……..UPDATE (15 May 2010)……..
See a sequel to this post “Reconciliation Talk” (Thai-Style) & Bullets in the Head (Mafia-Style).
……..UPDATE (2 May 2010)……..
One week since last update, propaganda war between the Reds and government has become clear as day, increasingly fierce and sinister. Rumors of Thaksin’s death were spreading like wild fire for most of the week until he emerged on Twitter , gave an interview yesterday, and as reported by Matichon seemingly alive and well… And just before I posted this update, just after 6pm on Sunday evening Bangkok time, Tulsathit of the Nation reported on Twitter that his colleague had made a phone contact with Mr. Thaksin himself! (But some are still skeptical whether he’s really still alive.)
In the past week, the Red Shirts managed a spectacular PR disaster by storming into Chulalongkorn Hospital to locate the “hidden soldiers”, giving the government an opportunity for a negative PR campaign against the Reds for terrorizing the sick and the weak. Government media promptly bombarded the airwaves and citizens’ sensibilities with images of child, elderly and sick patients who had to be moved from Chula to another hospital. The government gained the upper hand and appeared to be even less inclined to talk to the Reds after it snubbed the Reds’ overture to settle for elections in 90 days after the Silom incident.
As hope for any peaceful resolution dimmed further, the government was very busy closing down hundreds of websites (at least 400-500 last heard) and summoning a number of people suspected to be sympathetic to Reds for a face-to-face talk, including student leaders (see here and here). Several, I don’t know exactly how many, who expressed unseemly views on websites or Facebook weren’t as much asked but hauled to jail for lèse majesté .
Meanwhile, many Thai citizens have also eagerly cooperated in the frenzy, expressing views in all manners and modes of communication. An alarming number seem to even relish in the sport of throwing like darts, insults, curses and death wishes against the enemies all over the web boards, facebook pages, Twitter and airwaves.
Citizens have become increasingly uneasy and are bracing themselves for something terrible to come, while all is still nerve-wreckingly topsy turvy. As of Sunday evening, the Red leaders appear for the first time repentant; they said they were sorry for the Chula Hospital fiasco and willing to accept responsibility and condemnation for their actions from all sides as reported in Thairath. (Surely, they’ve got plenty of condemnations whether they are willing to accept them or not but good to know that they are, finally.) After some negotiation with the police, the Reds cleared their blockade in front of Chula Hospital.
On the government side, it seems the focus is still on getting Red protesters out of the rally zone. Government spokesman said they might send SMS messages to protesters to return home (after fliers and loudspeakers had failed). As for possible solutions, the spokesman said the PM was considering 3 options: (1) political, (2) legal (arrest warrants?), and (3) “taking care of protesting area”. Read it however you will.
I made some edits (not major, just some refinement) and added a couple more words to the list (latest addition in GREEN). A new addition of note is เกี้ยเซี้ย kîia sîia (see under “Political concepts/key words”).
……..UPDATE (23 April 2010)……..
Escalation of war of words and more breakouts of violence in Silom rally site. More than 40 words have been added to the list.
……..UPDATE (20 April 2010)……..
Thanks to your suggestions, I’ve added many more words to the list and rearranged the order a bit with three additional categories: on media; insinuations and epithets; miscellaneous slang terms and expressions. Please note that new additions are integrated into the existing list. I plan to continue to add to the list, so if you don’t see any frequently used words on the list, please do let me know. Thanks in advance.
………..ORIGINAL POST………..
First off, sorry for a long hiatus. I was snatched and detained by a gang of goblins who made me … but that’s not what interests my readers, I’m sure.
By now, no discerning persons can have any doubt that besides physical violence that has already materialized and is showing signs to worsen, we are in the midst of a psychological warfare in which Thais are pitted against one another with words as weapons and venom. I refrain from lamenting about the dangers of unrestrained emotions, propaganda and incitement of hatred, for many have already done so. Plus one more lamentation by me isn’t going to change a thing.
