Lao phrasebook

Ooaj Travel Guide, tourism, hotel reservation, residence, plane, cheap pension for you

Free Travel guide Ooaj.com A free travel guide for holidays. Easy phrasebook to learn lao Bed and Breakfast!

Lao (??????? phaasaa laao) is the main language of Laos, also spoken to some degree in the northeastern Isaan region of Thailand. Thai is also closely related to Lao.

Pronunciation guide

Instant Lao

Speak Thai already? Here's a three-step program for instant Lao fluency (or pretense thereof).

The letter "r" must be eliminated.
- At the beginning of a word, "r" turns into "h": roi → hoi "hundred"
- Within a word, "r" turns into "l": karunaa → kalunaa "please"
- In a cluster, "r" disappears completely: prathet → pathet "country"
All "ch" turn into "x" (pronounced "s"). chang → xang "elephant"
Say baw instead of mai when you want to say "no" or ask a question.

Lao is a tonal language with six tones in the Vientiane dialect: low, mid, high, rising, high falling, and low falling. Meanings can change critically based on the tone, so try not to inflect your sentences: in particular, any questions should be pronounced as flat statements, without the rising intonation ("...yes?") typical to English questions.

The script used to write Lao has the same Brahmic base as Thai and Khmer phrasebook Khmer, and Thai readers will be able to puzzle out most of it. The Lao written language is essentially alphabetic and, thanks to extensive post-revolutionary meddling, now considerably more phonetic than Thai or Khmer. Still, there are 30 consonants, 15 vowel symbols plus 4 tone marks to learn, and the Lao also share the Thai aversion to white space between words, so it remains a bit of challenge to pick up, eventhough it is usually conisdered easier to learn than Thai.

Lao romanization is bedeviled by the incompatibility between French and English pronunciation: most older transliterations are French-based, while newer ones are English-based. The French-style "Vientiane", for example, would be spelled "Wiang Chan" in English. Wikitravel uses a modern English-based orthography modeled on the Thai system, but the French transliterations have been noted below when appropriate.

Vowels

Lao has a complicated set of vowels that distinguishes between vowel length (short and long) and vowel position (front and back). Vowel signs are always written around consonants.

French transliterations use "ou" for "u" (eg. "Louang Prabang") and often tag a seemingly superfluous "e" at the end of words to stop the consonant from being swallowed (eg. "Kaysone Phomvihane").

Consonants

Lao distinguishes between aspirated ("with a puff of air") and unaspirated ("without a puff of air") consonants. Unaspirated consonants exist in English too, but never alone: compare the sound of 'p' in "pot" (aspirated) and "spot" (unaspirated). Many English speakers find it helpful to pronounce an imperceptible little "m" in front to 'stop' the puff.

In romanized Lao, the distinction is usually represented by writing aspirated consonants with "h" and unaspirated ones without it. In particular, "ph" represents a hard aspirated 'p' and not a soft 'f', and Phongsali is thus pronounced "Pongsalee". Likewise, "th" is a hard aspirated 't' and hence That Luang is pronounced "Tat Luang".

b: like 'b' in "bed"
c: not used in Wikitravel, but in other romanizations may represent 's'
d: like 'd' in "dog"
f: like 'f' in "fan"
g: not used in Wikitravel, but in other romanizations may represent unaspirated 'k'
h: like 'h' in "help"
j: like 'dg' in "edge"
k: like 'k' in "skate" (unaspirated)
kh: like 'c' in "cat" (aspirated)
l: like 'l' in "love"
m: like 'm' in "mother"
n: like 'n' in "nice"
ny: like 'ni' in "onion", can also be used at the beginning of words
ng: like 'ng' in "sing", can also be used at the beginning of words
p: like 'p' in "spit" (unaspirated)
ph: like 'p' in "pig" (aspirated)
r: not used the modern orthography, should be pronounced as 'l', 'h' or ignored
s: like 'ss' in "hiss",
t: like 't' in "stab"
th: like 't' in "top"
v: not used in Wikitravel, but in other romanizations may represent 'w'
w: like 'w' in "weight"
y: like 'y' in "yes"
x: like 'ss' in "hiss", completely identical to 's'

Phrases

Basics

Hello.: (Sabaai-dii.)
How are you?: (Sabaai-dii baw?)
Fine, thank you.: (Sabaai-dii.)
What is your name?: (Chao sy nyang)
My name is ______ .: (Khoy sy _____)
Please.: (Kalunaa)
Thank you.: (Khop jai)
You're welcome.: (Baw pen nyang.)
Yes.: (men)
No.: (baw men)
Excuse me/I'm Sorry. (begging pardon): (kaw thoht)
Goodbye and Take Care (sohk dee')
I can't speak English well.: (vow pha-saa angkid dee baw dai)
Do you speak English?: (pha-saa angkid chao dai baw)
Go to sleep: (pai nån)
I don't understand.: I don't understand. (Khoy baw khao jai)
Where is the toilet?: (hong naam yuu sai?)

