Hey there! Wanna spice up your conversations and connect with the locals during your Lao adventure? Look no further! In this article, we’ve got your back with some awesome conversational Lao phrases that’ll make you sound like a pro.
From greetings to small talk and even compliments, we’ve gathered a bunch of casual and friendly expressions that’ll have you blending in and making new friends in no time. So grab a cup of coffee, sit back, and get ready to level up your Lao language game with these cool conversational words and phrases. Let’s dive in!
Learn The Language Of Laos
Laos, a hidden gem in Southeast Asia, offers an enchanting blend of natural wonders, cultural treasures, and authentic experiences for foreign tourists. Discover the UNESCO World Heritage town of Luang Prabang, with its ornate temples and serene waterfalls. Cruise along the mighty Mekong River, exploring remote villages and witnessing breathtaking landscapes.
Immerse yourself in the spiritual ambiance of Vientiane, the capital city, adorned with golden temples and vibrant markets. Trek through lush jungles, encounter ethnic minority communities, and marvel at the mystical Plain of Jars. From unique foods to thrilling shopping experiences, Laos has something for everyone.
Basic Conversational Lao Phrases
To make the maximum of your travel, it is advisable to learn a few phrases in the local language – Lao – which is also the official language or, to say, the main language of the country. It is quite similar to the Thai language, as the Thai alphabet is somewhat similar to the Lao alphabet. So, if you already speak Thai, you are going to have an incredible time in this foreign country!
Here are some basic words and phrases in the Lao language to help you stay afloat on your trip to the quaint little country of Laos.
Basic Greetings In Lao
| English | Lao | Roman Transcription |
|---|---|---|
| Good morning | ສະບາຍດີຕອນເຊົ້າ | Sa bai di ton sao |
| Good afternoon | ສະບາຍດີຕອນສວາຍ | Sa bai di ton suaai |
| Good evening | ສະບາຍດີຕອນແລງ | Sa bai di ton aelng |
| Good night | ຝັນດີ | Fandi |
| Thank you | ຂອບໃຈ | Khawp jai/ khawp chai |
| Good luck | ໂຊກດີ | Sok dee |
Basic Lao Conversation
| English | Lao | Roman Transcription |
|---|---|---|
| Hello | ສະບາຍດີ | Sa bai dee/ Sa bai dii |
| How are you? | ສະບາຍດີບໍ? | Sa bai di bo? |
| I am good, thank you | ຂ້ອຍສະບາຍດີ, ຂອບໃຈ | Khoy sa bai di, khop chai/ khop jai |
| What is your name? | ເຈົ້າຊື່ຫຍັງ | Chao su jang |
| My name is _____ | ຂ້ອຍຊື່ ______ | Khoysu _____ |
| Where are you from? | ເຈົ້າມາຈາກໃສ? | Chao ma chak sai? |
| I am from _____ | ຂ້ອຍມາຈາກ _____ | Khoymachak _____ |
| Nice to meet you | ຍິນດີທີ່ໄດ້ຮູ້ຈັກເຈົ້າ | Nyin di thi dai hu chak chao |
| See you later | ແລ້ວພົບກັນໃນພາຍຫຼັງ | Aelv phobkan nai phairang |
| Have a nice day | ມີມື້ທີ່ດີ | Mi van thidi |
| Goodbye | ລາກ່ອນ | La gon |
Basic Lao Phrases For Shopping
| English | Lao | Roman Transcription |
|---|---|---|
| I like this piece | ຂ້ອຍມັກສິ້ນນີ້ | Khoy mak sin ni |
| How much does this cost? | ນີ້ລາຄາເທົ່າໃດ | Ni laka tao dai |
