TERMS TO AVOID

WHY?

USE INSTEAD

1. Aids

First, because the word already means many things. Second, because it is an acronym and using capital letters helps to remind readers.

AIDS

2. AIDS virus

Often used as a shorthand term, this can easily cause confusion between HIV and AIDS unless used with caution. (See Thai Style Guide for exception.)

HIV

3. Carrying AIDS AIDS Carrier AIDS Positive

This confuses the two distinct phases of being infected with HIV and having AIDS. People can have AIDS, but they can not carry it.

HIV positive/People with HIV

4. AlDS test

The most commonly used test detects antibodies to HIV. There is also an antigen test, which detects the presence of the virus itself. This is not widely used.

HIV antibody test

5. Catching AIDS (i.e., becoming infected with HIV)

It is not possible to catch AIDS. It is possible to catch HIV, but even this is misleading as it suggests transmission is similar to colds or flu.

Contract HIV/Become HIV positive

6. Catch AIDS

As in #5

Develop AIDS

7. AIDS sufferer

Having AIDS does not mean being ill all the time. Someone with AIDS can continue to work and live a normal life for some time after diagnosis. Suffering is therefore not appropriate.

Person with AIDS (PWA)

8. AIDS victim

Suggests helplessness, which is no longer appropriate.

Person with AIDS/ Person who has AIDS

9. Innocent victim

Suggests anyone else with AIDS is guilty.

PWA / Person who has AIDS

10. High risk group

It is now clear that there is risk behavior, not high risk groups. The fact of being classified as a member of any particular group does not put anyone at greater risk, but what he or she does, regardless of groups, may.

High risk behavior

11. Full blown AIDS

When the correct distinction between HIV and AIDS is always made, there is no need to use the term "full blown".

AIDS

USE WITH CARE

1. Promiscuous

Implies a moral overtone which may be inappropriate; also very imprecise.

2. Prostitute

Attaches a negative stigma which may prevent appropriate care.

3. AIDS patient

Only appropriate when someone is ill. Care is needed to distinguish this from HIV infection, when "patient" is not appropriate.

4. Catastrophe Disaster

There are still very few parts of the world where this is an accurate description.

5. Plague

Plague suggests a contagious disease, which AIDS is not. Epidemic is a better description.

ENGLISH

DIRECT TRANSLATION

COMMENTS

1. AIDS

AIDS disease

2. HIV

AIDS virus

This term is not totally correct. The MOPH has adopted the use of an incorrect translation for simplicity. In many areas of the world HIV is referred to as the "AIDS virus".

3. HIV positive, People with HIS

Person who has the AIDS virus

It is important to distinguish between people who are HIV positive (people with the AIDS virus) and people with AIDS. Most Thais will say those who are HIV positive already have AIDS.*

4. HIV antibody test

Check blood for the AIDS virus

Most Thais will incorrectly say they are checking for AIDS. The MOPH has adopted "checking blood or saliva for the AIDS virus."

5. Contract HIV

Get the AIDS virus /Positive blood for AIDS

As in #3

6. Develop AIDS

Have AIDS

7. Person with AIDS (PWA)

Person with AIDS /AIDS patient

8. PWA

9. PWA

10. High risk behavior

High risk behavior

Often, incorrectly, high risk groups are still classified in Thailand. **

11 AIDS

AIDS first, second and third stages

Thailand is using the two stage classification of HIV and AIDS.

ENGLISH

PHONETIC

General

ROKE-AID

AIDS (TS)

ROKE POOM KOOM GAN

Acquired immune

BOHG PRONG

Deficiency Syndrome

POO BEN AID, POO PUEY ROK AIDS

Person with AIDS

POO DIT CHUA-AID

Person with HIV #

CHUA-WAI-RUS ROKE AID

HIV (TS) #

MEE AGAHN SAM PAN GAHB AID

ARC (TS)

RE-BOPE POOM KOOM GAHN

immune system

MED LUE-ED KOW

white blood cell

POOM DOHN TAHN

antibody

CHUAVI-RUS

virus

GAHN RE-BAHT

epidemic

OO BAHD-EE GAHN

incidence

SA TAHN A-GAHN

situation

BOW MAI

goal

ROENG PAI-YA-BAHN

hospital

CLINIC

clinic (TS)

GAHN BONG GAHN BAB

universal precautions

KRAWP JAHK-A-WAN

Prevention

GAHN BONG GAHN

protection

GAHN BONG GAHN

abstinence

MAI MEE PET SAM PAN

condom (TS)

TOONG YAHNG ANA-MAI

K:Y, JL, or

K Y, J L, X Y YELLEE

XY Jelly (TS) @

lubricant

SAN LAW LUE-EN

mutually faithful partner

RAHK DIEOW JAI DIEOW

safer sex (TS)

PET SAHM PAN TEE BLAWD PAIGWA

spermicide

YA KAH TUA AR-SU-CHI

virgin (female)

POO YING BUREE-SOOT

virgin (male)

POO CHAI BUREE-SOOT

Transmission/ Non-transmission (see sentences at the end also)

to transmit

GAHN DIT DAW

risk behavior

BITEEGAHM SIENG

high risk group

GLOOM PRA-CHA-KORN THEE MEE

PRUTE- TI -KAM SIENG SOONG

target group

GLOOM BOW MAI

bisexual (TS)

RAHK SONG PET

Commercial Sex

CHAI REU YING

Worker (CSW)*

BUREEGAHN TAHNG PET

client of CSW

KAEK MA TEEO

CHAI CHOB TEE-O

POO MA CHAI BUREEGAHN

TAHNG PET

farmers

GASSET DE GAWN

fishermen

CHOW BRA-MONG

hemophiliac (TS)

