Lao is generally a subject–verb–object language, but emphasis can move the object to the beginning of a sentence. The language lacks both agreement and case marking, but word order is very free, with predicate-argument relations determined largely through context. Lao is a right-branching language, much like other Southeast Asian languages and, to a lesser extent, Romance languages.
Politeness
Since Lao culture is stratified based on the age, occupation, wealth or clout of the speaker, one must afford differing amounts of respect based on the discrepancy between one person and another. That affects language as well; to make language more polite, more formal language, including of pronouns (which can otherwise be dropped) and more formal versions of them, and sentence-ending particles can be used. Also, ending particles also serve to soften and make one's speech more polite.
ແດ່ (dé[dɛ̄ː])
In addition to ending most general statements and the softening of imperatives and requests, it is also used to intensify the meaning (especially of adjectives and adverbs) more politely, to make the use of demonstrative pronouns more polite, or to indicate a certain amount or some extent of something.
ເດີ (deu[dɤ̀ː]) or ເດີ້ (deu[dɤ̂ː]) or ເດ (dè[dèː])
They are used as a more intensive version of ແດ່, thus giving requests and demands more urgency and are used for statements that tend to be more emphatic. They are, therefore, not as polite. ເດ also has the sense of and what about or to indicate an equivalent to this as a demonstrative pronoun.
Nouns
Nouns are not marked for plurality, gender, or declension but may be single or plural. Unlike in English, nouns are not marked with articles. Measure words or classifiers (ລັກສະໜະນາມ, laksana naam[lāksā.náʔnáːm]) are often used to express plurals, as classifiers must be used to count objects, but the noun itself remains unchanged.
Verbs of physical action are easily converted into nouns by adding ການ (kan [kàːn]) before the verb. Abstract actions and adjectives use ຄວາມ (khwam [kʰúam]) instead.
Pronouns (ສັບພະນາມ, sap pha nam[sáppʰā.náːm]) are often dropped in informal contexts and replaced with nicknames or kinship terms, depending on the relation of the speaker spoken to (sometimes even spoken about). Pronouns can change based on register of speech, including the obsolete royal and the formal, informal and vulgar. In more formal language, pronouns are more often retained and more formal ones used. Pronouns can be pluralized by adding ພວກ (phuak[pʰûak]) in front: ພວກເຈົ້າ ([pʰûak.t͡ɕâw]) for "you plural". Age and status determine usage. Younger children's names are often prefixed with ບັກ (bak[bāk]) and ອີ (i[ʔìː]), respectively. Slightly older children are addressed to or have their names prefixed with ອ້າຍ (ai[ʔâːj]) and ເອື້ອຍ (èw-ai[ʔɯâj]), respectively, but ພີ່ (phi[pʰīː]) is also common. Much older people may be politely dressed as aunt, uncle, mother, father, or even grandmother or grandfather, depending on their age. In a company setting, one's title is often used.
Lao verbs (ກະລິຍາ, karigna[kā.līɲáː]) are not conjugated for tense, mood, or person. Tense is indicated by using time reference words, such as yesterday, next year, just now or by certain particles. Nouns that begin with ການ (kan[kàːn]) or ຄວາມ (khwam[kʰúam]), often nominalised verbs, become verbs again when those particles are dropped.
Copula
Lao has two forms of the verb to be, ເປັນ (pèn[pèn]) and ແມ່ນ (maen[mɛ̄n]) which are somewhat interchangeable. As a general rule, the latter is not used to describe people.
ex:
ນົກ
Nok
Nok
ເປັນ
pen
be
ໝໍ
mo
doctor
ນົກ ເປັນ ໝໍ
Nok pen mo
Nok be doctor
Nok is a doctor.
ex:
ນັ້ນ
Nan
That
ບໍ່
bo
not
ແມ່ນ
mèn
be
ເຮືອ
heua
boat.
ນັ້ນ ບໍ່ ແມ່ນ ເຮືອ
Nan bo mèn heua
That not be boat.
That is not a boat.
