Have you been looking out for someone from Laos but don’t have the guts to ask them out because you don’t know how to speak Lao? Well, today’s blog will be your savior in that case. Start with learning a few romantic words for dating in Lao and make your partner blush with happiness.
Laos is filled with beautiful traditions that can make anybody fall in love with it. However, those cultures and traditions have also nurtured Lao people in a way that you cannot help but fall in love with them. So, if you have already given your heart to someone but don’t know how to impress them, now is the time to learn some Lao words and phrases.
Learning Lao dating words such as I love you- ຂ້ອຍຮັກເຈົ້າ, I miss you- ຂ້ອຍຄິດຮອດເຈົ້າ, etc., will help you convey your emotions and communicate with your partner. Although most people speak English to a good extent, it is best to be prepared with some local words that Laotian people use in their daily lives. Moreover, Laotians love to see other people try their language. So, using some Lao words will only help you show respect and love for their country and culture.
Dating Culture In Laos
Laos experiences its fair share of the flirtatious lot. You will find many that are open about love, physical relation, and social interaction. However, there are a few things that you must keep in mind before you start dating your Lao partner.
The first important point is to understand that Laos is a conservative country. It still has a very strict social code of conduct that frowns upon public displays of affection. While you will find many that will flatter you for your western looks and skin tone, if you happen to belong there, the dating scene will be a little restricted.
Friends are allowed to cuddle and hold hands casually, but romantic couples are prohibited from holding hands, kissing, or hugging each other in the public. Therefore, making out in public stands far away from the picture.
Since Lao is a traditional society, don’t be shocked when you find out that the most common age of getting married for girls is 14. Most families give away their daughters for marriage at a young age, and the husband’s family provides dowry depending on the girl’s chastity.
Another thing to keep in mind is that a romantic relationship between a non-Lao person and a Lao person is not legal. For a woman from Laos and a man from a different country, the relationship can only be legitimized if a dowry has been paid to the woman’s family. For the opposite case, some paperwork needs to be filled out. This also goes for same-sex couples. To make the relationship legitimate, paperwork and fees are mandatory.
Words For Dating In Lao
Since there is no one word for the vocabulary “Date” in Lao, we will go through different terms starting from phase one of your dating life to the end. However, ຄວາມສໍາພັນ- khuaam soa phan can be used to refer to the word “relationship” or ຮັກ- hak for love. For others, continue reading below, and get the conversation right with your future love partner in the Lao language.
Stage One Of Dating In Lao
The first stage is obviously where you start breaking the ice. You introduce yourself, greet each other, and engage in a small conversation.
1. Hello, How Are You?
Translation: ສະບາຍດີ, ເຈົ້າສະບາຍດີບໍ່?
The easiest way to break the ice between you two and start talking is to greet the person with sa bai di chao sa bai di bo. This will help you get the person’s attention in the Lao language, bringing a good chance of receiving a warm response. Application of this phrase will surely help you move forward with the first stage.
2. Can I Sit Here?
Translation: ຂ້ອຍສາມາດນັ່ງຢູ່ທີ່ນີ້ໄດ້ບໍ?
The next step is to ask the person if sitting beside them is fine by saying khony samad nang yuthini daibo. Although quite risky as most people will hesitate to let any stranger sit beside them, if you ask intending to get to know them, they might get comfortable. So, whenever you are approaching someone, remember to not sound aggressive or rude.
3. I Would Like To Introduce Myself
Translation: ຂ້ອຍຢາກແນະນຳຕົວເອງ
If the person allows you to sit beside them, now is the chance to introduce yourself and get to know them. Once you are sat, immediately start the conversation by saying khonyyak naenam tuaoeng. This will allow the other person to feel comfortable and understand the state of nature. Introducing yourself will be the first initiative to get to know each other.
4. Can I Get Your Number?
Translation: ຂ້ອຍຂໍເບີຂອງເຈົ້າໄດ້ບໍ?