I have compiled a set of Thai vocabulary in the current political discourse (วาทกรรมการเมือง waa-thá-kam kaan-mueaang) frequently used by protesters of various colors, government officials, mainstream media, and commentators of all stripes in new media platforms. Some expressions have been around for some time, others are new. Some are official, formal concepts and terms, others are new concoctions and slang. The vocabulary is organized in (editorialized) groups as follows:
- color-shirted players
- political actions called for/suggested that have not yet come to pass
- measures attempted and failed
- law and order measures and actors
- political concepts/key words
- on media
- slogans of Red Shirts
- slogans of Yellow Shirts and other-colored (non-red) pro-government groups
- mystery men
- characterizations, insults, curses and accusations
- insinuations and epithets
- miscellaneous slang terms and expressions.
Obviously the list is informal, somewhat subjective and not exhaustive, but I hope the words and their meanings and connotations will speak for themselves and offer a meaningful reflection of today’s Thailand. You can draw your own conclusions.
Note: I provide a Roman transliteration for each word/phrase for those unable to read Thai scripts in gray text. If you are not familiar with the transliteration system, see phonetic guide here.
Color-shirted players
เสื้อแดง sûeaa dEEng = Red Shirt(s), UDD
น.ป.ช. nOO-pOO-chOO (แนวร่วมประชาธิปไตยต่อต้านเผด็จการแห่งชาติ) = National United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD), anti-government political pressure group aka ‘Red Shirts’, many of whom are supporters of ex-prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra; currently calling for house dissolution and new elections >>see background on Wikipedia
เสื้อเหลือง sûeaa lǔeaang = Yellow Shirt(s), PAD
พันธมิตร pan-thá-mít (พันธมิตรประชาชนเพื่อประชาธิปไตย (พธม.)) = People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD), pro-government, pro-monarchy, anti-Thaksin political pressure group aka ‘Yellow Shirts’ >>see background on Wikipedia
เสื้อน้ำเงิน sûeaa náam-ngooen = Blue Shirt(s), a very small group (not a mass movement) that first emerged in early 2009 with focused, sporadic vigilante actions against Red Shirts, a non-official trained force of young men believed to be associated with the Buriram politician Newin Chidchob >>see background on Thai Wikipedia
เสื้อชมพู sûeaa chom-puu = Pink Shirt(s), new (and so far relatively small) movement clad in pink shirts, first gathered in April 2010 at Lumpini Park – pro-monarchy, pro-government, against Red Shirts and dissolution of parliament<during the few days since the original post, Pink Shirts have started to mix with multicolored shirts
เสื้อหลากสี sûeaa làak sǐi = Multi-colored Shirts, newly emerging group of people wearing different colored shirts (but not red or yellow) right after the emergence of Pink Shirts – pro-government, anti-Red Shirts, anti-house dissolution<on 22 April, a new term ABR (Anything But Red) emerged on Twitter, the movement is also now sometimes dubbed Rainbow
ไม่มีสี mâi-mii-sǐi = No Color (Shirts), same position as Multi-colored and Pink Shirts,
แดงแท้ dEEng tÉE = true Red
แดงเทียม dEEng tiiam แดงปลอม dEEng plOOm = fake Red
แดงสยาม dEEng sà-yǎam = Siam Red, name of Red Shirt faction believed to have Communist ideology led by Surachai Danwattananusorn นายสุรชัย (แซ่ด่าน) ด่านวัฒนานุสรณ์ (and in league with Jakrapob Penkair, former Thaksin’s aide)
สามเกลอ sǎam klooe = The Three Stooges, term widely used to refer to the three principal Red Shirt leaders, Veera Musikapongse วีระ มุสิกพงศ์ (head of UDD), Jatupron Phromphan จตุพร พรหมพันธุ์, and Natthawut Saikuea นายณัฐวุฒิ ใสยเกื้อ
ทหารแตงโม thá-hǎan tEEng-moo = watermelon soldiers (soldiers who are Red sympathizers)
ตำรวจมะเขือเทศ tam-rùat má-khǔeaa-thêet = tomato police (police who are Red)
Political actions called for/suggested that have not yet come to pass (so far)
เลือกตั้ง lûeaak tâng = (general) elections