Problems

Leave me alone.: Leave me alone. (...)
Don't touch me!: ('Boh tong jup khoy)
I'll call the police.: ('Khoy si toh dum louat.)
Police!: Police! (Dtum louat!)
Stop! Thief!: Stop! Thief! (...)
I need your help.: I need your help. (...)
It's an emergency.: It's an emergency. (...)
I'm lost.: (Khoy lhong taang)
I lost my wallet.: (Khoy seeuh gkapow)
I lost my bag.: (Khoy seeuh tong)
I'm sick.: (Khoy pben kai.)
I've been injured.: ('Khoy jep.)
I need a doctor.: I need a doctor. (...)
Can I use your phone?: ('Khoy sai torrosup dai boh?)

Numbers

Lao numbers are effectively identical to Thai, the two quirks worth nothing being that 20 is sao (not yii-sip) and 100 is an R-less hoi. Speakers of Cantonese will find many quite familiar.

Lao has its own set of numerals, but these are used quite rarely.

0: (soon)
1: (neung)
2: (song)
3: (saam)
4: (sii)
5: (haa)
6: (hok)
7: (jet)
8: (paet)
9: (kao)
10: (sip)
11: (sip-et)
12: ?? (sip-song)
13: ?? (sip-saam)
14: ?? (sip-sii)
15: ?? (sip-haa)
16: ?? (sip-hok)
17: ?? (sip-jet)
18: ?? (sip-paet)
19: ?? (sip-kao)
20: ?? (sao)
21: ?? (sao-et)
22: ?? (sao-song)
23: ?? (sao-saam)
30: ?? (saam-sip)
40: ?? (sii-sip)
50: ?? (haa-sip)
60: ?? (hok-sip)
70: ?? (jet-sip)
80: ?? (paet-sip)
90: ?? (kao-sip)
100: ??? (neung hoi)
200: ??? (song hoi)
300: ??? (saam hoi)
1000: ???? (neung phan)
2000: ???? (song phan)
1,000,000: ??????? (neung laan)
1,000,000,000: ?????????? (phan laan)
1,000,000,000,000: ????????????? (laan laan)
number _____ (train, bus, etc.): number _____ (...)
half: half (...)
less: less (...)
more: more (...)

Time

now: now (...)
later: later (...)
before: before (...)
morning: morning (...)
afternoon: afternoon (...)
evening: evening (...)
night: night (...)

Clock time

Duration

_____ minute(s): _____ minute(s) (...)
_____ hour(s): _____ hour(s) (...)
_____ day(s): _____ day(s) (...)
_____ week(s): _____ week(s) (...)
_____ month(s): _____ month(s) (...)
_____ year(s): _____ year(s) (...)

Days

today
yesterday
tomorrow
this week
last week
next week

Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday

Months

Colors

Transportation

Bus and train

How much is a ticket to _____?: How much is a ticket to _____? (...)
One ticket to _____, please.: One ticket to _____, please. (...)
Where does this train/bus go?: Where does this train/bus go? (...)
Where is the train/bus to _____?: Where is the train/bus to _____? (...)
Does this train/bus stop in _____?: Does this train/bus stop in _____? (...)
When does the train/bus for _____ leave?: When does the train/bus for _____ leave? (...)
When will this train/bus arrive in _____?: When will this bus arrive in _____? (...)

Directions

How do I get to _____ ?: How do I get to _____ ? (...)
...the bus station?: ...the bus station? (....)
...the airport?: ...the airport? (....)
...downtown?: ...downtown? (...)
...the youth hostel?: ...the youth hostel? (...)
...the _____ hotel?: ...the _____ hotel? (...)
...the American/Canadian/Australian/British consulate?: ...the American/Canadian/Australian/British consulate? (...)
Where are there a lot of...: Where are there a lot of... (...)
...hotels?: ...hotels? (...)
...restaurants?: ...restaurants? (...)
...bars?: ...bars? (...)
...sites to see?: ...sites to see? (...)
Can you show me on the map?: Can you show me on the map? (...)
street: street (thanon)
alley: (soi)
Turn left.: (Liao saai.)
Turn right.: (Liao kwaa.)
left: (saai)
right: (kwaa)
straight ahead: (....)
towards the _____: towards the _____ (...)
past the _____: past the _____ (...)
before the _____: before the _____ (...)
Watch for the _____.: Watch for the _____. (...)
intersection: intersection (...)
north: north (...)
south: south (...)
east: east (...)
west: west (...)
uphill: uphill (...)
downhill: downhill (...)

