Are you looking forward to visiting Laos or moving into the country? Well, we can’t blame you. Laos’s natural greens, tradition, and food can attract any person worldwide and make it the most desired tourist destination. However, before you plan your tour, we highly recommend you to learn some basic Lao travel phrases. Doing so will help you navigate through the places like a pro and connect with the locals through meaningful bonds.
Thus, in today’s post, you will learn some basic Lao phrases and words like ສະບາຍດີບໍ (sa bai dee baw), ອາຫານແມ່ນແຊບ (ahan aemn aesb), etc., that will help you discover their affluent history and explore the country with a native experience. Want to learn Lao more? Continue reading!
Laos Travel Tips
One of the best things about Laos is that it is the cheapest country in Asia. Thus, bargaining is a standard part of Lao people, and you will be able to spend a fantastic vacation on a daily budget. One of the best ways to save money would be to eat at stalls, use public transport, and book basic homestays or hotels. Your highest expense will likely be on travel rather than food and accommodation.
Lao currency is the “kip.” While many shops and restaurants accept Thai baht or US dollars, smaller towns and cities still need to accept foreign currency. So, it is recommended that you carry Lao currency. However, it is only possible to convert kip to another current in Laos. So, for convenience and a beneficial exchange rate, you can also carry more extensive US notes than small amounts of money in kip.
Another essential thing to remember before traveling to Laos is your health. Healthcare in Laos is still in the primary stage, and emergency institutions are still negligible, with life expectancy only being 57 for a regular person. So, make sure you pack proper medicines and ointments to prevent diseases like Malaria. If you fall sick or face something major, the best option is to reach out to the neighboring country, Thailand.
Nevertheless, Laos is one of the safest countries to travel to, and early travelers have commented that they have felt safer walking in Laos than anywhere else. So to speak, you can enjoy your vacation in Laos with zero worries if you keep the above travel tips in mind.
Lao Travel Phrases
In this section, we will go through different phrases in the Lao language that will help you navigate your tour. Moreover, learning these will also allow you to you bond with the locals and natively explore their lifestyle. So, let’s begin.
Greetings And Conversation
Greetings will always be one of the most exalted parts of Asian traditions. If you have read the previous articles, you would know that Lao people follow a practice called the “nop.” It is a kind gesture made out of a body posture where you are somewhere between a bow and a prayer. Every Laotion person does the nop and utters Sa bai dee as a formal greeting in their culture.
So, here is a list of greeting phrases and words that will let you understand their lifestyle and also enable you to start conversations fluently.
| English | Lao | Pronunciation |
| Hello! | ສະບາຍດີ | sabaidi |
| How are you | ສະບາຍດີບໍ | sa bai dee baw |
| I am fine, thank you | ຂ້ອຍສະບາຍດີຂອບໃຈ | khony sa bai di khob chai |
| What is your name? | ເຈົ້າຊື່ຫຍັງ? | chao su jang |
| My name is… | ຊື່ຂອງຂ້ອຍແມ່ນ… | su khong khony aemn |
| Where are you from? | ເຈົ້າມາຈາກໃສ? | chao ma chak sai |
| Do you speak English? | ເຈົ້າເວົ້າພາສາອັງກິດໄດ້ບໍ່? | chao vao pha sa ang kid dai bo |
| Good morning | ສະບາຍດີຕອນເຊົ້າ | sa bai di ton sao |
| Good evening to you | ສະບາຍດີຕອນແລງກັບເຈົ້າ | sabaiditonaelng kabchao |
| Do you understand? | ຈ່າວ ກວຍ ໄຫ່ ບົວ? | Jâo Khào Jai Baw? |
| It was a misunderstanding | ມັນເປັນຄວາມເຂົ້າໃຈຜິດ | man penh kharn khao jai pit |
| Nice to meet you | ຍິນດີທີ່ໄດ້ຮູ້ຈັກເຈົ້າ | nyin di thi dai hu chak chao |
| Can I join you? | ຂ້ອຍສາມາດເຂົ້າຮ່ວມເຈົ້າໄດ້ບໍ? | khony samad khaohuam chao daibo |
| See you later | ແລ້ວພົບກັນໃນພາຍຫຼັງ | aelv phobkan nai phairang |
| Cheers! | ຊົມເຊີຍ! | somsoeny/ Ne se traduit pas |
| Excuse me/ Sorry | ຂໍໂທດ/ຂໍອະໄພ | khoothd khooaphai |
| Good bye | ສະບາຍດີ | sabaidi |
Basic Lao Phrases For Directions
As a new member or visitor in the country, you will get lost once in a while. So, the best way to get out of such trouble is to communicate with the locals who know the country better than google maps. Here is a list of phrases for asking directions in Lao.