ยุบสภา yúp sà-phaa = dissolution of parliament
ลาออก laa ÒOk = resignation (of prime minister)
ยุบพรรค yúp phák = dissolution of a political party
รับผิดชอบ ráp phìt chÔOp = take responsibility
หาทางออก hǎa thaang ÒOk = find a solution (lit. ‘find an exit’)
มาตรการทางการเมือง mâat-trà-kaan thaang kaan mueaang = political measure
Measures attempted and failed (so far)
การเจรจา kaan jee-rá-jaa = talk, negotiation
มาตรการทางทหาร mâat-trà-kaan thaang thá-hǎan = military measure
ปฏิบัติการขอคืนพื้นที่ pà-tì-bàt kaan khǑO khuuen phúuen-thîi = operation to reclaim the (protest) area <term used by government and its supporters
สลายการชุมนุม sà-lǎay kaan chum-num สลายม็อบ sà-lǎay móp = disperse demonstrations, disperse mob, crackdown <terms used by demonstrators, media and commentators
จับแกนนำ chàp kEEn nam = arrest core leaders (of the red shirt demonstrators)
Law and order measures and actors
สถานการณ์ฉุกเฉิน sà-thǎa-ná-kaan chùk-chǒoen = State of Emergency
พ.ร.ก. ฉุกเฉิน pOO-rOO-kOO chùk-chǒoen (พระราชกำหนดการบริหารราชการในสถานการณ์ฉุกเฉิน พ.ศ. ๒๕๔๘) = Emergency Decree (2005) <created during Thaksin administration and used in deep south
พ.ร.บ. ความมั่นคงภายใน pOO-rOO-bOO khwaam-mân-khong phaay-nai (พระราชบัญญัติความมั่นคงภายในราชอาณาจักร พ.ศ. ๒๕๕๑) = Internal Security Act (2008) <created during Gen Surayuth junta government after overthrow of Thaksin
ศ.อ.ฉ sǑO-OO-chǑO (ศูนย์อำนวยการแก้ไข สถานการณ์ฉุกเฉิน) = Center for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation (CRES) <special operation unit under Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC); its headquarters are located in the 11th Infantry Regiment, the King’s Guard
ศอรส. sǑO-OO-rOO-sǑO (ศูนย์อำนวยการรักษาความสงบ) = Center for the Administration of Peace and Order (CAPO) <created when the Internal Security Act 2008 was enforced, then later became CRES when the Emergency Decree was announced >>see CAPO website and more background here
ราบ 11 râap-sìp-èt (กรมทหารราบที่ ๑๑ รักษาพระองค์ (ร. 11 อ.)) = 11th Infantry Regiment, the King’s Guard
กอ.รมน. kOO-OO-rOO-mOO-nOO (กองอำนวยการ รักษาความมั่นคงภายใน) = Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC), a military unit responsible for internal national security <successor of CSOC (Communist Suppression Operations Command) created in 1966 with assistance from United States as part of anti-Communist insurgency >>see background on Wikipedia
ทหาร thá-hǎan = soldier (if refers to a person), army/military (if refers to an institution)
ตำรวจปราบจลาจล tam-rùuat pràap jà-laa-jon = riot control police
คอมมานโด khom-maan-doo = (police) commandos
กฎอัยการศึก kòt-ai-yá-kaan-sùk = martial law <increasingly loudly called for by government supports and non-red shirts
Political concepts/key words
ไพร่ phrâi (archaic term) = serf, citizen, peasant, commoner in old Thai feudal system <term used by Red Shirts
อำมาตย์ am-màat (archaic term) = royal adviser/counsel, senior courtier/minister (in absolute monarchy), meaning in recent usage has broadened to general aristocracy (commonly spelled amart or amartaya in English) <term used by Red Shirts
>>for insightful commentary on and historical perspective into phrai and amart discourse, see this article in Matichon by เกษียร เตชะพีระ
อำมาตยาธิปไตย am-màat-tà-yaa-thíp-pà-tai = bureaucratic polity (lit. political system in which aristocrats/bureaucrats rule)
ประชาธิปไตย prà-chaa-thíp-pà-tai = democracy (lit. political system in which the people rule)
ชาติ ศาสนา พระมหากษัตริย์ châat, sàat-sà-nǎa, phrá-má-hǎa-kà-sàt = Nation, Religion, King
ศักดินา sàk-dì-naa = feudalism (spelled sakdina in English)
รากหญ้า râak yâa = grassroots (connotation: rural, poor) <term often used in connection with Red Shirts, especially recently
นิติรัฐ ní-tì-rát = Rechtsstaat (German), European concept, state of law, state of justice, state of rights, i.e. state in which the rule of law reigns supreme and government power is constrained by law and people’s rights, including right to political participation, are guaranteed >>more on definition in Thai, in English.