Tense
In a general, in a short Lao sentence, the verb is often not marked for tense and can be taken from context, with words such as yesterday, tomorrow, later, etc. If the subject of when the events occurred is already known, they can also be left out and inferred from dialogue. However, there are several ways to mark tense in Lao:
Past
The most common way to indicate a completed action is to end a statement with ແລ້ວ (lèw[lɛ̂ːw]). That can also be used to indicate events that occurred in the recent past. One can also use the particle ໄດ້ (dai[dâj]) preceding the verb, alone or in conjunction with ແລ້ວ, although this is less common and often used in negative statements and never for a continuous action.
ex:
ແບ້
bae
[bɛ̂ː
ລົງ
long
lóŋ
ມາ
ma
máː
ຈາກ
chak
t͡ɕàːk
ພູ
phou
pʰúː
ແລ້ວ
laew
lɛ̂ːw]
ແບ້ ລົງ ມາ ຈາກ ພູ ແລ້ວ
bae long ma chak phou laew
[bɛ̂ː lóŋ máː t͡ɕàːk pʰúː lɛ̂ːw]
'The goat (just) came down from the mountain.'
ex:
ແບ້
bae
[bɛ̂ː
ບໍ່
bo
bɔ̄ː
ໄດ້
dai
dâj
ລົງ
long
lóŋ
ມາ
ma
máː
ຈາກ
chak
t͡ɕàːk
ພູ
phou
pʰúː
ແລ້ວ
laew
lɛ̂ːw]
ແບ້ ບໍ່ ໄດ້ ລົງ ມາ ຈາກ ພູ ແລ້ວ
bae bo dai long ma chak phou laew
[bɛ̂ː bɔ̄ː dâj lóŋ máː t͡ɕàːk pʰúː lɛ̂ːw]
'The goat did not come down from the mountain.'
Future
There are two markers used to indicate actions to be completed in the future, ຊິ (si[sī]) and ຈະ (cha[t͡ɕáʔ]). Both of these always precede the verb. To indicate that something is just about to happen, one can say ກຳລັງຈະ (kamlang cha[kàm.láŋt͡ɕá]).
ex:
ຄົນ
khon
[kʰón
ນາ
na
náː
ຈະ
cha
tɕáʔ
ກິນ
kin
kìn
ເຂົ້າ
khao
kʰȁw
ໜຽວ
nio
nǐaw]
ຄົນ ນາ ຈະ ກິນ ເຂົ້າ ໜຽວ
khon na cha kin khao nio
[kʰón náː tɕáʔ kìn kʰȁw nǐaw]
'The farmer will eat sticky rice.'
ex:
ຄົນ
khon
[kʰón
ນາ
na
náː
ຊິ
si
sī
ກິນ
kin
kìn
ເຂົ້າ
khao
kʰȁw
ໜຽວ
nio
nǐaw]
ຄົນ ນາ ຊິ ກິນ ເຂົ້າ ໜຽວ
khon na si kin khao nio
[kʰón náː sī kìn kʰȁw nǐaw]
'The farmer will eat sticky rice.'
ex:
ຄົນ
khon
[kʰón
ນາ
na
náː
ກຳລັງຈະ
kamlang cha
kàm.láŋ tɕáʔ
ກິນ
kin
kìn
ເຂົ້າ
khao
kʰàw
ໜຽວ
nio
nǐaw]
ຄົນ ນາ ກຳລັງຈະ ກິນ ເຂົ້າ ໜຽວ
khon na {kamlang cha} kin khao nio
[kʰón náː {kàm.láŋ tɕáʔ} kìn kʰàw nǐaw]
'The farmer is just about to eat sticky rice.'
Progressive
Although no particle is generally needed to mark a present progressive statement, Lao uses three, ພວມ (phuam[pʰuám]) and ກຳລັງ (kamlang[kàm.láŋ]) before the verb, ຢູ່ (yu [jūː]) after it.
ex:
ເດັກ
dèk
[dék
ພວມ
phouam
pʰúam
ນອນ
non
nɔ́ːn]
ເດັກ ພວມ ນອນ
dèk phouam non
[dék pʰúam nɔ́ːn]
'The baby is (still/currently) sleeping.'
ex:
ເດັກ
dèk
[dék
ກຳລັງ
kamlang
kam̀.láŋ
ນອນ
non
nɔ́ːn]
ເດັກ ກຳລັງ ນອນ
dèk kamlang non
[dék kam̀.láŋ nɔ́ːn]
'The baby is (still/currently) sleeping.'
ex:
ເດັກ
dèk
[dék
ນອນຢູ່
non-you
nɔ́ːn jūː]
ເດັກ ນອນຢູ່
dèk non-you
[dék {nɔ́ːn jūː}]
'The baby is (still/currently) sleeping.'
Modal verbs
Modal or auxiliary verbs (ວິກະຕິກະລິຍາ, vikatikaligna) are verbs that serve auxiliary function, such as want, obligation or need like English ought to, should, must, can, etc.