Taxi

Taxi!: ???????! (...)
Take me to _____, please.: (...)
How much does it cost to get to _____?: (...)
Take me there, please.: Take me there, please. (...)
Stop here. (...)

Lodging

Do you have any rooms available?: Do you have any rooms available? (...)
How much is a room for one person/two people?: How much is a room for one person/two people? (...)
Does the room come with...: Does the room come with... (...)
...bedsheets?: ...bedsheets? (...)
...a bathroom?: ...a bathroom? (...)
...a telephone?: ...a telephone? (...)
...a TV?: ...a TV? (...)
May I see the room first?: May I see the room first? (...)
Do you have anything quieter?: Do you have anything quieter? (...)
...bigger?: ...bigger? (...)
...cleaner?: ...cleaner? (...)
...cheaper?: ...cheaper? (...)
OK, I'll take it.: OK, I'll take it. (...)
I will stay for _____ night(s).: I will stay for _____ night(s). (...)
Can you suggest another hotel?: Can you suggest another hotel? (...)
Do you have a safe?: Do you have a safe? (...)
...lockers?: ...lockers? (...)
Is breakfast/supper included?: Is breakfast/supper included? (...)
What time is breakfast/supper?: What time is breakfast/supper? (...)
Please clean my room.: Please clean my room. (...)
Can you wake me at _____? | Can you wake me at _____? (...)
I want to check out.: I want to check out. (...)

Money

Do you accept American/Australian/Canadian dollars?: Do you accept American/Australian/Canadian dollars? (...)
Do you accept British pounds?: Do you accept British pounds? (...)
Do you accept cr cards?: Do you accept cr cards? (...)
Can you change money for me?: Can you change money for me? (...)
Where can I get money changed?: Where can I get money changed? (...)
Can you change a traveler's check for me?: Can you change a traveler's check for me? (...)
Where can I get a traveler's check changed?: Where can I get a traveler's check changed? (...)
What is the exchange rate?: What is the exchange rate? (...)
Where is an automatic teller machine (ATM)?: Where is an automatic teller machine (ATM)? (...)

Eating

A table for one person/two people, please.: A table for one person/two people, please. (...)
Can I look at the menu, please?: Can I look at the menu, please? (...)
Can I look in the kitchen?: Can I look in the kitchen? (...)
Is there a house specialty?: Is there a house specialty? (...)
Is there a local specialty?: Is there a local specialty? (...)
I'm a vegetarian.: (Phom kin jeh.)
I don't eat pork.: I don't eat pork. (...)
I don't eat beef.: I don't eat beef. (...)
I only eat kosher food.: I only eat kosher food. (...)
Can you make it "lite", please? (less oil/butter/lard): Can you make it "lite", please? (...)
fixed-price meal: fixed-price meal (...)
à la carte: à la carte (...)
breakfast: breakfast (...)
lunch: lunch (...)
tea (meal): tea (...)
supper: supper (...)
I want _____.: I want _____. (...)
I want a dish containing _____.: I want a dish containing _____. (...)
chicken: (kai)
beef: (neua)
fish: (plaa)
shrimp: (kung)
crab: (puu)
eggs: eggs (...)
salad: salad (...)
(fresh) vegetables: (fresh) vegetables (...)
(fresh) fruit: (fresh) fruit (...)
bread: bread (khao jii)
rice noodles: ?????????? (foe)
wheat noodles: ?????? (ba mii)
rice: ???? (khao)
beans: beans (...)
May I have a glass of _____?: May I have a glass of _____? (...)
May I have a cup of _____?: May I have a cup of _____? (...)
May I have a bottle of _____?: May I have a bottle of _____? (...)
coffee: ???? (kaafeh)
hot tea: ?????? (saa hawn)
iced tea with milk: ?????? (saa yen)
juice: juice (...)
water: ???????? (naam deum)
beer: ???? (bia)
red/white wine: red/white wine (...)
May I have some _____?: May I have some _____? (...)
salt: salt (...)
black pepper: black pepper (...)
fish sauce: ?????? (naam plaa)
Excuse me, waiter? (getting attention of server): Excuse me, waiter? (...)
I'm finished.: I'm finished. (...)
It was delicious.: It was delicious. (...)
Please clear the plates.: Please clear the plates. (...)
The check, please.: The check, please. (...)

