Are you finding it challenging to learn all the essential words and phrases in Lao and use them on time despite the given resources? Don’t worry. As a beginner learner or a new traveler, confusions never leave your corner. Especially when it concerns emergencies or contemporary socializing meets, getting nervous and feeling blank is common. However, this should not be the case forever. With this blog, you will become an expert Lao speaker in no time!
Although there are plenty of lessons on phrases and Laotian words to learn, people always tend to forget and mess up when it comes to speaking. Thus, to make memorizing easy and fluency more robust, this blog is prepared with all the essential short Lao phrases like ຫ້ອງນໍາ້ຢູ່ໃສ (Where is the bathroom), ເຈົ້າເວົ້າພາສາອັງກິດໄດ້ບໍ່ (Do you speak English), ຊ່ວຍຂ້ອຍແດ່ (Help me), etc., curated under different departments. Going through these sections will provide precision in learning and allow you to use the correct phrases without fumbling at the most accurate time. So, if you want to learn more, keep reading and become a pro-speaker without any chaos.
The Laotian Language
Apart from the primary use of learning short phrases, there is another advantage to it. As you keep learning, you start discovering the comprehensiveness of the Laotian language and get a deeper insight into the linguistic culture. So, before we hop into the phrases, let us have a brief outlook on the language of Laos.
- The Lao language, or the Laotian language, comes from the family of Tai languages of Southeast Asia. It is the official language of Laos and has several dialects which differ among themselves. It is a monosyllabic language with high importance on tones to differentiate between words. It is a language that is highly influenced by its neighboring country’s official language, Thai of Thailand.
- Lao is considered a complicated language to learn. However, compared to Thai or Khmer, Lao is much easier to understand because of its easier spelling and grammar forms. With the utmost practice of 3-4 months, it is possible to grab the basic hold of the language and additional training to become proficient.
- One of the best ways to get to the position of proficiency is by learning short phrases and basic vocabulary that this blog aims to provide. Being familiar with such terms helps one get the gist of the language and catch up with regular word formations and sentences. Especially for travelers whose primary intention is not fluency but acquaintance, short phrases come in handy as most people in Lao still are new to the English language and prefer their traditional spoken form over any other. So, such lessons will help you become a language expert and make mingling with the locals more accessible on both ends.
Short Lao Phrases: 6 Different Categories
Now we come to the main section. Here, we will go through different short phrases curated under various categories to allow accuracy in learning. By memorizing these easy lines, you will unlock your skill to communicate with locals and convey your thoughts without any bafflement. So, let’s begin and start our learning journey.
Basic Introductory Phrases
In this category, we will go through the basic greeting phrases that will come in handy when arriving at your destination hotel. These will help you introduce yourself and familiarize yourself with your local mates. Moreover, these are the best ways to start a conversation with strangers at any given point.
| English | Lao | Pronunciation |
| Hello! Good morning! | ສະບາຍດີ! ສະບາຍດີຕອນເຊົ້າ! | sabaidi sa bai di ton sao |
| How are you? | ສະບາຍດີບໍ? | sa bai di bo |
| Have a pleasant day | ມີມື້ທີ່ມີຄວາມສຸກ | mi mu thi mikhuaamsuk |
| Nice to meet you | ຍິນດີທີ່ໄດ້ຮູ້ຈັກເຈົ້າ | nyin di thi dai hu chak chao |
| Where are you from? | ເຈົ້າມາຈາກໃສ? | chao ma chak sai |
| My name is… | ຊື່ຂອງຂ້ອຍແມ່ນ… | su khong khony aemn |
| What is your name? | ເຈົ້າຊື່ຫຍັງ? | jâo seu nyãng? |
| I am happy to be here | ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າຍິນດີທີ່ຈະຢູ່ທີ່ນີ້ | khaphachao nyindithicha yuthini |
| Thank you for having me | ຂອບໃຈທີ່ເຈົ້າມີຂ້ອຍ | khobchaithi chao mi khony |
| Have a good day! | ມີມື້ທີ່ດີ | mi mu thidi |
| Hi there! | ສະບາຍດີ! | sa bai di |
| Welcome! | ຍິນດີຕ້ອນຮັບ! | nyinditonhab |
Phrases For Socialisation In Lao
Here is a list of sentences with proper English translations that will help you socialize with your new mates. Only greetings will not create bonds. To know more about your local mate and bring more trust in your friendship, these phrases will become your best guide. Learn them by heart, as they are the most common ones you’ll hear.
