Lao Numbers: 1,2,3 Read This Awesome Guide Free!

This is a really important one today—Lao numbers and counting. On the Ling blog, we like to include a wide array of content, including everything from Lao spaceship vocabulary to Lao colors. However, we know some are more key to cover than others, which is what we have today.

Numbers are a basic aspect of any language. You could go to a remote tribe in Papua New Guinea, and perhaps they couldn’t tell you the first thing about architecture or complex grammar, but there’ll be at least some language system for numbers and counting.

Before we go any further, let me take 1 minute to tell you about Ling. Ling is fast becoming one of the biggest language apps on the market. Originating from Chiang Mai, Thailand, Ling has brought together a talented team of teachers and software developers to create an app that is ideal for studying lesser-known languages such as Lao and Thai. Read till the end to find out more.

First, let’s learn how to count in Lao.

Lao Numbers

Numbers in Lao From 1 To 12

NumberLaoLao Script
0sunສູນ
1nungຫນຶ່ງ
2songສອງ
3samສາມ
4siສີ່
5haຫ້າ
6hokຫົກ
7chedເຈັດ
8paedແປດ
9kaoເກົ້າ
10sibສິບ
11siboedສິບເອັດ
12sibsongສິບສອງ
Lao numbers

Lao Numbers From 13-19

Luckily the numbers between 13 and 19 are pretty easy to memorize. You just need to know the word sib, which is ten plus any second digit number added to it.

NumberLaoLao Script
13sibsamສິບສາມ
14sibsiສິບສີ່
15sibhaສິບຫ້າ
16sibhokສິບຫົກ
17sibchedສິບເຈັດ
18sibaepdສິບເຈັດ
19sibkaoສິບເກົ້າ

Bigger Lao Numbers

NumberLaoLao Script
20savຊາວ
30samsibສາມສິບ
40si sibສີ່ສິບ
50hasibຫ້າສິບ
60hok sibຫົກສິບ
70ched sibເຈັດສິບ
80paesipແປສິບ
90kaosibເກົ້າສິບ
100nung honyຫນຶ່ງ​ຮ້ອຍ
500ha honyຫ້າ​ຮ້ອຍ
1000nung phanຫນຶ່ງ​ພັນ
10,000sib phanສິບ​ພັນ
100,000nung aesnຫນຶ່ງແສນ
1 millionnung Ianຫນຶ່ງແສນ
10 millionsib lanສິບລ້ານ
100 millionnung hony Ianຫນຶ່ງຮ້ອຍລ້ານ
1 billionnung tuຫນຶ່ງຕື້
1 trillionnung phan tuຫນຶ່ງພັນຕື້

How To Call A Phone Number In Laos?

A good piece of knowledge to memorize is how to connect to a phone in Laos. Each country has its own dialing code, and Laos’ dialing code is +856, followed by the rest of the person’s number.

Another useful thing to know is the number for emergency services. In Laos, they are:

  • 1190- Fire
  • 1195- Ambulance
  • 1191- Police
  • 021-251-128- Tourist police

However, I would be highly skeptical if you called one of these numbers just how much English they spoke and, if they did speak English, how much they’d be willing to help you.

What Do Different Numbers Mean To Different Cultures?

In Lao, the number 4 is believed to be lucky because it symbolizes a cat that is said to have four lives. The number 67 is unlucky because it is related to turtles. However, I’ve still never been able to find anyone who can explain why turtles might be unlucky. (In other Asian cultures, they are lucky because they symbolize longevity).

numbers In Lao

People are very specific regarding numbers and whether they are lucky or unlucky. An unlucky number could come into existence because of how a number sounds—for example, the number 4 is unlucky in Chinese because it also sounds like the word death. A similar phenomenon exists in Japan around the number 9 because it sounds like the word torture.

In Western culture, there is a taboo around the number 13. It is difficult to pin down exactly how this came to be. I’ve heard three different explanations. The first is that there were 13 steps up to the gallows where a man would be hung. The second is that a witch’s coven had 13 members. I think the best explanation is from Biblical times. There were 13 disciples at the last supper, and the 13th was Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Christ to the Romans. Ironically, the Italians consider the number lucky as it relates to Saint Anthony. 

Learn The Lao Language With Ling

We now hope you feel a lot more confident counting Lao numbers. Do you think you’re ready to visit and strike up a conversation with a local? Visit our page and download our Lao language course now.

When trying to meet your language learning goals, Ling has plenty to offer you. Here’s a comprehensive breakdown of what things you can expect if you download the ling app.

  • Listening- All of our flashcards are recorded by native speakers, which means you are getting the 100% genuine article when it comes to accent. You will not hear any computer-generated audio on our site.
  • Vocabulary- As well as having flashcards recorded by native speakers, they’re all designed with SRS in mind. A spaced repetition system ensures that new vocabulary is presented back to you at carefully timed intervals.
  • Writing- practice that crucial Lao alphabet with our click and trace function
  • Speaking- practice speaking with our chatbot. It might not be as good as speaking with a native speaker, but it’s the best alternative you’ll find in a language learning app.
  • Grammar- our non-intrusive grammar guides ensure that you get just the right top-up level with your Lao grammar.

Also, don’t forget this blog is updated weekly. So, stay in touch where you’ll find other hidden Lao gems, such as common Lao verbs and yes in Lao.

Start learning Lao now!

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2 Responses

  1. I think numbers 8 and 80 have typos ? Should be paed phonetically in English alphabet. Currently in Luang Prabang in Laos and checked with the hotel staff! Great reference and awesome site. Thank you.

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