ความเท่าเทียม khwaam tâw tiiam = equality
ความเหลื่อมล้ำ khwaam lùeaam-lám ความเหลื่อมล้ำต่ำสูง khwaam lùeaam-lám tàm sǔung ความไม่เท่าเทียม khwaam mâi tâw tiiam = inequalities
โครงสร้างพื้นฐาน khoong-sâang phúuen-thǎan = fundamental structure (social, political)
ประชานิยม prà-chaa ní-yom = populism <term often used by critics of Thaksin’s policies
สองมาตรฐาน sǑOng mâat-trà-thǎan = double standards <term used by Red Shirts
ความเป็นธรรม khwaam pen tham = justice, fair treatment
ประท้วง prà-túuang = protest
เดินขบวน dooen khà-buuan = march, demonstrate
การชุมนุม kaan chum-num = rally, demonstration
การชุมนุมประท้วง kaan chum-num prà-túuang = protest rally
ม็อบ móp = mass rally (as used in Thai politics)
อารยะขัดขืน aa-rà-yá khàt-khǔuen = civil disobedience <term heard more often in the early days of the protests, but has faded since
กดดัน kòt dan = pressure
ความรุนแรง khwaam run rEEng = violence
วิกฤติการเมือง wí-krìt kaan mueaang = political crisis
ปฏิวัติ pà-tì-wát = revolution, overthrow of existing regime
รัฐประหาร ràt-thá prà-hǎan = coup d’état (lit. ‘execution of the state’)
สมานฉันท์ sà-mǎan-ná-chǎn = agreement (through compromise and reconciliation) <this term emerged in recent years since color-coded rift has begun to show, most called for by academics, state elders and peace activists
เกี้ยเซี้ย kîia sîia = negotiation, compromise (among the elites to preserve their own respective interests) <a Chinese (Tae chiew) term from early Rattanakosin period for negotiation debt settlement (initially primarily among Chinese merchants); the term later spread outside of the Chinese merchant community and has broadened to mean negotiation and compromise in the business of politics as well, e.g. it has been speculated whether any leading figures in Thai politics might have kîia sîia with Thaksin after he had been overthrown and lived in exile since 2006 >>see a more elaborate explanation of the term by leading Thai political scientist Charnvit Kasetsiri (ชาญวิทย์ เกษตรศิริ)
สันติวิธี sǎn-tì wí-thii = peaceful means
อหิงสา à-hǐng-sǎa = non-violence
พลังเงียบ phá-lang ngîiap = silent majority (lit. silent force) <term used by multi-colored pro-government, anti-Red Shirt groups in reference to themselves (as representatives of the “silent majority”)
จงรักภักดี jong ràk phák dii = to be loyal, to hold in reverence (in reference to the monarchy)
สถาบัน sà-thǎa-ban = lit. institution (code word for ‘monarchy’)
คลั่งชาติ khlâng châat = ultra-nationalism (lit. “crazy for the nation”)
คลั่งเจ้า khlâng jâaw = ultra-royalism (lit. “crazy for royalty”)
สงครามชนชั้น sǒng-khraam chon-chán = class war
สงครามกลางเมือง sǒng-khraam klaang mueaang = civil war, also สงครามประชาชน sǒng-khraam prà-chaa-chon
สงกรานต์เลือด sǒng-kraan lûeaat = bloodied Songkran
วิกฤตินองเลือด wí-krìt nOOng lûeaat = bloody crisis
…since the April 10 bloodied crackdown more of the following are heard…
ก่อวินาศกรรม kÒO wí-nâat-sà-kam = terrorism, violent sabotage
ก่อการร้าย kÒO kaan ráay = terrorism
