Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
aw
as in j
aw
ao
as in L
ao
e
as in p
e
n
eu
as in French fl
eu
r
i
as in m
i
m
i
ia
as in Ind
ia
o
as in fl
ow
oe
as in G
oe
the
u
(or ou) as in y
ou
ua
(or oua) as in tr
ua
nt
Lao is a
tonallanguage
, which means that the tone a speaker gives to a word will determine
its meaning. While the tone system may make some visitors despair of ever learning any Lao,
mastering a handful of simple phrases will greatly enhance your travels in Laos. The Lao are
always delighted by foreigners who make the effort to converse with them in their own lan-
guage and will reciprocate with more than the usual graciousness.
Lao words and phrases
As a stranger you should remember to utter a greeting first when you meet someone. Ques-
tions the Lao commonly ask in conversation may seem personal to Westerners (“Are you
married?”) but this is simply an indication of the importance of the family in Lao culture.
Questions in Lao are not normally answered with a yes or no. Instead the verb used in the
question is repeated for the answer; for example: “Do you have a room?” would be answered
“Have” in the affirmative or “No have” in the negative.
GREETINGS AND SMALL TALK
Hello (said with a smile)
sabai di
How are you?
sabai di baw
Thank you (very much)
kop chai (lai lai)
I'm fine
sabai di
Can you speak English?
jâo wâo phasã angkit dâi baw
No I can't
wâo baw dâi
I only speak a little Lao
khói wâo phasã láo dâi nói neung
Do you understand?
jâo khào jai baw
I don't understand
khói baw khào jai
Where are you from?
jâo má tae sãi
I'm from England/
khói má tae angkit/
