How do you want to make ເພື່ອນ (pronounced as pheuon) or friends in Laos if you don’t know how to say it in the local language? In this post, you’ll learn the most common Lao nouns to help you interact with the locals like a real pro. Let’s start!
Oh, Laos… the land of a million elephants and a zillion smiles! A hidden gem nestled in the heart of Southeast Asia that many travelers often overlook. What a mistake! Let me tell you, those who make the journey are in for an unforgettable experience! This little country may be small in size, but it packs a mighty punch when it comes to adventure, culture, and hospitality. From kayaking down the Mekong River to trekking through the jungle to visiting remote hill-tribe villages, there’s never a dull moment in Laos.
But wait, there’s more! Laotians are simply the warmest, friendliest people I’ve ever met, and their rich culture and history are just waiting to be discovered. Whether you’re an adventurous traveler seeking new thrills or just looking to relax and soak up the local way of life, Laos has something for everyone.
Speaking from experience, I’m lucky to say that I spent 4 months exploring this incredible country, from the very mountainous regions in Northern Laos to the incredible coffee plantations of the South. I can tell you first-hand that learning a few Lao words can make your experience that much more memorable and, most of all, easy.
During my time there, one of the first things I learned was the word ເພື່ອນ (friend), and that’s precisely what many of the locals became to me – friends who welcomed me into their homes, showed me their favorite spots and shared their culture with me. I still keep in touch with many people I met in that country.
So, if you’re planning a trip to Laos, why not take a moment to learn some of the most common nouns in the Lao language? Not only will it help you communicate with the locals, but it’ll also give you a deeper appreciation and understanding of their culture.
My beautiful experience put this article together, where I’ll go through the 50+ most common and useful nouns you can learn in the Lao language, complete with pronunciation guides and helpful examples. Trust me. You won’t regret it. What are you waiting for? Let’s dive into the world of Lao and get ready to turn your trip into a once-in-a-lifetime experience!
Essential Things To Know About Laos
- Location: Laos is located in Southeast Asia, bordered by Myanmar to the northwest, China to the northeast, Vietnam to the east, Cambodia to the southeast, and Thailand to the west and southwest.
- Population: As of 2021, the estimated population of Laos is approximately 7 million people.
- Capital: The capital city of Laos is Vientiane.
- Currency: The official currency of Laos is the Lao kip (LAK).
- Official Language: The official language of Laos is Lao.
- Main Ethnic Group: The main ethnic group in Laos is the Lao Tai, who make up around 62% of the population. Many ethnic minority groups include Mon-Khmer, Hmong-Iu Mien, and Chine-Tibetan.
- Written Language: The language used in Laos is the Lao script, which is based on the Brahmi script and used to write the Lao language.
50+ Basic Lao Nouns Everyone Should Know
Okay, let’s get down to business. It is time to go through the most common nouns in the Lao language, how to write them in Lao script, and how to pronounce them. So grab your notebook, lace up your linguistic boots, and let’s get ready to conquer the world of Lao!
Essential Lao Nouns
| English | Lao | Pronunciation |
| Laos | ປະເທດລາວ | pathedlav |
| Laotian | ຄົນລາວ | khonlav |
| Food | ອາຫານ | ahan |
| Drink | ດື່ມ | dum |
| Water | ນ້ໍາ | noa |
| Man | ຜູ້ຊາຍ | phusai |
| Woman | ຜູ້ຍິງ | phunying |
| Friend | ເພື່ອນ | pheuon |
| Family | ຄອບຄົວ | khobkhua |
| Happiness | ຄວາມສຸກ | khuaamsuk |
| House | ເຮືອນ | heuon |
| Language | ພາສາ | phasa |
| Culture | ວັດທະນະທໍາ | vadthanathoa |
| Traditions | ປະເພນີ | papheni |
| Money | ເງິນ | ngoen |
| Day | ມື້ | mu |
| Person | ບຸກຄົນ | bukkhon |
| Place | ສະຖານທີ່ | sathanthi |
| City | ເມືອງ | meuong |
| People | ຄົນ | khon |
| Minute | ນາທີ | nathi |
| Room | ຫ້ອງ | hong |
Example sentences using some of the Lao nouns above.