การเมืองข้างถนน kaan-mueaan khâng thà-nǒn = street politics
ความแตกแยก khwaam tÈEk yÊEk = division, divisiveness, rift
ขบวนการล้มเจ้า khà-buuan kaan lóm jâaw = movement to overthrow the monarchy
เปลี่ยนระบบการปกครองครั้ง ใหญ่ plìian rá-bòp kaan pòk-khrOOng khròng yai = lit. major change in system of government (code word for overthrowing monarchy)
คิดต่าง khít tàang เห็นต่าง hěn tàang = different opinion/point of view
เลือกข้าง thaang lâeaak = to choose side, to side with
เกลียดชัง klìiat chang = to hate
ปะทะ pà-thá = scuffle, skirmish, clash
จลาจล jà-laa-jon = mob, riot
นองเลือด nOOng lûeaat = bloody, bloodletting
ไทยฆ่าไทย thai khâa thai = Thais killing Thais
บ้านเมืองไม่มีขื่อไม่มีแป baan mueaang mâi mii khùue mâi mii pEE = lawlessness
กลียุค kà-lii yúk = chaos, apocalypse
สัตว์การเมือง sàt kaan mueaang = political animal
มิคสัญญี mík-khá-sǎn-yii (old Pali term) = time of great unrest, in which killing is fair game; in Buddhist mythology the term refers to a period of great civil strife (chaos, anarchy and killings) <<see พระมหาชัยวุธ (Buddhist Monk “BM.chaiwut”) explanation on the etymology of the term [in Thai] here.
ปลดล็อก plòt lÓOk = lit. “to unlock”; find a solution to a stalemate or a political deadlock
On media
เป็นกลาง pen klaang = neutral
ไม่เป็นกลาง mâi pen klaang = not neutral
บิดเบือน bìt buuan = distorted
บิดเบือนข้อเท็จจริง bìt buuan khÔOw thét jing = to distort facts
ยั่วยุ yûua yú = to incite, to provoke, to instigate
ข่าวด้านเดียว khàaw dâan diiaw = one sided news/report
ควบคุมสื่อ khwûuab khum sùue = media control
คุกคามสื่อ khùk khaam sùue = media intimidation
เซ็นเซอร์ = borrowed English word “censor”, censorship of media
ปิดสื่อ pìt sùue = close down media <has often happened with specific targets, often critical or anti-government media on various platforms: television, radio, websites, blogs
หมิ่น mìn = (lit. libelous, shortened from หมิ่นประมาท mìn prà-màat) considered to be lèse majesté
หมิ่นสถาบัน mìn sà-thǎa-ban = lèse majesté (lit. libelous against the institution)
เว็บหมิ่น wép mìn = website considered to be lèse majesté
เว็บผิดกฎหมาย wép phìt kòt-mǎay = illegal website
ปลุกระดม plùk-rá-dom = propaganda, propagandize
กระบอกเสียง krà-bÒOk sǐiang = mouthpiece
Slogans of Red Shirts
(only the selected few, as there are too many)
ไพร่ phrâi = “Commoner”, “Serf” <self-identification of Red Shirts
แดงทั้งแผ่นดิน dEEng tháng pÈEn-din = “Red throughout the Land”
โค่นอำมาตย์ khôon am-màat = “Down with the Aristocrats”
ออกไป ÒOk pai = “Get Out!” <in reference to Abhisit government
คืนอำนาจประชาชน khuuen am-nâat prà-chaa-chon = “Return Power to the People”
ยุติธรรม กลับคืนมา yút-tì-tham klàp kuuen maa = “Bring back Justice”
เรารักทักษิณ raw rák thák-sǐn = “We love Thaksin”
รอวันทักษิณกลับมา rOO wan thák-sǐn klàp maa = “Wait for the Day Thaksin Returns”
ไม่ต้องจ้าง กูมาเอง mâi thÔOng jâang kuu maa eeng = “Not hired, I fricking came on my own”
ยุบสภา yúp sà-phaa = “Dissolve Parliament”
>>see a good collection of Red Shirt signs at Women Learn Thai ‘Signs of the Time”