Exchanging numbers is the next step to becoming good friends and close. So, don’t hesitate and politely ask for their number by saying khonykho boe khongchao daibo. If the person dictates their number to you, you are good to go to the next stage.
Stage Two Of Dating In Lao
Once you have introduced yourself and exchanged numbers, the next stage is to go for compliments. Who doesn’t like getting compliments? If you want to flirt well, compliments will always come in handy.
1. You Look So Beautiful/ Handsome
Translation: ເຈົ້າງາມຫຼາຍ
The easiest way to make someone blush is by expressing how beautiful or handsome the person looks. For that, chao ngam rai is the right phrase for you. Since first meetings or dates can get awkward, compliments can make the situation more lively and sweet. Especially if you are trying to impress a girl, this compliment is one of the essential phrases you will need.
2. Your Outfit Suits You Well
Translation: ຊຸດຂອງເຈົ້າ ເໝາະ ສົມກັບເຈົ້າ
Another easy compliment that you can give to someone is on their outfits. People usually put some effort to look good on their first date so that their partner notices and gets a nice impression of them. So, if you want to flatter such an effort and make your date smile, sudkhongchao mo somkab chao is your go-to compliment.
3. You Are So Kind
Translation: ເຈົ້າໃຈດີຫຼາຍ
Other than the looks, you can also compliment on personality and nature if you want to sound more sophisticated. To do that, chao chaidi rai is the phrase for you. Saying this will make the person feel that they are beautiful inside out and become more confident about the relationship that you two hold.
Stage Three Of Dating In Lao
While most people become a couple on their first date, you might want to take some time and go for more dates when it comes to Laotian people. Going on dates can also be a great way of knowing the person personally, which will allow you to make the right decision. So, here are some phrases that you can use when you are on dates with your partner.
1. Can I Buy You A Meal?
Translation: ຂ້ອຍສາມາດຊື້ອາຫານໃຫ້ເຈົ້າໄດ້ບໍ?
If it’s your first date, always offer to pay for the meal, especially if you are trying to impress a girl by saying khony samad suoahan haichao daibo. Laotian woman loves when a man acts like a gentleman and offers service whenever possible. So, instead of splitting the bill, you should offer to buy a meal on the first date and make a good impression.
2. Can I See You Tomorrow?
Translation: ຂ້ອຍສາມາດພົບເຈົ້າມື້ອື່ນໄດ້ບໍ?
If your first meet went well and you are ready to go for an official date, khony samad phob chao muun daibo can be a subtle way of asking someone out in Laos. Although people are not quite comfortable going on multiples date right after the first meeting in Laos, you can be flexible and consider chatting or texting a bit before your date.
3. Let’s Meet Again
Translation: ຂໍໃຫ້ພົບກັນໃໝ່
If you are willing to meet the person again, khohai phobkanmai is the easiest way to express it. If the other person agrees, it will be a sign that they are also invested and would like to move forward with you. The more dates you go on, the closer you will get to the person you like.
Stage Four Of Dating In Lao
Finally, the time has come. Now that you know the person well enough after a few dates, you are ready to confess your feelings. You can finally express how you feel about the person and tie up the knot as a romantic couple.
1. I Like you
Translation: ຂ້ອຍມັກເຈົ້າ
Confessions can be scary. You never know if the other person will feel the same for you or not. However, you must be daring and go for it once you have talked with the person enough to know them well. Especially if you are the guy, go ahead and say out loud how much you like them by saying khony mak chao. Most people like to draw the line between like and love at first. So, for your first confession, this is the right phrase.
2. I Love You
Translation: ຂ້ອຍຮັກເຈົ້າ
If the person likes you back and you are confident enough that the situation is calling for it, go ahead for the next confession and say khony hak chao. A change from like to love will come eventually, and once you feel it, don’t miss a chance to express it. If your person accepts your proposal, you will officially be taken as the romantic couple that the world needs to know about.
