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(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 that feels out of time. The plateaus of Champasak, for example, convey the impression of unceasing openness that suggests a quietude lacking in the fiery dragon of Vietnam or the overbearing reach of Thailand. This small, unhurried country lies between at least three larger nations, yet it never feels 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.

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

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Linguistically, Lao mirrors Thai, particularly the Isaan dialect. Its meaning relies on tones–low, mid, high, rising, high falling, and low falling–which indicate 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. Consider it 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:

English Lao

Basics Phunthan

Hello Sabaidi

How are you? Sabaidi do?

I’m fine Khony sabaidi

Excuse me (getting attention) Khǎw thôht

Thank you Khob chai

Goodbye La kon

Please Kaluna

Yes Maen laeow / Doi / Eur / Jao

No Baw

Maybe Bangthi

What’s your name? Chao so jang?

My name is (Thomm) Khony su (Thomm)

What’s the score? Khaaenn aemn theoadai?

I like your nose Khony mak dang khong chao

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Directions Thidthang

Left Sai

Right Khuaa

Straight on Kongpaikongma

Behind Lang

In front of Tona

Where you go? Chao cha pai sai?

I don’t know Khony bo hu

I go to (the temple) Khony pai (vad)

Where is (the temple)? (Vad) yusai?

(Over) there Yuthinan

(Over) here Thini

How far is (the temple)? (Vad) kai pan dai?

How long is (the journey)? (Kandoenthang) nyav pandai?

Airport Sa nam bin

Hotel Ohngaehm

Restaurant Hanoahan

Bar Ba

Town / City Meuong

Village Ban

Temple Vad

Bank Thanakhan

Market Tarad

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Numbers Lek

0 Soon

1 Neung

2 Sawng

3 Saam

4 Sii

5 Haa

6 Hok

7 Jed

8 Pad

9 Gao

10 Sip

11 Sip et

12 Sip song

20 Song sip

30 Saam sip

40 Sii sip

50 Haa sip

60 Hok sip 

70 Jed sip

80 Pad sip

90 Gao sip

100 Nueng hoi

Hundred Hony

Thousand Phan

Million Lan

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Shopping / Transactions Kankha / Kanhed thula koa

Money Ngoen

How much? Theoadai

This is… Niaemn…

Cheap Lakhathuk

Expensive Aephng

Very (cheap) (Lakhathuk) rai 

Do you have a (room)? Chao mi (hong) bo?

I want a (room) Khony tongkan (hong)

Room Hong

Beer Bia

Water Noa

Cigarettes Yasub

Lighter Si man

Food Ahan

Drink Dum

Chicken Kai

Fish Pa

Rice Khao

Noodles Noodles

Fruit Makmai

Vegetables Phak

Half Kheung

Less Nnawy-kwaa

More Phoemtoem

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Time Vela

Now Diow nee

Later Lai gon

Before Deh gawn

Morning Dthawn sao

Afternoon Tiang/ton suwai

Evening Ton lang

Night Kaang keun

What time? Vela aemnjang?

Minute Na-thii

Hour Suua mohng

Week Aathit

Month Duean

Year Bpii

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Days Mu

Today Meuh nii

Yesterday Meuh wán nii

Tomorrow Meuh euhn

This week Aa-thit nii

Last week Thit laeow

Next week Thit naa

Weekend Sǎo aa-thit

Someday Meuh naa

Monday Wán jan

Tuesday Wán ang-kháan

Wednesday Wán phuut

Thursday Wán pha-hát

Friday Wán súk

Saturday Wán săo

Sunday Wán aa-thit