I do not subscribe to this whole “a farang can never know Thainess” philosophy, which I believe is what everyone here seems to be proposing; albeit in a slightly modified version. So, because I wasn’t born here I am somehow incapable of understanding the nuances of a word like กวนตีน ? Poppycock! Sure, these words may be more socially complex than average, but I think we are doing our language abilities a disservice by arbitrarily placing boundaries on what we can and cannot learn. Besides, don’t we all strive to master not only the language but the social contexts in which it exists?

Of course, one should use extreme caution when using swears. The words are complex and it is almost always in poor taste. Plus, learning course language just because we can seems a tad sophomoric. But these words are part of Thai, and I hope to one day not only speak Thai like a native but understand all the nuances that come with the language. Perhaps I will never get there, but I am certain I never will if I mark a sizable portion of the language off as “too complex for a simple white boy like myself”.

Just my two cents; probably less.

Also I would add another reason as to why foreigners should not use profanity list. This is because foreigners can rarely understand the true impact of profanity in another language since they don’t have the cultural background to understand how insulting or hurtful it actually is. It is similar to when you hear Thai people use the word nigger and you (if you are American) cringe and sometimes might feel offended. Thai people only see that word as descriptor of black people, they don’t understand the social context that makes it such a negative in English, thus they say it with impunity. I have met foreigners who do the same thing with different Thai words and never truly realize how offensive they are actually being because they have no social context. Therefore it better in general to just not use them.

And I’m Thai by the way. And I laughed.