Language Primer: Lao

(Disclaimer: EITM would like to actively discourage its reader (sic) from availing themselves of this Lao language primer.)

Laos is a fine place characterised by a rural, mountainous sensibility that places it firmly in the contemplative corner of Southeast Asia. It is a landlocked, sparsely populated nation and feels as such: the plateaus of Champasak, for example, convey the impression of unceasing openness that suggests a horizontal approach lacking in the fiery dragon of Vietnam or the overbearing reach of Thailand. This is a small, unhurried country partitioned between at least three larger nations but never in danger of feeling overawed: Laos is the farmer ploughing the fields who, espying the chrome of far-off lands, continues his day with no hint of envy for the trappings of other places.


Read more: In Cambodia, many people speak Khmer. Here’s a [very] basic language guide, should you ever need one.


Lao Language

Linguistically, Lao mirrors Thai, particularly the Isaan dialect. Its meaning relies on tones–low, mid, high, rising, high falling, and low falling–which indicates the potential pitfalls of inflexion. Experience suggests that speakers issue pronouncements as flat statements unless asking questions, at which point their voices rise. But when a speaker becomes proficient, they channel creatures of the abstract, capable of extracting sentences of varied but grammatically correct meaning from the same word.

But not with this guide. It is incomplete, apocryphal and riddled with errors. Even worse, it comes from a far-off time when Vientiane had no ATMs and visitors had to change their money in Vietnam, Myanmar or Thailand; the fog of clouded memory taints this guide and will corrupt all who absorb it.

Let us begin:

EnglishLao
HelloSabaidi
How are you?Sabaidi do?
I’m fineKhony sabaidi
Excuse me (getting attention)Khǎw thôht
Thank youKhob chai
GoodbyeLa kon
Please Kaluna
YesMaen laeow / doi / eur / jao
NoBaw
MaybeBangthi
What’s your name?Chao so jang?
My name is (Thomm)Khony su (Thomm)
Where you go?Chao cha pai sai?
I don’t knowKhony bo hu
I go to (the temple)Khony pai (vad)
Where is (the temple)?(Vad) yusai
Over thereYuthinan
How far is (the temple)?(Vad) kai pan dai?
How long is (the journey)?(Kandoenthang) nyav pandai?
AirportSa nam bin
HotelOhngaehm
RestaurantHanoahan
BarBa
TownMeuong
CityMeuong
VillageBan
TempleVad
This is … Niaemn …
CheapLakhathuk
ExpensiveAephng
Very (cheap)(Lakhathuk) rai 
Do you have a (room)?Chao mi (hong) bo?
I want a (room)Khony tongkan (hong)
RoomHong
BeerBia
WaterNoa
CigarettesYasub
LighterSi man
FoodAhan
Drink Dum
ChickenKai
FishPa
RiceKhao
What’s the score?Khaaenn aemn theoadai?
I like your noseKhony mak dang khong chao
0Soon
1Neung
2Sawng
3Saam
4Sii
5Haa
6Hok
7Jed
8Pad
9Gao
10Sip
11Sip et
12Sip song
20Song sip
30Saam sip
40Sii sip
50Haa sip
60Hok sip
70Jed sip
80Pad sip
90Gao sip
100Nueng hoi
200Song hoi
300Saam hoi

  

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