(signs in English)
“We Just Want Democracy”
“No More Puppet + Corrupt Regime”
“Against Coup d’ Etat” / “Againt Cope’ ” [sic]
“Against Dictatorship”
>>see more Red Shirt signs both in Thai and English at New Mandala
ไม่มีสี mâi mii sǐi ไม่มีเส้น mâi mii sên = “No Color, No Connections” <slogan Red Shirt leaders used when the Red-shirt movement decided to shed Red shirts and started wearing different non-red colored shirts in preparation for expected government’s crackdown (which did not come) in late April (and in response to the pro-government groups’ multi-colored tactic)
Slogans of Yellow Shirts and other-colored (non-red) pro-government groups
กู้ชาติ kûu châat = “Save the Nation”
เรารักในหลวง raw rák nai-lǔuang = “We Love the King”
สงครามครั้งสุดท้าย sǒng-khraam khráng sùt-táay = “The Last War”
ตายไม่ตายกูไม่รู้ … แต่กูจะสู้ … เพื่อประเทศไทย taay mâi taay kuu mâi rúu … tÈE kuu jà sǔu … pǔeaa prà-thêet-thai = “[To be] killed or not, I don’t know … But I’ll fight … for Thailand”
๗ ตุลา ตำรวจฆ่าประชาชน jèt tù-laa tam-rùat khâa prà-chaa-chon = “7 October Police Killed the People”
Note: The above were slogans used by Yellow Shirts in late 2008 and early 2009. See more signs and slogans (lots of them in English) of Yellow Shirts on the last day during their occupation of the government house in January 2009 on New Mandala. What follows are slogans used by emerging Pink, No Color and Multi-colored Shirts during April 2010.
ปกป้องแผ่นดิน pòk-pÔOng phÈEn-din = “Protect the Land”
ปกป้องสถาบัน pòk-pÔOng sà-thǎa-ban = “Protect the Institution [monarchy]”
พิทักษ์ชาติ ราชบัลลังก์ pí-ták châat râat-chá-ban-lang = “Safeguard the Nation and the Throne”
เพื่อชาติ ศาสน์ กษัตริย์ phûeaa châat sàat kà-sàt = “For Nation, Religion and King”
แนวร่วมคนรักชาติ nEEw rûam khon rák châat = “United Front of Patriots”
รักชาติยิ่งชีพ rák châat yîng chîip = “Love the Nation More Than Life”
ไม่มีสี แต่มีเสียง และมีสิทธิ์ mâi mii sǐi tÈE mii sǐiang lÈE mii sìt = “Have No Color, But Have Voice and Have Rights”
“Uneducate People” [sic] = sign in English of a pro-government, anti-Red protester seen at Silom rally on April 22 >>see The New York Times
Mystery men
(various terms used to refer to unidentified murky personality/group(s) of consequence in conflict)
ไอ้โม่ง aî-môong = hooded bandit
ชายเสื้อดำ chaay sûeaa dam = black-clad man/men (who neither side seems to want to publicly admit as their friends – both Red Shirt security guards and snipers who shot into the demonstrators on April 10th were black clad)
นักรบโรนิน nák-rób roo-nin = Ronin warriors, another nickname for black-clad men
กองกำลังไม่ทราบฝ่าย kOOng kam-lang mâi sâap fàay = force of unidentified affiliation
ผู้ไม่หวังดี phûu mâi wǎng dii ผู้ไม่ประสงค์ดี phûu mâi prà-sǒng dii = ill-intentioned person(s)
มือที่สาม muue thîi sǎam = the ‘third hand’ (proverbial murky player-instigator, often conveniently fingered perpetrator in Thai affairs)
ผู้ชักใย phûu chák yai = puppet master (lit. ‘strings puller’)
