Kathoey or katoey (Thai: กะเทย; RTGS: Kathoei;[kaʔtʰɤːj]) is a male-to-female transgender person or an effeminate gay male in Thailand. Related phrases include sao (or phuying) praphet song (Thai: สาวประเภทสอง,"a second kind of woman"), or phet thi sam (Thai: เพศที่สาม, "third gender"). The word kathoey is thought to be of Khmer origin (the equivalent Khmer word is "kteuy"). It is most often rendered as ladyboy in English conversation with Thais and this latter expression has become popular across South East Asia except in the Philippines where the term bakla is often used.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kathoey

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