| English | Lao | Pronunciation |
| Directions | ທິດທາງ | thidthang |
| Where is…? | ຢູ່ໃສ…? | yu sai |
| Is it too far? | ມັນໄກເກີນໄປບໍ? | man kai koenpaibo |
| North/ south | ເໜືອ/ໃຕ້ | neu/ tai |
| East/west | ຕາເວັນອອກ/ຕາເວັນຕົກ | Ta wen ock/ Ta wen tok |
| Turn right | ລ້ຽວຂວາ | Liao kwaa |
| Turn left | ລ້ຽວຊ້າຍ | Liao saai |
| Which way? | ທາງໃດ? | thangdai |
| Where am I? | ຂ້ອຍຢູ່ໃສ? | khony yu sai |
| Straight ahead | ໄປຊື່ໆ | pai su |
Lao Phrases For Transport
If you want to travel by public transport in Laos, you must enquire about the tickets, counters, and arrivals. So, the best way to do that is to use some native phrases related to transport to avoid any unnecessary confusion.
| English | Lao | Pronunciation |
| Transportation | ການຂົນສົ່ງ | kankhonsong |
| One ticket to…, please | ປີ້ຫນຶ່ງໄປ …, ກະລຸນາ | pi nungpai kaluna/ Kaw butt ah diew |
| Does this train/bus stop in _____? | ລົດໄຟ/ລົດເມນີ້ຢຸດຢູ່ໃນ _____ ບໍ? | lodfai lodme ni yudyunai bo/ lot khan nii jort __ baw? |
| Is the train delayed? | ລົດໄຟຊັກຊ້າບໍ? | lodfai saksa bo |
| Where is the ticket window? | ປ່ອງຢ້ຽມປີ້ຢູ່ໃສ? | pongyiam pi yusai |
| I would like to purchase one ticket | ຂ້ອຍຢາກຊື້ປີ້ໜຶ່ງໃບ | khonyyak supi nung bai |
| I have a reservation | ຂ້ອຍມີການຈອງ | khony mikan chong |
| I want to go to… | ຂ້ອຍຢາກໄປ… | khonyyak pai |
| Is the bus canceled? | ລົດເມຖືກຍົກເລີກບໍ? | lodme thuk nyokloek bo |
| When does the bus/train arrive? | ລົດເມ/ລົດໄຟມາຮອດເວລາໃດ? | lodme lodfai mahod veladai |
| Where is the train/bus station? | ສະຖານີລົດໄຟ/ລົດເມຢູ່ໃສ? | sathanilodfai lodme yusai |
| How much does the ticket cost? | ປີ້ລາຄາເທົ່າໃດ? | pi lakha theoadai |
Phrases In Laos For Local Markets
As I mentioned before, shopping in Laos can be exciting because of the low prices and bargaining practices. However, to bargain and understand the shopping culture of the local markets, you must try out some Lao phrases.