| English | Lao | Pronunciation |
| How are you doing? | ເຈົ້າສະບາຍດີບໍ? | chao sa bai di bo |
| You look beautiful | ເຈົ້າງາມ | chao ngam |
| Do you speak English? | ເຈົ້າເວົ້າພາສາອັງກິດໄດ້ບໍ່? | chao vao pha sa ang kid dai bo |
| Thank you for coming | ຂອບໃຈທີ່ມາ | khobchaithi ma |
| Where do you work? | ເຈົ້າເຮັດວຽກຢູ່ໃສ? | chao hed viak yu sai |
| Do you have hobbies? | ເຈົ້າມີວຽກອະດິເລກບໍ? | chao miuaiak a di lek bo |
| I like your style | ຂ້ອຍມັກແບບຂອງເຈົ້າ | khony mak aebb khongchao |
| Can I get your number? | ຂ້ອຍຂໍເບີຂອງເຈົ້າໄດ້ບໍ? | khonykho boe khongchao daibo |
| Will you dance with me? | ເຈົ້າຈະເຕັ້ນກັບຂ້ອຍບໍ? | chao cha ten kab khony bo |
| I am from… | ຂ້ອຍມາຈາກ… | khony ma chak |
| I love your country | ຂ້ອຍຮັກປະເທດຂອງເຈົ້າ | khony hak pathed khongchao |
Mealtime Phrases In The Laotian Language
Mealtime problems always arise no matter where you go. It can be concerning the menu or giving orders, and the language barrier can hit everywhere, causing defaults in your meal. So, to avoid such uncertainties, the following phrases will surely help. Moreover, using these will also leave out a unique impression of your personality and an appreciation of your efforts.
| English | Lao | Pronunciation |
| Do you have extra servings? | ເຈົ້າມີບໍລິການພິເສດບໍ? | chao mi bolikan phised bo |
| What’s special today? | ມື້ນີ້ມີຫຍັງພິເສດ? | muni mijang phised |
| Thank you for the food | ຂອບໃຈສໍາລັບອາຫານ | khobchai soalab ahan |
| I want less spicy | ຂ້ອຍຕ້ອງການເຜັດຫນ້ອຍ | khony tongkan phed nony |
| What’s there on the menu | ມີຫຍັງຢູ່ໃນເມນູ | mijang yunai menu |
| Can I get the bill, please | ຂ້ອຍສາມາດເອົາໃບບິນໄດ້, ກະລຸນາ | khony samad aobai bin dai kaluna |
| The food is amazing | ອາຫານແມ່ນເຮັດໃຫ້ປະລາດ | ahan aemn hedhai pa lad |
| Can I have a glass of water? | ຂ້ອຍສາມາດມີຈອກນ້ໍາໄດ້ບໍ? | khony samadmi chok noa daibo |
Business Phrases In Lao
This section is for you if you are traveling to Lao for the business world. Laotians follow certain etiquette when it comes to business, and it is only polite to know their native terms and use them in times of need. Such skills will also open doorways for further business partnerships with the Lao companies, which can be a big turn of events in your case.
| English | Lao | Pronunciation |
| Let me introduce myself | ໃຫ້ຂ້ອຍແນະນໍາຕົວເອງ | haikhony naenoa tuaoeng |
| Here is the deal | ນີ້ແມ່ນຂໍ້ຕົກລົງ | niaemn khotoklong |
| I would love to work with you | ຂ້ອຍຢາກເຮັດວຽກກັບເຈົ້າ | khonyyak heduaiak kabchao |
| I am sorry to interrupt | ຂ້ອຍຂໍອະໄພທີ່ຂັດຂວາງ | khony khooaphai thi khadkhuaang |
| Could you repeat that, please? | ທ່ານສາມາດເຮັດຊ້ໍາໄດ້, ກະລຸນາ? | thansamad hed s oa dai kaluna |
| Let’s end the meeting | ຂໍໃຫ້ສິ້ນສຸດກອງປະຊຸມ | khohai sinsud kongpasum |
| I am pleased to work here | ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າຍິນດີທີ່ຈະເຮັດວຽກຢູ່ທີ່ນີ້ | khaphachao nyindithicha heduaiakyu thini |
| Thank you for your cooperation | ຂອບໃຈສໍາລັບການຮ່ວມມືຂອງທ່ານ | khobchai soalab kanhuammu khongthan |
Lao Short Emergency Phrases
One of the most vital parts of today’s lesson is the phrases regarding emergencies. Most people black out during urgent times and lose their vocabulary. Especially for foreigners, it is a must to have some basic emergency phrases saved up to get instant help during times of need. Read this section thoroughly to avoid any linguistic numbness during your trip.
