You Are Welcome In Lao: #1 In-Depth Guide

You Are Welcome In Lao - Boats on river with mountain in background - Ling app

Let’s get familiar with using the phrase ‘you are welcome’ in Lao: bor pen yang (ບໍ່ເປັນຫຍັງ). For many aspiring travelers to Southeast Asia, visiting Laos is a must. Apart from the deliciously spicy meals and breathtaking views, one of the most rewarding parts of your trip is learning Lao to interact with friendly locals.

Although an increasing number of Lao people can speak English, French, Thai, and Chinese due to the large number of tourists visiting Laos each year, knowing a few Lao phrases is sure to enrich your experience. Speaking Lao is a sign of respect and politeness when addressing your hosts or any locals you meet during your stay, and it’s certain to impress them, too!

Sleeping Buddha in Laos

Significance In Lao Culture

Bor pen yang (ບໍ່ເປັນຫຍັງ) isn’t just an everyday saying; it’s part of the laid-back approach to the Laotian way of life. Laos is known for having an easygoing culture, and Laotians reflect that, fostering an atmosphere similar to Thailand’s ‘sabai-sabai’ attitude.

Thanks to this outlook on life, the Lao people are generally very approachable and ready to make friends. As a traveler, expect to be drinking ice-cold Beerlao, eating home-cooked Lao food, and being treated like a family member in a Lao household!

How Do You Say You Are Welcome In Lao?

Literal Meaning

An easy-to-remember and versatile phrase, ‘you’re welcome’ in Lao is bor pen yang (ບໍ່ເປັນຫຍັງ).

Breaking it down, its literal meaning is ‘no worries’ or ‘it’s nothing.’ Bor (ບໍ່) means ‘nothing,’ pen (ເປັນ) means ‘is,’ and yang (ຫຍັງ) means ‘what.’ It can also be used and interpreted in many ways, such as in saying, ‘it’s fine’ or ‘it doesn’t matter.’ Although its use is neutral, there are ways to express the same meaning more formally. Let’s explore!

Scenarios For Use

Bor Pen Yang (ບໍ່ເປັນຫຍັງ)

The most common use of bor pen nyang (ບໍ່ເປັນຫຍັງ) is in response to khop chai (ຂອບໃຈ), particularly when a service or transaction has been completed:

  • Person A: Hi, here’s your food – Sabaidee ni maen ahan khong tan (ສະບາຍດີນີ້ແມ່ນອາຫານຂອງທ່ານ)

  • Person B: Thank you – Khop chai (ຂອບໃຈ)

  • Person A: You are welcome, have a nice day – Bor pen yang, sok dee (ບໍ່ເປັນຫຍັງ, ໂຊກດີ)

Chao (ເຈົ້າ)

A formal way of saying ‘you are welcome’ is chao (ເຈົ້າ), which also means ‘you’ but is a formal way to acknowledge what the other person is saying as well. Use of both chao (ເຈົ້າ) and bor pen yang (ບໍ່ເປັນຫຍັງ) greatly increases politeness and formality:

  • Person A: Thank you – Khop chai (ຂອບໃຈ)

  • Person B: Yes, you are welcome, have a nice day – Jao, bor pen yang, sok dee (ເຈົ້າ, ບໍ່ເປັນຫຍັງ, ໂຊກດີ)

Fun fact: Another way you might hear Lao people say ‘you are welcome’ is with a smile or a ‘nop,’ a traditional greeting resembling a praying gesture.

Extra fun fact: The Lao and Thai languages are very closely related, with many phrases sharing direct counterparts with the exact same meanings and use cases. For example, mai pen rai (ไม่เป็นไร) in Thai carries the exact same meaning and can be used in the same contexts as bor pen yang (ບໍ່ເປັນຫຍັງ). Keep this in mind when traveling through Laos and Thailand, by learning one language you’re actively learning bits of the other too!

Important Everyday Lao Phrases

To understand and navigate the cultural landscape of Laos, knowing a variety of words and phrases in Lao is a must to have fun and meaningful interactions! Take these phrases for a spin to complement your knowledge of saying ‘you are welcome’ in Lao and get some basic greetings up your sleeve:

EnglishLaoRoman Transcription
HelloສະບາຍດີSabaidee
How are you?ສະບາຍດີບໍ?Sabaidee bor?
I’m fineຂ້ອຍສະບາຍດີKhoi sabaidee
Goodbye (formal)ລາກ່ອນLa kone
Goodbye (informal)ແລ້ວພົບກັນໃໝ່Laew phob kan mai
Thank youຂອບໃຈKhop chai

Frequently Asked Questions About Saying You Are Welcome In Lao

1. How Do You Say You’re Welcome In Lao?

Bor pen yang (ບໍ່ເປັນຫຍັງ) is a neutral way to say ‘you’re welcome’ in the Lao language. Chao (ເຈົ້າ) can also be used but only in formal contexts.

2. How Do You Say Thank You In Lao?

Khop chai (ຂອບໃຈ) means ‘thank you’ in Lao. It can be used in a variety of contexts and is a polite way of expressing gratitude.

3. What Does Sabaidee Mean In Lao?

Its literal meaning is ‘it goes well.’ Sabaidee (ສະບາຍດີ) means hello in Lao. It has many meanings depending on the context, but it is typically used as a greeting and can also be a formal way of saying ‘goodbye.’

4. What Does Ma Der Mean In Lao?

Ma der (ມາເດີ້) is a polite way of saying ‘come here’ in Lao. Ma (ມາ) means ‘come,’ and der (ເດີ້) is the suffix used to indicate a polite or endearing tone. You’ll most likely hear this being said in a family setting when being asked to come share a meal.

Various Lao food being eaten

Take The Next Step In Your Lao Journey

Now that you know the nuance and different ways to say ‘you are welcome’ in Lao, why not put that to the test and try to make some new local friends on your trip to Laos? Simply using bor pen yang (ບໍ່ເປັນຫຍັງ) in daily conversation presents you as a good example of someone who took their time to check out and learn the Lao language.

If you’re still looking for that edge to really make the most of your trips, and to stop relying on machine translations, the best way is to practice these essential phrases daily with the Ling app. Not only is it one of the best ways to learn and improve your Lao language basics at your own pace, but it’s also readily available to download on both the App Store and Play Store!

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