Understanding Thai: The Meaning of Porn

Written by Team Expique
Published: June 12, 2014

There are so many people who when they first come to Thailand do not know about the Thai meaning of the word “Porn” and make jokes about girl’s whose name start with “Porn”.

Guess, what is my name? Yes! I am ‘Porn’prapa. So let me tell you what it actually means.
It has several different meanings in Thai depending on how it’s spelled. When it’s spelled “Porn” it means “blessing”. It is one of the most common names in Thailand.
Who would think that what means pornography in English would also mean “Blessing” in Thai?

For example in my name is พรประภา = Pornprapa means Blessing lightening

Other examples:

ศิริพร = Siriporn means Majestic blessing
สมพร = Somporn means Worthy of blessing
อำพร = Amporn means Hidden blessing
อัมภรณ์ = Umporn means Clothes
อิทธิพร = Ittiporn means Powerful blessing

Another spelling in names is” พล” which means “power”, but with this spelling it’s often written as “phol” or “pon” in English. In Thailand “Pon” or “Pol” is the name just only for a man.

For example:
ปองพล = Pongpol (ปอง + พล = desires power)
พละพล =PalaPon or Palapol (พะละ + พล =Super power)

Porn can also be a nickname. Thai people love to call another person nicknames by taking the last part of their name for example: My friend’s first name is Supaporn so people will call her Porn as a nickname.

Categories: Thai