- I’m looking for some food and water – ຂ້ອຍກໍາລັງຊອກຫາອາຫານແລະນ້ໍາ (khony koalangsokha ahan lae noa)
- I arrived in Laos yesterday! I’m visiting some family. – ມາຮອດລາວມື້ວານນີ້! ຂ້ອຍກໍາລັງໄປຢ້ຽມຢາມບາງຄອບຄົວ. (mahod lav muuaanni khonykoalang paiyiamyam bangkhobkhua)
- Laos is filled with culture and tradition. – ປະເທດລາວເຕັມໄປດ້ວຍວັດທະນະທຳ ແລະ ປະເພນີ. (pathedlav tempaiduanyvadthanatham lae papheni)
- I need to withdraw some money – ຂ້ອຍຈໍາເປັນຕ້ອງຖອນເງິນຈໍານວນຫນຶ່ງ (khony choapentong thon ngoenchoanuan nung)
Lao Nouns For Travellers
| English | Lao | Pronunciation |
| Bathroom | ຫ້ອງນ້ຳ | hongnam |
| Police | ຕໍາຫລວດ | toaluad |
| Hospital | ໂຮງໝໍ | ohngmo |
| Doctor | ທ່ານໝໍ | thanmo |
| Nurse | ພະຍາບານ | phanyaban |
| Pharmacy | ຮ້ານຂາຍຢາ | hankhaiya |
| Store | ຮ້ານຄ້າ | hankha |
| Restaurant | ຮ້ານອາຫານ | hanoahan |
| Tourist | ນັກທ່ອງທ່ຽວ | nakthongthiav |
| Transportation | ການຂົນສົ່ງ | kankhonsong |
| Bus | ລົດເມ | lodme |
| Train | ລົດໄຟ | lodfai |
| Car | ລົດ | lod |
| Plane | ຍົນ | nyon |
| Temple | ວັດ | vad |
| Village | ບ້ານ | ban |
| Ticket | ປີ້ | pi |
| Weather | ສະພາບອາກາດ | saphaboakad |
| Itinerary | ລາຍການເດີນທາງ | lai kandoenthang |
Example sentences using some of the Lao nouns above.
- Call the police! – ໂທຫາຕຳຫຼວດ! (othha tamruad)
- Where can I buy a ticket? – ຂ້ອຍໄປຊື້ປີ້ໄດ້ຢູ່ໃສ? (khony pai su pi dai yu sai)
- The temples here are so beautiful! – ວັດທີ່ນີ້ງາມຫຼາຍ! (vad thi ni ngam rai)
- My train is at 4pm – ລົດໄຟຂອງຂ້ອຍແມ່ນເວລາ 4 ໂມງແລງ (lodfai khongkhony aemnuaela 4 omngaelng)
- How is the weather going to be tomorrow? – ມື້ອື່ນອາກາດເປັນແນວໃດ? (muun akad penaenuadai)
Lao Love And Dating Nouns
| English | Lao | Pronunciation |
| Boyfriend | ແຟນ | aefn |
| Friend | ເພື່ອນ | pheuon |
| Husband | ຜົວ | phua |
| Lover | ຄົນຮັກ | khonhak |
| Father | ພໍ່ | pho |
| Mother | ແມ່ | aem |
| Son | ລູກຊາຍ | luksai |
| Daughter | ລູກສາວ | luksav |
| Love | ຮັກ | hak |
| Hate | ຊັງ | sang |
Example sentences using some of the Lao nouns above.
- I’m full of hate with my friend – ຂ້ອຍເຕັມໄປດ້ວຍຄວາມກຽດຊັງກັບເພື່ອນຂອງຂ້ອຍ (khony tempaiduany khuaam kiad sang kab pheuon khongkhony)
- I love my father – ຂ້ອຍຮັກພໍ່ຂອງຂ້ອຍ (khony hakpho khongkhony)
- I have so many friends in Laos- ຂ້ອຍມີໝູ່ຫຼາຍຢູ່ລາວ (khony mimu rai yulav)
Lao Nouns For Useful Items
| English | Lao | Pronunciation |
| Phone | ໂທລະສັບ | othlasab |
| Computer | ຄອມພິວເຕີ | khomphiuatoe |
| Fridge | ຕູ້ເຢັນ | tuyen |
| Bicycle | ລົດຖີບ | lodthib |
| Helmet | ໝວກກັນກະທົບ | muak kankathob |
| Television | ໂທລະພາບ | othlaphab |
| Wallet | ກະເປົາເງິນ | kapaongoen |
| Internet | ອິນເຕີເນັດ | intoened |
Example sentences using some of the Lao nouns above.
- I lost my phone – ຂ້ອຍເສຍໂທລະສັບ (khony sia othlasab)
- Can I use your bicycle? – ຂ້ອຍສາມາດໃຊ້ລົດຖີບຂອງເຈົ້າໄດ້ບໍ? (khony samadsai lodthib khongchao daibo)
- Do you have internet? – ເຈົ້າມີອິນເຕີເນັດບໍ່? (chao mi intoened bo)
That’s All!
Whew! What a ride it was! You now have a much richer understanding of Lao nouns and can even use them during your interactions with the lovely Laotian people. To complement this knowledge, don’t forget to explore more topics in our blog, like some restaurant vocabulary (useful to order your next meal) or some travel phrases that are always useful if you’re heading to a foreign country.
To top this all off, let me talk to you about a new tool that is taking the language-learning world by storm.
Keep Your Lao Updated With Ling App
It is called Ling, and it is everything you may be looking for in a language learning application. We’re talking about easy and fast lessons packed with exciting vocabulary, engaging games that will help you retain information much faster, and a progress-tracking feature so that you can show your friends how much you’ve learned about the Lao language!
And all it takes to learn is as little as 15 minutes a day. That’s it! If this is all you have to improve your Lao, we give you all the tools you may need in just one place so that you can make the most of your precious time. From quizzes to in-depth lessons, we got you covered! If this wasn’t enough, we also have a Chat Bot at your disposal if you want to practice your Lao. Perfect for those lazy Sunday mornings, don’t you think?
So, the question is, are you on iOS or Android? Either way, we are ready to teach you all about the Lao language!