ROKE LEU-ED

heterosexual

RAHK DANG PET

homosexual (TS)

RAHK RUAM PET/GAY

housewives

MAE BAHN

IV drug users

POO DIT YA SEPT DIT

laborers

KONE NGAN

pimp/brothel manager

MAENG DA, POO-JAD-KAN SATAN

BO-RI-KAN

pregnant women

YING MEE KLAWD, YING MEE TONG

prisoners

NAHK TOTE

tribal people

CHOW KOW

sex industry establishment

SATAHN BUREE-GAHN TANG PET

brothel

SONG

coffeeshop (TS)

COFFEE SHOP

gay bar (TS)

BAR GAY

massage parlor

SATAHN AB OB NOO-ED

tea house (TS)

ROANG-NAM-CHA

promiscuity

GAHN SAHM SOHN PET

sexual relations

PET SAHM PAHN

sexual intercourse

GAHN RUAM PET

anal sex

GAHN RUAM PET TAHNG TAWAHN,

GAHN RUAM PET GOEN

oral sex

GAHN RUAM PET TAHNG BAHK

vaginal sex

GAHN RUAM PET TAHNG

CHONG KLAWD

fantacizing

GAHN SAHNG JIN DA NA

GAHN REU-ENG REUM PET

masturbation

CHUAY TUA AING

SAM-RED KUAM-KRAI

DUY TUA-AENG

non-penetrative sex

PET SAHM PAHN TEE MAI SAWD SAI

kiss

JOOB

deep kissing

JOOB BAB DOOT DUE-EN

pregnancy

GAHN DAHNG KLAWD, MEE TONG

to shoot drugs

CHIT YA SEPT DIT

bleach

NAM YA FAWG KOW

HAITER

needle

KEM CHIT YA

syringe

GRA-BAWHK

bodily fluids

NAHM NAI RAHNG GAI

blood

LEU-ED

breastmilk

NAHM NOME MAE

NAHM NOME MAHN-DA

mucus

NAHM MUE-EHK,

NAHM MOOHK

semen

NAHM GAHM/NAHM CHUA

saliva

NAHM LAI

tattoo

ROI SAHK

tears

NAHM DA

vaginal fluids

NAHM NAI CHONG KLAWD

STD

GAMA ROKE

chancroid

PLAE RIM ON

chlamydia (TS)

CHLAMYDIA

gonorrhoea

NONG NAI

herpes (TS)

HERPES, REUM

syphillis (TS)

SYPHILLIS

vaginitis

CHONG KLAWD ACHT SEPT

Symptoms

A-GAHN

none

MAI MEE

diarrhea

TONG RUANG, TONG DEU-EN

dry cough

Al HAENG

fever

KAI

night sweats

NGEU-E OOG DOHN GLANG KEUN

open sore

PLAE

swollen Iymph nodes

DAWM NAHM LEUNG DOE

thrush

FA KOW NAI BAHK

weight loss

NAHM NAHK LOTE

opportunistic diseases

ROKE DIT CHUA CHOO-AYE O-GOT

cancer

MA-RANG

pneumonia

ROKE BAWD BOO-EM

tuberculosis

WAHN-A ROKE

Treatment

no cure

RAHK-SA MAI DAI

AZT (TS)

YA DAN CHUA WAI-RUS

CHA-NID NUENG

DDI (TS)

YA DAN CHUA WAI-RUS

CHA-NID NUENG

quarantine

GAHN GAHK GAHN ROKE

therapeutic community

CHOOM CHON BAHM BAHT

Testing

counsellor (TS)

POO Hl KAHM BRUEHK-SA

counselling (TS)

GAHN Hl KAHM BRUEHK-SA

pretest (TS)

PRE TEST, KON TRUDE

post-test (TS)

POST TEST, LUNG TRUDE

no-test (TS)

NO TEST, MAI MEE KAN TRUDE

anonymous clinic

CLINIC NEE LA NAHM

to test blood

DRUE-ED LEU-ED

to reveal one's status

BURD PUEYEE WA TID CHUA AIDS

LUE MAI

incubation period

RAY YA FAHK DOO-WA

window period (TS)

RAY YA FAHK DOO-WA TEE YOUNG

TRUDE MAI POBE

patient

POO BOO-AY

diagnose

GAHN WEE NIT CHAI

Health Education

SOOK-KA SUHK SA

leaflet/pamphlet

PAEN BLIEW, EGASAN NAE NAHM

poster (TS)

POS-DTER

screen

CHAHK

slides (TS)

S-LIDE

sticker (TS)

S-DIG-GER

video (TS)

WEE DEE O

dildo

A WAI-U-WA PET POO CHAI TEE-YEM HOON

evaluation

GAHN BRA-MERN PONE

implementation

GAHN BAHD DEE BAHT NGAHN

planning

GAHN RA-WAHG PAN

policy

NAI YO BAI

research

WEE JAI

survey

GAHN SAHM REU-ED

Miscellaneous

in the body

U NAI DOO-WA

in the blood

U NAI LEU-ED

cold virus

CHUE-A WHAT

safe

BLAWD PAI

dangerous

AHN DE RAI

- hugging

GAWD GAHN

- mosquito bite

YOONG GAHT

- shaking hands

JAHB MEUR GAHN

- sneezing

JAHM

- swimming pools

SAHT WAI NAHM

- telephones

TOR LAH SAHP

- wearing the same clothes

CHAI SEUA-PA RUEM GAHN