ผู้อยู่เบื้องหลัง phûu yùu bûeaang lǎng ผู้บงการ phûu bong kaan = mastermind
Characterizations, insults, curses and accusations
(sorry, some are extremely vulgar insults and curses but they are often used)
-> by Red Shirts towards the government, the establishment and the military
รัฐบาลอำมาตย์ rat-thá-baan am-màat = aristocrat government
อำมาตย์ชั่ว am-màat chûa = evil aristocrats
ทรราช thOO-rá-râat = tyrant
รัฐบาลทรราช rat-thá-baan = tyrant/tyrannical government
ไม่ชอบธรรม mâi chÔOp tham = illegitimate, lacking legitimacy
ฆาตกร khâat-tà-kOOn thOO-rá-râat = murderer
(ทหาร)ฆ่าประชาชน (thá-hǎan) khâa prà-chaa-chon = (soldiers) killing the people
มือเปื้อนเลือด muue pûeaan lûeaat = bloodied hands
โกง koong = cheater
ตอแหล tOO-lĚE= liar
-> by anti-Red groups towards Red Shirts
ควายแดง kwaay dEEng = Red water buffalo(s)
ไพร่แดง phrâi dEEng = Red serf(s)/servant(s)
หางแดง hǎang dEEng = Red tail <name of some type of fish, but I guess it is used to mean as some type of lizard, see เหี้ย /hîa/ below
ไพร่สถุล phrâi sà-tǔn ไพร่เลว phrâi leew = base, low-life serf(s)/servant(s)
โง่ ngôo = stupid
ทาสทักษิณ thâat thák-sǐn = Thaksin’s slaves
แดงไร้เดียงสา dEEng rái-diiang-sǎa = innocent Red (as in simple-minded and gullible)
เถื่อน thùeaan = savage, uncivilized, barbarous
ถูกจูงจมูก thùuk juung jà-mùuk = led by the nose
ถูกจ้าง thùuk jâang = hired, paid (to demonstrate/protest)
รับเงิน ráp ngoen = bribed, paid
กุ๊ย kúy = bum, thuggish bum, punk, goon
ผู้ก่อการร้าย phûu kÒO kaan ráay = terrorist(s) <the term meant “communist insurgent” in the 1960s and 1970s, but in today’s context is understood as terrorist or saboteur
กบฏ kà-bòt = traitor(s)
ล้มเจ้า lóm jâaw = (scheming to) overthrow the monarchy
ไม่รักชาติ mâi rák châat = unpatriotic
ไม่ใช่คนไทย mâi châi khon thai = not Thai
ทรยศชาติ tOO-ra-yot châat = traitorous, betraying the country
ทำลายชาติ tam-laay châat = destroying the country
คนขายชาติ khon khǎay châat = traitor(s)
-> by both sides against one another
กู kuu มึง muueng ไอ้ âi อี ii = vulgar forms of address that are normally considered too vulgar to use in public, respectively ‘I’ and ‘you’ for the first two pronouns, and male and female ‘you’ or he and she for the latter two (as second or third pronouns) which, if intended as insult, are equivalent to ‘(you), bastard [enter name]” and ‘(you), bitch [enter name]’
ชั่ว chûa ชาติชั่ว châat chûa = vile, evil, corrupt, intrinsically evil and corrupt
เลว leew สารเลว sǎa-rá-leew = base, depraved, wicked, abominable, hateful
เลวชาติ leew châat = irredeemably evil, morally corrupt
โจร joon = criminal
สมองหมาปัญญาควาย sà-mǑOng mǎa pan-yaa kwaay = lit. “having brains of a dog and intelligence of a buffalo”, i.e. extremely stupid
เหี้ย hîa = (lit. ‘water monitor’ like gila monster), equivalent to English curse ‘swine’, also known by euphemism ตัวเงินตัวทอง tua ngoen tua thOOng (lit. “silver and golden creature”)
จัญไร jan-rai เสนียดจัญไร sà-nìat jan-rai อัปปรีย์ àp-prii = damned, damnable, beastly, evil, wicked
ไปตายซะ pai taay sá = Go die!, Drop dead!
