Koh Phangan’s Island Lingo

Ever noticed the island’s own language, the words people use in certain places or how they end an email? We noticed a bit of a trend with certain words used in different parts of the island and between the different communities and it’s interesting to learn how these words or phrases have spread.

Here on Koh Phangan we are all a bunch of hippies really, even if you don’t wear white head to toe or even do yoga, we are all here for some of the same reasons; we like to party, we like to live on remote islands and we like the more relaxed way of life = Hippies to a certain degree…

And so phrases like ‘Love and Light’ tend to come into play quite a lot especially more in written form on the end of a message or email. In fact you can send the worst kind of message to someone and still add this on the end to keep the peace and stay positive but all in all it is a genuine share of positivity and love.

'Namaste' seems to be said here as well even though we are in Thailand and not India. Maybe it’s because of the words meaning ‘the divine in me bows to the divine in you’ or maybe because a lot of Koh Phangan’s visitors have also spent a lot of time in India? Either way it is said with good intentions.

Further into party town and the bustling areas of Thong Sala and Baan Tai you are more likely to be greeted with a more casual ‘Hey’, followed by either ‘Dude’ or ‘Bro’, even if you are a female. People down this way are either working hard in quite social jobs or pretty cool and relaxed and on holiday so don’t need to be formal even with strangers.

Obviously most people when speaking to a Thai person will greet them properly with Sawadee Kaa/Kap and maybe a little ‘Wai’ and then just to be polite will put Kaa or Kap on the end of every sentence.

Thai phrases can also creep into the lingo of travellers or residents which can be a good way to practice as well. If you’re here long enough you might learn some naughty words or the Thai equivalent of your own language so that you can throw some words in here and there.

Everyone has their own way of speaking and greeting but you do notice trends amongst small and large groups and communities and it can be very entertaining to play around with language so give it a go yourself!