Alphabet
Everyone will greet with Sabaidee, which means 'good morning/good afternoon/good evening' in Lao. The western handshake for greetings has made it into Lao culture but traditionally, the "Norp or Wai" is still used thoughout the country. The norp is a prayer-like guesture in which both hands are lightly clapsed together at chest height, with a simple word "sabaidee". If you are leaving, you can do the "Norp" with a parting word "Lah-korn", that means 'Goodbye'. This is met with "Sok Dee" which means good luck from the person who stays behind. But the most common and the best saying you should definitely learn and can use anytime is "boh bpen nyang "
GREETINGS |
|
| English | Listen to it in Lao |
| hello | sabbai dee |
| to be good/fine | sabbai |
| goodbye | laa gone or bpai gone |
| thank you | khop jai |
| excuse me | khaw tort |
| yes | jou |
| no | boh |
| excuse me what is your name | khaw tort joi seu yang |
| my name is John | koi seu John |
| me, myself | koi |
| who is that | naan man pai |
| who is this | nii man pai |
GENERAL |
|
| English | Listen to it |
| wife | mia |
| husband | pua |
| teacher | kuu son |
| who is that | naan man pai |
| who is this | nii man pai |
| this is my wife | nii man mia coi |
| that is my friend | naan man moo coi |
| friend | moo |
| to accept | ou |
| is that right | man boh |
| thats enough | poh dii |
| what about your friend | moo joi dae |
| weather | aagart |
| thats right/correct | man leow |
| not right/correct | boh man |
| to go | bpai |
| who | pai |
| is their name Bounmee? | lao seu Boonmee man boh |
| name | seu |
FOOD - DRINKS |
|
| English | Listen to it |
| sour | soum |
| tasty | saep |
| very tasty | saep laai |
| spicy | phed |
| water/liquid | naarm |
| i dont like it spicy | koi boh maak phed |
| enough/perfect amount | porgh |
| tea | saa |
| tea with milk | saa norm |
| cold (ice) tea with milk | saa norm yen |
| milk | norm |
| do you like it spicy or not spicy? | joi maak phed ler boh maak phed |
| what would you like | jou see ow nyang |
| what would you like to eat? | jou yaak gin nyang |
| i would like to eat fried rice | koi yaak gin kao pad |
| he/she wants pho | lou yaak gin fer |
| is the fried rice tasty? | kao pad saep boh |
| i'm having coffee, what about you | koi si ou caffare joi dae |
| to like | maak |