Bars

Do you serve alcohol?: Do you serve alcohol? (...)
Is there table service?: Is there table service? (...)
A beer/two beers, please.: A beer/two beers, please. (...)
A glass of red/white wine, please.: A glass of red/white wine, please. (...)
A pint, please.: A pint, please. (...)
A bottle, please.: A bottle, please. (...)
_____ (hard liquor) and _____ (mixer), please.: _____ and _____, please. (...)
whiskey: whiskey (...)
vodka: vodka (...)
rum: rum (...)
water: water (...)
club soda: club soda (...)
tonic water: tonic water (...)
orange juice: orange juice (...)
Coke (soda): Coke (...)
Do you have any bar snacks?: Do you have any bar snacks? (...)
One more, please.: One more, please. (...)
Another round, please.: Another round, please. (...)
When is closing time?: When is closing time? (...)

Shopping

Do you have this in my size?: Do you have this in my size? (...)
How much is this?: How much is this? (Nii thao dai?)
That's too expensive.: That's too expensive. (...)
Would you take _____?: Would you take _____? (...)
expensive: expensive (...)
cheap: cheap (...)
I can't afford it.: I can't afford it. (...)
I don't want it.: I don't want it. (...)
You're cheating me.: You're cheating me. (...)
I'm not interested.: I'm not interested. (..)
OK, I'll take it.: OK, I'll take it. (...)
Can I have a bag?: Can I have a bag? (...)
Do you ship (overseas)?: Do you ship (overseas)? (...)
I need...: I need... (...)
...toothpaste.: ...toothpaste. (...)
...a toothbrush.: ...a toothbrush. (...)
...tampons.: ...tampons. (...)
...soap.: ...soap. (...)
...shampoo.: ...shampoo. (...)
...pain reliever. (e.g., aspirin or ibuprofen): ...pain reliever. (...)
...cold medicine.: ...cold medicine. (...)
...stomach medicine.: ...stomach medicine. (...)
...a razor.: ...a razor. (...)
...an umbrella.: ...an umbrella. (...)
...sunblock lotion.: ...sunblock lotion. (...)
...a postcard.: ...a postcard. (...)
...postage stamps.: ...postage stamps. (...)
...batteries.: ...batteries. (...)
...writing paper.: ...writing paper. (...)
...a pen.: ...a pen. (bic)
...English-language books.: ...English-language books. (...)
...English-language magazines.: ...English-language magazines. (...)
...an English-language newspaper.: ...an English-language newspaper. (...)
...an English-English dictionary.: ...an English-English dictionary. (...)

Driving

I want to rent a car.: I want to rent a car. (...)
Can I get insurance?: Can I get insurance? (...)
stop (on a street sign): stop (...)
one way: one way (...)
yield: yield (...)
no parking: no parking (...)
speed limit: speed limit (...)
gas (petrol) station: gas station (...)
petrol: petrol (...)
diesel: diesel (...)

Authority

I haven't done anything wrong.: I haven't done anything wrong. (...)
It was a misunderstanding.: It was a misunderstanding. (...)
Where are you taking me?: Where are you taking me? (...)
Am I under arrest?: Am I under arrest? (...)
I am an American/Australian/British/Canadian citizen.: I am an American/Australian/British/Canadian citizen. (...)
I want to talk to the American/Australian/British/Canadian embassy/consulate.: I need to talk to the American/Australian/British/Canadian embassy/consulate. (...)
I want to talk to a lawyer.: I want to talk to a lawyer. (...)
Can I just pay a fine now?: Can I just pay a fine now? (...)

Learning more

Biggest country to travel:	Biggest cities to travel:	Islands in the top travel 40:	World Travel guide	Random travel link:
Philippines Nigeria Madagascar Philippines	Karachi in Pakistan Karachi in Pakistan Buenos Aires Argentina Delhi in India	Bahamas Sicily Cuba Maldives Bahamas	Sri_Lanka Iraq Guinea Romania Bangladesh	Portugal Luxembourg Finland Travel Germany Finland Travel

Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 1.0

Url Rewriting et referencement made by Atuvu
Photographe aix en provence Daniel Weiss
Ooaj Travel Guide Home Page