ผีบ้า

[JamieP]

The girl I referred to in my space cadet post occasionally calls me ผีบ้า. The literal translation of crazy ghost is quite easy.

Any help with context of typical use would help, she usually uses it after I've joked with her.

[JamieP]

The girl I referred to in my space cadet post occasionally calls me ผีบ้า. The literal translation of crazy ghost is quite easy.

Any help with context of typical use would help, she usually uses it after I've joked with her.

[guava]

ผีบ้า

Hi Jamie

Yes, that is the correct translation. It is similar in use to ไอ้บ้า (ai bar) and is mild swearing. It is used by females and would sound "girly" for a man to say. I guess "pee" is kinda slang for something bad or naughty. I think it originates in Esarn and is Northern language but Im not 100% sure of the origin.

[Zohak]

Girly! Oh dear I use that one with my wife!

[JamieP]

Thanks Guava

[johnboy]

I guess "pee" is kinda slang for something bad or naughty.

I always thought this was a polite word and is used a lot before someones name.

[maokaang]

Hi Johnboy

The two do sound very similar.


The polite term 'Phee' - meaning 'elder' or 'older' - is spelt:

<font size=4>พี่</font> ... pronounced with a falling tone (Low consonant - low tone mark).


'Phee' - meaning 'ghost' or 'spirit' - is spelt:

<font size=4>ผี</font> ... pronounced with a rising tone (High consonant - no tone mark).


Regards

[Thaddeus]

Did somebody call?

ปีศาจน้อย

[mervyn]

No now go back to your box

[guava]

ปีศาจน้อย

Ahhhhhh you little devil you

Nice explanation of "pee" Paul , I should have thought to expand my answer to include that, as these words can be confusing if you don't read Thai.

[johnboy]

Thanks for explaining Paul and clearing up the confusion.

[JamieP]

I think I need a word or phrase along the lines of cheeky minx.

Any ideas?

[Thaddeus]

Under no circumsatnces get an English/Thai dictionary and point to the word 'cheeky'..... the meaning in Thai is not nice..... trust me.... I've been there.

The closest you will get without offending anyone, phonetically would be.

'Tuh loong' or 'Ter loong' (regional accent variation)

It just means naughty.

[mervyn]

Thad khun bha-ma

Or Tea-lung as they say round here

[rolyshark]

Does "ling noi" or "ling baa" work or convey the same meaning? I tend to use that about the kids.

[Lucky]

ling noi = little monkey
ling baa = crazy monkey

as far as my limited Thai knows But as far as conveying meaning who knows? Try getting b******t translated ( I can do the literal translation but apparently it conveys nothing )

By the way I tend to say "ling talung" to the wife, trouble is she understands what I am talking about anyway so I am frequently at a loss as to whether any other Thai would understand what I am saying

[JamieP]

Well, ling bha didn't go down too well........


Isn't language learning fun.

[guava]

Jamie,

I agree that Thai language is a minefield, especially slang, swearing (mild or otherwise) and colloquial use of words that may be OK in the North but inappropriate in Central Thai (and I guess vice versa too though at present I cant think of an example that way around). The suggestions here are fine in specific situations like Steves example of "ling noi" when talking about the kids. เด็กลิง (dek ling) is also a common expression when talking about kids and sometimes not so young kids, Steve - have you used this too?

ทะลึ่ง (ta-lung) or milder ทะเล้น (ta-len) can be used to mean cheeky and shouldn't get you into too much trouble. I understand your desire to look for phrases that are the equivalent of you saying "cheeky little minx" or "space cadet" but as you have discovered its so much more complicated than you would at first think.

[rolyshark]

Thanks for that guava.

I have actually heard "dek ling" when Noi used it about the kids herself,when they were particularly bothersome;except I misheard it as "daak ling" ,not having heard "dek" before.

[Tobias]

Jenny's English is excellent, she has a European accent for the most - her diction is generally sound but always insists on calling me 'darkling' - I constantly correct her pronunciation, but she retorts by saying "no tilak, I know what I say" ... ...