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You are here: Home / Thailand Living / The Definitive Thailand Acronyms Guide

The Definitive Thailand Acronyms Guide

Do you know your TIT from your TOT, your BKK from your PATTS, or your 555 from your OMB?

You don't care, right?

I know, acronyms have got way out of hand. I blame social media and lazy kids. But hey, if you can't beat 'em you might as well join 'em.

So, as a bit of fun, I have taken it upon myself to put together the first definitive expat acronym guide, to ensure you stay at the forefront of cool while living in Thailand.

I readily admit that a few of these I just made up, though they probably exist on Twitter, Reddit or somewhere else.

Thai acronyms

The Definitive Thailand Acronyms Guide

1. LOS

Land Of Smiles: Thailand.

2. TIT

This Is Thailand: Used as a way of saying, accept it, love it or leave it, that's just the way it is).

3. BIB

Boys In Brown (police): Also known among a minority as Baht In Pocket (no explanation required).

4. TAT

Tourism Authority of Thailand.

5. TOT

Telephone Organization of Thailand: A state-owned telecommunications company, originally established in 1954 and corporatized in 2002.

6. BKK

Bangkok: Otherwise known as the City of Angels, or Bangers.

7. PATTS

Pattaya: otherwise know as Sin City.

8. CM

Chiang Mai: The one time capital of the ancient Lanna kingdom

9. CR

Chiang Rai: North of Chiang Mai, CR is the main commercial centre serving the Golden Triangle border region of Thailand, Myanmar and Laos.

10. NST

Nakhon Si Thammarat:  A southern province on the western shore of the Gulf of Thailand.

11. UC

Upcountry: anywhere considered to be in the middle of Nakhon no where

12. SUK

Short for Sukhumvit in Bangkok.

13. Swampy

Short for Suvarnabhumi Airport

14. 555

Used by Thais to indicate through writing that something is very funny. The number 5 is “ha” in Thai. So, hahaha = 555. Genius.

15. ++++

used as many times as you want to exaggerate anything, especially ‘555’.

16. OMB

Oh My Buddha! (The Buddhist play on OMG – Oh my God).

17. TV

17. Short for the popular ThaiVisa forum.

18. TTL

Short for the popular information blog, TheThailandLife.com

19. TG

Thai Girl.

20. TW

Thai Wife.

21. TBG

Thai Bar Girl. Also shortened to BG.

22. NBG

Non Bar Girl.

23. NTG

Nice Thai Girl. Used to affirm that one is not talking about a BG, gold digger, scammer, etc.

24. LB

Lady Boy.

25. Tom

Short for Tomboy.

26. FP

Farang Pattaya: used to describe the archetypal foreigner residing in or regularly visiting Pattaya (Can also be PF, but Thais tend to put ‘farang' first).

27. OT

Over time at work. I wish I had a dime for every time I've heard a Thai say OT.

28. FK

Farang Keenok: Literally translated as ‘bird shit farang', but generally used to describe lower class and poor foreigners.

29. FKS

Farang Khaosan: Used to describe traveler-types that stay on Khaosan Road.

30. NMNH

No Money No Honey: A saying used by BGs to indicate that only those with money get to play.

31. U2U

Up To You! Can mean “I'm easy, whatever you want to do”, or, “Go ahead, but at your own peril”.

32. VR

Visa Run: Also written as BR – Border Run.

——

Got one for the list? Let me know!

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Comments Sort by : newest | oldest

  1. S S Sharma says

    July 28, 2022 at 9:51 am

    It is very valuable n practical info in your newsletters ie Bites. Your posts are always helpful for general readers n all those who wish to know more about life in Thailand.
    Big thanks.
    Reply

    Jul 28, 2022 at 9:51 am

    • TheThailandLife says

      July 28, 2022 at 9:35 pm

      Thank you. I appreciate your kind words!
      Reply

      Jul 28, 2022 at 9:35 pm

  2. seabear says

    September 7, 2016 at 11:54 am

    Where can I find a list of acronyms relevant to Thai politics?
    Reply

    Sep 07, 2016 at 11:54 am

    • TheThailandLife says

      September 8, 2016 at 1:42 am

      No idea. I doubt there is one.
      Reply

      Sep 08, 2016 at 1:42 am

  3. Daniella says

    September 20, 2014 at 4:17 pm

    Haha, this made me laugh. I'll start using these around the office. What about some for farang ladies living in Thailand?
    Reply

    Sep 20, 2014 at 4:17 pm

    • TheThailandLife says

      September 20, 2014 at 7:14 pm

      Hey Daniella, please feel free to suggest some :)
      Reply

      Sep 20, 2014 at 7:14 pm

  4. TheThailandLife says

    July 15, 2014 at 12:39 pm

    Ahhh yes, the ++++. Thanks for that addition :)
    Reply

    Jul 15, 2014 at 12:39 pm

  5. Lloyd says

    July 15, 2014 at 3:46 am

    With out a doubt OT is used for 'Overtime', in twenty odd years in Asia I've never heard the saying 'old timer' outside of pure farang conversations.

    You should mention '+++' used to exaggerate anything, especially '555'.
    Reply

    Jul 15, 2014 at 3:46 am

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