hahaha.
I was sitting at the barber today getting a haircut and was talking in my limited Thai to him. I asked him where he's from, how long he's been in Chiang Mai, how old he was.... He tells me he's 34, I said I'm 29. He says "ahh I gay". I said "arai? Gay?" Chai, gay, gay, me gay" with a slight smile visible from behind his mask.
SLightly uncomfortable, I pulled out my phone and put "gay" into translator, he goes no no no 5555. He put the clippers down and pulled out his phone. He plugged "แก่" into his translator, "older" is "gae แก่" in Thai. Phonetically (at least from my POV) is sounds exactly the same as "gay". Hahaha.
Answer summary
A humorous conversation unfolded between an expat and a barber in Chiang Mai when the barber mistakenly thought the word "แก่" (gae), meaning "older," sounded like the English word "gay." The expat's confusion led to laughter as they navigated the language barrier, highlighting the funny nuances of language learning in a foreign country.
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Bruno ********
After you guys laughed did he bring out the gimp?
Baron *********
sounds like you pulled
Michael ********
Its when the ladies start saying Mi Pen Rai Gai Leow you got to worry
Garrett ***********
OP@Mic****
Hahaha, I'm getting close 
Tod *********
My cow died 😛
Tod *********
just so you know, that is what I tell american speakers of thai (as in people who can't speak thai for shit) to say when they can't understand something. It's close enough to ไม่เข้าใจ (mâi kâo jai) to be understood by thaiz as "I don't understand" 😛
Kev **********
Ger is a better pronunciation
John *******
@Panama ******
It really isn’t, sorry.John *******
The best way to remember it is like ‘air’ but with a ‘g’ at the start. Transliterations should reflect the sound. ‘Ger’ just doesn’t. Anyway, up to you. I agree with you that ‘gay’ is completely wrong. ‘Po’ is simply nowhere near either btw. It’s ‘Paw’. I should probably stop there. 😆
Kev **********
@John ******
it is ime sorry . As in po ger
(Old father) or grandad
If someone is old u can refer to as ger in some cases .
You don’t say po gay do u you say po ger or geh.
Steve **********
My wife’s name is เก๋. She hates being called แก่
Adrian ******
Gays have to keep telling us
คุณนายฟู *********************
This so cute story❤️
Garrett ***********
OP@คุณน****
Lol glad you enjoyed it Foojie
Shea *******
I had a similar experience with a thai tutor but in reverse, I was describing an older man, when she says this is Thailand you can't say that, we accept everyone, we have lady boys you know... I must have really said it with an English pronunciation.
James ***********
WHAT!!!!! I thought “older” was pronounced “flaming homo” in Thai??? My bad. Languages are so funny 😩🤌🏻
Tom *******
“Kon gair” (คนแก่) means old person (in general) and “ket-sian ayoo” (เกษียณอายุ) means retired (person).
Martin ********
He's seen your previous videos of being followed by LB's
Kim ***********
Ah I miss the fun of conversation in Thailand, laughs all round. Great story, thanks for sharing, made me smile.
Bä ****
Still “GAY”
5555 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Just a Joke
5555 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Just a Joke
Scot *******
Maybe he just thought you were happy.
Stephenie **********
Sounds like he may be a shirt lifter and was trying you out
Stuart *********
I would have pronounced/written it “gair”
Shayne **********
But แต่ dair
"Only" แค่ care
Sara แอ air
"Only" แค่ care
Sara แอ air
John *******
‘Gair’ sounds nothing like ‘Gay’.
Shayne **********
Instead of simply using "air" the "phonetics" gods decided to use a mashed ae æ to really confuse people.
Frédéric ******************
@Shayne *********
The ae and oe phonetic has been invented by the late king Bumiphol. It makes sense as he was raised in Switzerland where French speakers use that ae to transliterate the Germanic ä (and oe for ö)
Mark ******
@Stuart ********
….or “gaeh”Danny *******
Don't Thais have a problem pronouncing "r's"? They come out more like "L", so that could have been the problem? Maybe "gal" not "gay".
Michael ********
@Danny ******
Listen to job 2 do on you tube not doo doo der tham, you will hear southern thai. Or go down my friends restaurant the black crab and listen to them after a few Johnny walkersMichael ********
@Danny ******
not in the south where stuart lives Michael ********
@Danny ******
******************************************************
Danny *******
@Michael *******
In that case, I guess it could be I'm not around "proper" southern people. Michael ********
@Danny ******
you cannot be around proper southern people. Ask them even Krabi people woukd be saying mai pen rai if speaking central ThaiDanny *******
@Michael *******
Nope, but I hear Mai Ben Lai.Michael ********
@Danny ******
well you would of heard Southern Thai for never mind then." Mai Pluer" with heavy emphasis on the RDanny *******
@Michael *******
I don't know. I'm in the South (Krabi) and I hear it.
Zac ********
@Stuart ********
I agree gair.
Barry ********
Didnt think anyone could be gair
Dave **********
@Stuart ********
yes! Pronounced gair! Nothing like gay!!!Garrett ***********
OP@Stu***
I told my Thai friend the story over voice message, that's how she wrote it to me. Activity
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