| English | Lao | Pronunciation |
| How much does this cost? | ຄ່າໃຊ້ຈ່າຍນີ້ເທົ່າໃດ? | khasaichai ni theoadai/ Laka tao dai? |
| It is too expensive | ມັນແພງເກີນໄປ | manaephng koenpai |
| I can’t afford it | ກ້ຽວສາວບວມໄດ | Khoi seu baw dai/ khony bosamad chai dai |
| Can you lower the price? | ເຈົ້າສາມາດຫຼຸດລາຄາໄດ້ບໍ? | chao samad rud lakha daibo |
| What is the last price? | ລາຄາສຸດທ້າຍແມ່ນຫຍັງ? | lakha sudthai aemnjang |
| When is closing time? | ເວລາປິດແມ່ນເວລາໃດ? | vela pid aemn veladai/ Si bpit jak mohng? |
| Is it a fixed price? | ມັນເປັນລາຄາຄົງທີ່ບໍ? | manpen lakha khongthi bo |
| I don’t want it | ຂ້ອຍບໍ່ຕ້ອງການມັນ | khonybo tongkan man |
| I’m not interested | ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າບໍ່ໄດ້ສົນໃຈ | Khoi bor son jai |
| Can you give me a carry bag? | ເຈົ້າສາມາດເອົາຖົງໃສ່ກັບຂ້ອຍໄດ້ບໍ? | chao samadoao thong sai kab khony daibo |
| Do you accept online payment? | ທ່ານຍອມຮັບການຊໍາລະເງິນອອນໄລນ໌ບໍ? | than nyomhab kan soa la ngoen nlain bo |
| Do you accept US dollars? | ເຈົ້າຍອມຮັບເງິນໂດລາສະຫະລັດບໍ? | chao nyomhab ngoen odlasahalad bo/ Jao ow ngeun __ baw? |
| I want something cheap | ຂ້ອຍຕ້ອງການບາງສິ່ງບາງຢ່າງລາຄາຖືກ | khony tongkan bang sing bangyang lakhathuk |
| Do you have it in white/ gray/ brown color? | ທ່ານມີສີຂາວ / ສີຂີ້ເຖົ່າ / ສີນ້ໍາຕານບໍ? | sii khao/ sii ke thao/ sii nam taan |
| I would like… | ຂ້ອຍຕ້ອງການ… | khony tong kan/ khoi yak… |
| I’ll take it | ຂ້ອຍຈະເອົາມັນ | khoi si ow |
Dining Phrases In Lao
Food is another fascinating part of Laos. From sticky rice to curries, you will find diverse types of food which will make you visit numerous restaurants and street stalls. So, you’ll definitely want to learn Lao phrases to fit in and navigate your concerns.
| English | Lao | Pronunciation |
| Food | ອາຫານ | ahan |
| Restaurant | ຮ້ານອາຫານ | hanoahan |
| Can I have the menu, please? | ຂ້ອຍສາມາດມີເມນູ, ກະລຸນາ? | khony samadmi menu kaluna |
| What do you recommend? | ເຈົ້າແນະນຳອັນໃດ? | chao nae nam an dai |
| Do you serve alcohol? | ເຈົ້າຮັບໃຊ້ເຫຼົ້າບໍ? | chao habsai heoa bo/ Jao khaiy lao baw? |
| Do you have juice? | ເຈົ້າມີນ້ໍາບໍ? | chao minoa/ Naam mak mai bo |
| A beer/two beers, please | ເບຍໜຶ່ງ/ສອງເບຍ, ກະລຸນາ | kaw bia un neung/song un kaluna |
| Can I have a bottle of water? | ຂ້ອຍສາມາດມີຂວດນ້ໍາໄດ້ບໍ? | khony samadmi khuad noa daibo |
| One more, please. | ອີກອັນໜຶ່ງ, ກະລຸນາ | aow eek nae |
| I would like to have wheat noodles | ຂ້ອຍຢາກມີ ba mii | khonyyak mi ba mii |
| I don’t eat spicy | ຂ້ອຍບໍ່ກິນເຜັດ | khonybo kin phed |
| Can I have the bill, please? | ຂ້ອຍສາມາດມີໃບບິນໄດ້, ກະລຸນາ? | khony samadmi bai bin dai kaluna |
| Do you accept card? | ເຈົ້າຍອມຮັບບັດບໍ? | chao nyomhab bad bo |
| The food is delicious | ອາຫານແມ່ນແຊບ | ahan aemn aesb |
| The restaurant is so pretty | ຮ້ານອາຫານແມ່ນງາມຫຼາຍ | hanoahan aemn ngamrai |
| Thank you for your service | ຂອບໃຈສໍາລັບການບໍລິການຂອງທ່ານ | khobchai soalab kanbolikan khongthan |
Hotel Phrases In Lao
Here is a list you can use with the locals once you reach your hotel. Accommodation can demand many questions which you must answer through communication.