พ่อมึงตาย phÔO mueng taay = Your father be dead! (curse)
Insinuations and epithets
เป็นคนไทยหรือเปล่า pen khon thai rǔue plàw = “Are you Thai?” <often used in heated Thai political conflict against those deemed critical or disrespectful of the three pillars: Nation, Religion and King
ระวังจะไม่มีแผ่นดินอยู่ rá-wang jà mâi mii phÈEn-din yùu = “Beware, [you] will not have a land to stand on.” <used against Thaksin by Yellow supporters during the years before the overthrow of his government, now also used with others
อย่าดึงฟ้าลงมาต่ำ yàa dung fáa long maa tàm = “Don’t pull down the sky.” <commonly heard warning by Thais against other Thais deemed to be creating nuisance for or engaging in unbecoming actions involving the monarchy
อย่าพาคนไปตาย yàa phaa khon pai taay = “Don’t lead people to their death.” <often used against leaders of demonstrators amidst volatile crisis, in reference to past leaders who led people to death in crackdowns in the 1970s and 1992
หนักแผ่นดิน nàk phEEn-din = “Heavy on the land” <title of an old government propaganda song against communists in the 1970s
รกแผ่นดิน rók phÈEn-din = “Clutter on the land” <title of a new song currently played on คลื่นปกป้องสถาบันเนวิน (known for short as คลื่นเนวิน or Newin Radio)
Miscellaneous slang terms and expressions
(that don’t fit neatly in any of the above categories or have not been widely used)
รัฐบาลมะเขือเผา ràt-thá-baan má-khǔeaa phǎw = (lit. “grilled eggplant government”) weak, ineffective government
แอบแดง ÈEp dEEng = secret Red sympathizer <some academics are accused by Yellow/non-Red Shirts to be so; sometimes แอ๊บแดง ÉEp dEEng is also used in this context
แอ๊บกลาง ÉEp klaang = fake neutral, pretend to be neutral (not associating with any particular color) although suspected not to be really neutral, also แอ๊บขาว ÉEp khǎaw (fake White)
แอ๊บแดง ÉEp dEEng = fake Red, Red pretender, i.e. not really Red
แอ๊บไพร่ ÉEp phrâi = fake phrai (serf), phrai wannabe/pretender, first widely heard on government television channel NBT (National Broadcasting of Thailand). The coiner of the term is believed to be Chermsak Pinthong เจิมศักดิ์ ปิ่นทอง, TV host, political commentator and writer who wrote a series of books on Thaksin. The term implies that Thaksin is not phrai but pretends to be one, although he is among the wealthy ruling class who benefited from the amart system.
เหวง wěeng = to be verbose, long winded and/or bullsh*t, often used in the negative อย่ามาเหวง yàa maa wěeng (“Don’t wěeng!”). The slang has its origin in the name of one of the Red Shirt leaders, Dr. Weng Tojirakarn นายแพทย์เหวง โตจิราการ who was verbose and long winded (and confusing, according to the Thai youth who coined the term) during the first and second rounds of the talk between Red Shirts and the government broadcast live on television before Songkran 2010. The slang emerged in Twitter and Facebook and became quickly mainstream.
(ปล่อย)เกียร์ว่าง (plÒOy) kiia wâang = (to be) on neutral gear, i.e. to be hands-off, indifferent, not enthusiastic, proactive or doing one’s job serious <accusation often aimed at police and sometimes also military leadership vis-a-vis their role in controlling the on-going unrest
นักวิชาการแอ๊บแม้ว nák wí-chaa-kaan ÉEp mÉEw = academics who are closet Thaksin sympathizers <term used on in multicolored group in reference to academics who have views that benefit Thaksin
ทหารแตกแถว thá-hǎan tÈEk thĚEw = defecting soldier(s) (lit. “out-of-line soldier”)
มีสติ mii sà-tì = to keep one’s head, to use one’s intellect/mindfulness (instead of emotion)
เสียสติ mii sà-tì = to lose one’s head, to succumb to emotions/hysteria
ไร้สติ mii sà-tì = to be in absence of intellect/mindfulness
Anyone have any comments or words/phrases to suggest, please leave a comment or contact me.