More Dating Words And Phrases In The Lao Language
English | Lao | Pronunciation |
Boyfriend | ແຟນ | Aefn |
Dating | ນັດ | Nad |
Divorced | ຮ້າງ | Hang |
Engaged | ມີສ່ວນພົວພັນ | Mi suanphuaphan |
Girlfriend | ແຟນ | Aefn |
Husband | ຜົວ | Phua |
Partner | ຄູ່ຮ່ວມງານ | Khu huamngan |
Wife | ເມຍ | Mia |
Can I buy you a drink? | ຂ້ອຍສາມາດຊື້ເຄື່ອງດື່ມໃຫ້ທ່ານໄດ້ບໍ? | Khony samad su kheuongdum haithan daibo |
Can I know your name? | ຂ້ອຍສາມາດຮູ້ຊື່ຂອງເຈົ້າໄດ້ບໍ? | Khony samad hu su khongchao daibo |
Would you like to go out with me? | ເຈົ້າຢາກອອກໄປນຳຂ້ອຍບໍ? | Chao yak k painam khony bo |
Do you want to meet again? | ເຈົ້າຢາກພົບອີກບໍ່? | Chao yakphob ik bo |
Let’s watch a movie together | ມາເບິ່ງໜັງນຳກັນ | Ma boengnang namkan |
Can I hug you? | ຂ້ອຍສາມາດກອດເຈົ້າໄດ້ບໍ? | Khony samad kod chao daibo |
Can I kiss you? | ຂ້ອຍຈູບເຈົ້າໄດ້ບໍ່? | Khony chub chao dai bo |
I think I am in love | ຂ້ອຍຄິດວ່າຂ້ອຍມີຄວາມຮັກ | Khonykhidva khonymi khuaamhak |
I miss you | ຂ້ອຍຄິດຮອດເຈົ້າ | Khony khid hod chao |
I will take care of you | ຂອ້ຍຈະເບີ່ງແຍງເຈົ້າ | Kh ny cha boeng aenyng chao |
You are everything to me | ເຈົ້າເປັນທຸກຢ່າງສຳລັບຂ້ອຍ | Chao pen thukyang samlabkhony |
I have loved you ever since we have met | ຂ້ອຍຮັກເຈົ້າຕັ້ງແຕ່ເຮົາໄດ້ພົບກັນ | Khony hak chao tangaet haodai phobkan |
You are the prettiest person I have met | ເຈົ້າເປັນຄົນທີ່ງາມທີ່ສຸດທີ່ຂ້ອຍໄດ້ພົບ | Chao penkhonthi ngam thisud thikhony daiphob |
I find you very attractive | ຂ້ອຍເຫັນວ່າເຈົ້າໜ້າສົນໃຈຫຼາຍ | Khony henva chao na sonchairai |
We would make a great couple | ພວກເຮົາຈະສ້າງຄູ່ຜົວເມຍທີ່ຍິ່ງໃຫຍ່ | Phuakhao chasang khu phuamia thi nyinghainy |
Over To You!
So, there you go! Now you know all the phrases and words related to dating. The language of love can only be understood when you express it from your heart. So, don’t hesitate to use these phrases and words and impress your lover at the very first meeting. However, if you want to impress your partner more by showing knowledge of their country’s culture and native language, the Ling app is here to help!
Ling is one of the most revolutionary language-learning apps that have content in over 60+ foreign languages. It hires expert writers and native speakers who provide blogs on topics such as food, business, clothes, and many more with proper translations and audio recordings.
As many trusted users have mentioned, the best part of the app is the AI Chatbot that engages with you throughout your learning journey offering conversational exercises. It helps in enhancing your communication skills and also makes retention easy. So, if you want to become a pro-Lao speaker for your beloved partner, download the Ling app now from App Store or Play Store and start learning Lao today!