| English | Lao | Pronunciation |
| Check in/ Check out | ເຊັກອິນ / ເຊັກເອົາ | sekin sek ao |
| I have a reservation | ຂ້ອຍມີການຈອງ | khony mikan chong |
| Where is the bathroom? | ຫ້ອງນໍາ້ຢູ່ໃສ? | Hong nam yu sai |
| Can I book a room for two? | ຂ້ອຍສາມາດຈອງຫ້ອງສໍາລັບສອງຄົນໄດ້ບໍ? | khony samad chong hong soalab songkhon daibo |
| Do you have complimentary breakfast? | ເຈົ້າມີອາຫານເຊົ້າຟຣີບໍ? | chao mi ahansao fri bo |
| Do you have free toothpaste/ toothbrush? | ເຈົ້າມີຢາສີຟັນ/ມິກ ສີພັນ? | chao mi ya si phan/ mik si phan |
| I need a double bed room | ຂ້ອຍຕ້ອງການຫ້ອງຕຽງຄູ່ | khony tongkan hong tiang khu |
Emergency Phrases In The Lao Language
You never know when you might fall sick or need urgent help. As I said, healthcare can be an issue in Laos. So, to receive immediate assistance, you must save some emergency phrases in the local language to communicate with the citizens. For detailed learning, you can check out Lao emergency phrases.
| English | Lao | Pronunciation |
| Help me! | ຊ່ວຍຂ້ອຍແດ່! | suany khony aed |
| I need a doctor | ຂ້ອຍຕ້ອງການທ່ານຫມໍ | Khoy tong kan Maw |
| Where is the gas station | ປ້ຳນ້ຳມັນຢູ່ໃສ | p amnam man yusai |
| Please call the police | ກະລຸນາໂທຫາຕໍາຫຼວດ | kaluna othha toaruad |
| Someone catch the thief | ມີຄົນຈັບໂຈນໄດ້ | mikhon chab ochn dai |
| Can you help me? | ເຈົ້າຊ່ວຍຂ້ອຍໄດ້ບໍ່? | chao suany khony dai bo |
| Where is the nearest hospital? | ໂຮງໝໍທີ່ໃກ້ທີ່ສຸດຢູ່ໃສ? | ohngmo thi kai thisud yusai |
Have A Safe Trip!
Congratulations! You are now equipped with the essential travel tool that will guide you through every difficulty and let you engage with the local culture without any trouble. I know that is a lot of information, but with just a few practices, you will gain instant Lao fluency and start catching up with the locals.
If you think this Lao phrasebook was helpful, don’t forget to check out the Ling app. It has more language resources stored to enlighten you with various details. You can download the app from Appstore or Playstore and use it on your chosen device.
Learn Lao With Ling
Isn’t it exciting to speak a new language like one of the natives? To make your multilingual dream more tangible, the Ling app is here to provide the best services.
It is a language-learning app that regularly provides various content on topics such as food, culture, clothes, sports, etc. One of the app’s best features is the AI Chatbot system that lets you engage in conversational exercises. Doing so has helped many learners improve their communication skills and enhance their knowledge retention effortlessly.
You also get to play mini-games and puzzles and engage in dialogues, making learning fun. Moreover, if you want to speak Thai language or any other language besides Lao, Ling has 60+ languages saved for you. So, what are you waiting for? Download Ling today and prepare yourself for your next trip!