| That’s expensive! | ແພງຫຼາຍ | Phaeng lai lai |
| Can you lower the price? | ເຈົ້າສາມາດຫຼຸດລາຄາໄດ້ | Lud dai baw |
| Is there a discount? | ມີສ່ວນຫຼຸດບໍ | Misuan rud bo |
| Can you show this in a different size? | ເຈົ້າສາມາດສະແດງສິ່ງນີ້ໃນຂະຫນາດທີ່ແຕກຕ່າງກັນບໍ? | Chao samad saaedng singni nai khanad thiaetktangkan bo |
| Do you accept card payments? | ທ່ານຍອມຮັບການຊໍາລະບັດບໍ? | Than nyomhab kan soa labad bo |
| Can I pay in cash? | ຂ້ອຍສາມາດຈ່າຍເປັນເງິນສົດໄດ້ບໍ? | Khoy samad chai pen ngoensod daibo |
Basic Lao Phrases For Restaurants Or Coffee Shops
| English | Lao | Roman Transcription |
|---|---|---|
| May I see the menu, please? | ຂໍໃຫ້ຂ້ອຍເບິ່ງເມນູກະລຸນາ | Khohai khoy boeng menu kaluna |
| I want to order food _____ | ຂ້ອຍຢາກສັ່ງ ______ | Khoi yak sang |
| Can you recommend a specialty of the restaurant? | ທ່ານສາມາດແນະນໍາອາຫານພິເສດຂອງຮ້ານອາຫານໄດ້ບໍ | Thansamad naenoa ahan phised khong hanoahan daibo |
| Do you serve vegetarian food? | ເຈົ້າມີອາຫານເຈບໍ່ | Chao mi ahan che bo |
| Can you make my meal less spicy/ not spicy? | ທ່ານສາມາດເຮັດໃຫ້ອາຫານຂອງຂ້ອຍບໍ່ເຜັດ | Thansamad hedhai ahan khongkhony pet noy nung/ baw pet |
| The meal was delicious | ອາຫານແມ່ນແຊບ | Ahan aemn aesb |
| Get me the check, please | ໄລ່ເງິນແດ່ | Chèk bin kalounaa |
| Where is the toilet? | ຫ້ອງນໍາ້ຢູ່ໃສ | Hong nam yu sai |
To know more such phrases related to ordering food in restaurants in Laos, you can check this article.
Basic Lao Sentences For Asking For Directions & Transportation
| English | Lao | Roman Transcription |
|---|---|---|
| I don’t understand this address | ຂ້ອຍບໍ່ເຂົ້າໃຈທີ່ຢູ່ນີ້ | Khoy baw khao jai thiyu ni |
| Where is the nearest shopping center? | ສູນການຄ້າທີ່ໃກ້ທີ່ສຸດຢູ່ໃສ? | Sunkankha thi kai thisud yusai |
| Where is the nearest ATM? | ຕູ້ ATM ທີ່ໃກ້ທີ່ສຸດຢູ່ໃສ? | Tu ATM thi kai thisud yusai |
| Can I go there by tuk-tuk? | ຂ້ອຍສາມາດໄປບ່ອນນັ້ນໄດ້ໂດຍລົດຕຸກຕຸກ | Khoy samad pai bonnan dai odny lod tuk tuk |
| I need to book a taxi for the airport | ຂ້ອຍຈໍາເປັນຕ້ອງຈອງ taxi ສໍາລັບສະຫນາມບິນ | Khoy choapentongchong taxi soalab sanambin |
| Can you take me to _________ | ເຈົ້າສາມາດພາຂ້ອຍໄປ __________ | Chao samad phakhonypai ______ |
Basic Lao Phrases For Problems & Emergencies
| English | Lao | Roman Transcription |
|---|---|---|
| I am getting late | ຂ້ອຍມາຊ້າ | Khoy masa |
| I am not feeling well/ I am sick | ຂ້ອຍຮູ້ສຶກບໍ່ສະບາຍ | Khoy husuk bosabai |
| I need a doctor | ຂ້ອຍຕ້ອງການທ່ານຫມໍ | Khoy tong kan maw |
| Do you speak English? | ເຈົ້າເວົ້າພາສາອັງກິດໄດ້ບໍ່ | Chao vao phasa angkit dai bo |
| I need help | ຂ້ອຍຕ້ອງການຄວາມຊ່ວຍເຫຼືອ | Khoy tong kan khuaam suany heu |
| Can you explain this to him on my behalf? | ເຈົ້າສາມາດອະທິບາຍເລື່ອງນີ້ໃຫ້ລາວໃນນາມຂອງຂ້ອຍໄດ້ບໍ | Chao samad athibaileuong nihai lav nainam khongkhony dai bo |
Learn Lao With Ling!
Remember to use these phrases with a warm smile, and you’ll surely make a positive impression on the locals! Want to learn similar gems? Then simply head to the Ling language-learning platform.
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