Lao (ພາສາລາວ pháa-sǎa láo) is the main language of Laos. Thai is also closely related to Lao, and the Isaan dialect spoken in the northeast is, with minor differences in vocabulary aside, virtually identical to Lao.
==Pronunciation guide==
Lao is a tonal language with six tones in the Vientiane dialect: low, mid, high, rising, high falling, and low falling. Meanings are dependent on the tone, so try not to inflect your sentences; in particular, 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, and Thai readers will be able to figure 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 spaces between words. Lao remains a bit of challenge to pick up, even though it is usually considered 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, is more accurately 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
Instant Lao
Speak Thai already? Here's a three-step program for instant Lao fluency:
The letter "r" must be eliminated.
At the beginning of a word, "r" turns into "l": roi → loi "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.
Of course, there's quite a bit more to it than that, but it's a start!
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 an unpronounced "e" at the end of words to stop the consonant from being swallowed (eg. "Kaysone Phomvihane").
i
like in the 'i' in 'nit'
ii
like in the 'ee' in 'beer' or 'Feet'
a
like in the 'u' in 'bum'
aa
like in the 'a' in 'father'
ae
like in the 'a' in 'fat'
e
like in the 'e' in 'fence'
eh
like in the 'a' in 'bait'
u
like in the 'u' for 'fruit'
ou
like in the 'oo' in 'mood'
aw
like in the 'aw' in 'saw'
am
like in the 'um' in 'drum'
oe
not found in English, but similar to the 'uh' in 'huh'
eu
not found in English, but similar to the 'i' in 'sir' or the 'eux' from the French 'deux'
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' sound 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
Phrases in this section are not consistently transcribed with BGN/PCGN and Wikitravel's romanization guidelines. If you are familiar with the language, please help fix them up!
Basics
Hello.
(Sa-bai-Dee.)
What's Up?
(Pen Jung Dai?)
How are you?
(Sa-bai-Dee Baw?)
Fine, thank you.
(Sa-bai-Dee.)
What is your name?
(Seuh Jâo Maen/Bpen Nyung?)
My name is ______ .
(Seuh Khàwy Maen/Bpen _____.)
Please.
(Kalunaa)
Thank you.
(Khawp Jai)
It's nothing.
(Baw Pen Nyung.)
Yes.
(Maen Laeow/Doi/Eur/Jao)
No.
(Baw)
Excuse me/I'm Sorry. (Begging Pardon)
(Khǎw Thôht)
Goodbye and Take Care
(Sôhk Dee Der)
Do you speak English?
(Jâo Wâo Pháa-Sǎa Ung-Kit Dai Baw?)
I can't speak English very well.
(Khàwy Baw Wâo Pháa-Sǎa Ung-Kit Dai Dee)
I can't speak ____.
(Khàwy Wâo Pháa-Sǎa ____ Baw Dai.)
Please speak slowly.
(Kalunaa, Wâo Sah-Saah)
Do you understand?
(Jâo Khào Jai Baw?)
--Yes. I understand.
(Maen Laeow. Khàwy Khào Jai)
--No. I don't understand.
(Baw. Khàwy Baw Khào Jai)
Go to sleep
(Pai Náwn)
Where is the bathroom?
(Hàwng Nâm Yuu Sǎi?)
(Ethnicity)I am ____.
(Khoy Pen Khon ____.)
Problems
Leave me alone.
Leave me alone. ('Ya kouan khoy')
Don't touch me!
('Ya jup khoy)
I'll call the police.
('Khoy si toh jang dtum louat.)
Police!
Police! (Dtum louat!)
Stop! Thief!
Stop! Thief! (Yud! Kee Luck)
can you help me?.
I need your help. ('Suay khoy dai boh')
It's an emergency.
It's an emergency. (souk sern)
I'm lost.
(Khoy lohng taang)
I lost my wallet.
(Khoy seeuh gkapow)
I lost my bag.
(Khoy seeuh tong)
I'm sick.
(Khoy pben kai/Khoy boh sabai)
I've been injured.
(Khoy jep/Khoy Theug baad jep.)
I need a doctor.
I need a doctor. (Khoy tong kan Maw')
Can I use your phone?
(Khoy sai tolasup dai boh?)
May I talk to _______? (Khoy ko lom num _______?"")
I dont understand
boh. koi boh dai kow jai
Numbers
Lao numbers are effectively identical to Thai, the two quirks worth noting being that 20 is sao (not yii-sip) and 100 is loi. 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
(loi)
200
(song loi)
300
(saam loi)
1000
(phan)
2000
(song phan)
10,000
(meun, sip phan)
100,000
(saen, loi phan)
1,000,000
(laan)
1,000,000,000
(teu, phan laan)
1,000,000,000,000
(laan laan)
number (train, bus, etc.)
(nam-boe (lehk))
half
(kheung)
less
(nawy-kwaa)
more
(iik)
Time
now
(diow nee)
later
la gon
before
(deh gawn)
morning
(dthawn sao)
afternoon
(tiang/ton suwai)
evening
(ton lang)
night
(kaang keun)
Clock time
Duration
_____ minute(s)
(na-thii)
_____ hour(s)
(suua mohng)
_____ day(s)
(meuh)
_____ week(s)
(aathit)
_____ month(s)
(duean)
_____ year(s)
(bpii)
Days
Today
(meuh nii)
Yesterday
(Meuh wán nii)
Tomorrow
(Meuh euhn)
This Week
(aa-thit)
Last Week
(Thit laeow)
Next Week
(Thit naa)
Weekend
(Sǎo aa-thit)
Sunday
(wán aa-thit)
Monday
(wán jan)
Tuesday
(wán ang-kháan)
Wednesday
(wán phuut)
Thursday
(wán pha-hát)
Friday
(wán súk)
Saturday
(wán săo)
Months
January
Deuan Máng-Kawn
February
Deuan Kum-Pháa
March
Deuan Mi-Náa
April
Deuan Méh-Săa
May
Deuan Pheut-Sá-Pháa
June
Deuan Mi-Thú-Náa
July
Deuan Kaw-La-Kót Da
August
Deuan Sĭng-Hăa
September
Deuan Kan-Yáa
October
Deuan Tú-Láa
November
Deuan Pha-Jík
December
Deuan Than-Wáa
Colors
red
(sii daeng)
orange
(sii som)
yellow
(sii lueang)
green
(sii khiao)
blue
(sii faa)
purple
(sii muang)
brown
(sii nam taan)
gray
(sii ke thao)
black
(sii dum)
white
(sii khao)
Pink
(sii bua)
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 _____? (...)
I just came from _____?
Directions
How do I get to _____ ?
How do I get to _____ ? (khoy bpay _____ baep dai?)
I am an American/Australian/British/Canadian citizen.
(English: khawy maa ta ung-kit)
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? (...)
pa saa ung-kit bor? Khoy coup jai lai lai khon chop lout
This is a usable phrasebook. It explains pronunciation and the bare essentials of travel communication. An adventurous person could use it to get by, but please plunge forward and help it grow!