| English | Lao | Pronunciation |
| Somebody help | ບາງຄົນຊ່ວຍ | bangkhon suany |
| Call the ambulance | ໂທຫາລົດສຸກເສີນ | othha lod suksoen |
| Someone call the police | ມີຄົນໂທຫາຕໍາຫຼວດ | mikhon othha toaruad |
| Where is the hospital? | ໂຮງໝໍຢູ່ໃສ? | ohngmo yusai |
| Where are you? | ເຈົ້າຢູ່ໃສ? | chao yu sai |
| I need a little help | ຂ້ອຍຕ້ອງການຄວາມຊ່ວຍເຫຼືອເລັກນ້ອຍ | khony tongkan khuaam suanyheu leknony |
| Can I use your phone? | ຂ້ອຍສາມາດໃຊ້ໂທລະສັບຂອງທ່ານໄດ້ບໍ? | khony samadsai othlasab khongthan daibo |
| Where’s the toilet | ຫ້ອງນ້ຳຢູ່ໃສ | hàwng nâm yuu sǎi? |
Shopping Phrases In Lao
Shopping always remains at the top of the bucket list regarding trips. Thus, to make bargaining and street shopping leisurely for you in Laos, this category has all the essential Lao phrases that deal with shopping vocabulary. Learn them and buy the best things for your friends and family from a country full of authentic colors and designs.
| English | Lao | Pronunciation |
| What is the cost? | ຄ່າໃຊ້ຈ່າຍແມ່ນຫຍັງ? | khasaichai aemnjang |
| Can you lower the price? | ລູດ ໄດ ບາວ? | Lud dai baw? |
| Can I try it once? | ຂ້ອຍສາມາດລອງມັນຄັ້ງດຽວໄດ້ບໍ? | khony samad long man khangdiav daibo |
| It is expensive | ມັນແພງ | manaephng |
| Do you have another design? | ເຈົ້າມີການອອກແບບອື່ນບໍ? | chao mi kanookaebb unbo |
| I want more | ຂ້ອຍຕ້ອງການເພີ່ມເຕີມ | khony tongkan phoemtoem |
| What is the last price? | ລາຄາສຸດທ້າຍແມ່ນຫຍັງ? | lakha sudthai aemnjang |
| Do you accept card? | ເຈົ້າຍອມຮັບບັດບໍ? | chao nyomhab bad bo |
General Phrases To Practice Lao
Apart from the phrases mentioned above, you can learn the sentences and vocabulary given below to enhance further capabilities of speaking Lao. Please read them and use them whenever you find them necessary.
| English | Lao | Pronunciation |
| Let’s go | ໄປກັນເລີຍ | pai kan loeny |
| Have fun | ມີຄວາມມ່ວນ | mikhuaam muan |
| I don’t know | ຂ້ອຍບໍ່ຮູ້ | khony bo hu |
| Hold on! | ຖືໄວ້! | thu vai |
| I don’t understand | ຂ້ອຍບໍ່ເຂົ້າໃຈ | khony bokhaochai |
| Are you alright? | ເຈົ້າເປັນຫັຍງບໍ່? | chao pen hany ng bo |
| I am sorry | ຂ້ອຍຂໍໂທດ | khony kho othd |
| Pardon me | ຂໍໂທດຂ້ອຍ | khoothd khony |
| Thank you very much | ຂອບໃຈຫຼາຍໆ | khobchairai |
| See you later | ແລ້ວພົບກັນໃນພາຍຫຼັງ | aelv phobkan nai phairang |
| What’s up? | ແມ່ນຫຍັງ? | aemnjang |
| Goodbye then! | ລາກ່ອນ! | la kon |
Over To You
Are you ready to have the best trip of your life in Laos? Learning these short phrases has given you the untimely advantage of moving around in a beautiful country without any stress and anxiety. Be it order management or an emergency call; you are now equipped with all the necessary tools to beat the difficulties and bring solutions yourself. You will no longer need your google translator or dictionary, as the knowledge is already stored in your memory.
Moreover, as a language learner, you have repeatedly revised and learned all the essential language lessons, proving yourself to be a better speaker than ever before. Keep regularly practicing to feel the progress further and speak Laotion more fluently in the future.
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