Obligation
ຄວນ (khouan[kʰuán]) Should, ought to
ex:
ຂະເຈົ້າ
khachao
they.FORMAL
ຄວນ
khouan
should
ເວົ້າ
vao
speak
ກັບ
gap
with
ເຈົ້າແຂວງ
chao khwaeng
governor.
ຂະເຈົ້າ ຄວນ ເວົ້າ ກັບ ເຈົ້າແຂວງ
khachao khouan vao gap {chao khwaeng}
they.FORMAL should speak with governor.
They should speak with the governor.
ex:
ເຈົ້າ
Chao
you
ຄວນ
khouan
should
ນົບ
nop
bow
ເມື່ອ
meu
when
ທ່ານ
than
mister
ສະມິຖ
samit
Smith
ເຂົ້າ
khao
enter
ມາ
ma
come.
ເຈົ້າ ຄວນ ນົບ ເມື່ອ ທ່ານ ສະມິຖ ເຂົ້າ ມາ
Chao khouan nop meu than samit khao ma
you should bow when mister Smith enter come.
You ought tonop (bow) when Mr. Smith comes inside.
Need
ຕ້ອງ (tong[tɔ̂ŋ]) to need, must.
When the need is a noun, ຕ້ອງການ (tong kan[tɔ̂ŋkàːn]) is used instead.
ex:
ມື້
meu
[mɯ̂ː
day
ນີ້
ni
nîː
this
ຕ້ອງ
tong
tɔ̂ŋ
must
ໄປ
bai
pàj
go (v)
ເຮັດ
het
hēt
do (v)
ນາ
na
náː]
field
ມື້ ນີ້ ຕ້ອງ ໄປ ເຮັດ ນາ
meu ni tong bai het na
[mɯ̂ː nîː tɔ̂ŋ pàj hēt náː]
day this must {go (v)} {do (v)} field
'Today, I must till the fields.'
ex:
ຊ່າງຄຳ
Sangkham
[sāːŋ kʰám
jeweller
ຕ້ອງການ
tong kan
tɔ̂ŋ kàːn
must+ການ (v)
ຄຳ
kham
kʰám]
gold
ຊ່າງຄຳ ຕ້ອງການ ຄຳ
Sangkham {tong kan} kham
[{sāːŋ kʰám} {tɔ̂ŋ kàːn} kʰám]
jeweller {must+ການ (v)} gold
'The jeweller needs gold.'
Want
ຢາກ, yak[jȁːk], to want, to desire
Used to express a want or desire. When this is a noun, then the form ຢາກໄດ້ (yak dai [jȁːkdâj]) or the common verb ເອົາ (ao [àw]) is used instead, but the latter is not as polite.
ໄດ້ (dai[dâj]) to get, to have, to be able to
That is used to indicate the ability to do something. It is the closest Lao word for the English verb can and in requests when English speakers would use may. When used in that sense, it follows the verb; before the verb, the meaning changes to to get or to have.
ex:
ຜູ້ເຖົ້າ
phou thao
[pʰȕː.tʰȁw
old man
ຍ່າງ
gnang
ɲāːŋ
walk (v)
ສິບຫ້າ
sip ha
síp hȁː
fifteen
ກິໂລເມ້ດ
kilomet
kī.lóː.mēt
kilometer
ໄດ້
dai
dâ]
can (v)
ຜູ້ເຖົ້າ ຍ່າງ ສິບຫ້າ ກິໂລເມ້ດ ໄດ້
{phou thao} gnang {sip ha} kilomet dai
[{pʰȕː.tʰȁw} ɲāːŋ {síp hȁː} kī.lóː.mēt dâ]
{old man} {walk (v)} fifteen kilometer {can (v)}
'The old man can walk fifteen kilometres.
ex:
ຂ້ານ້ອຍ
khanoy
[kʰȁː.nɔ̂ːj
I
ຊ່ວຍ
soi
sɔ̄ːj
help (v)
ທ່ານ
than
tʰāːn
you (formal)
ໄດ້
dai
dâj
can
ບໍ່
bo
bɔ̄ː]
INTERR
ຂ້ານ້ອຍ ຊ່ວຍ ທ່ານ ໄດ້ ບໍ່
khanoy soi than dai bo
[kʰȁː.nɔ̂ːj sɔ̄ːj tʰāːn dâj bɔ̄ː]
I {help (v)} {you (formal)} can INTERR
'May I help you?'
ເປັນ (pèn[pèn]) to be, to be able to
In addition to being a verb for the copula, it can also be used to indicate that one can do something because of knowing how to do it.
ex:
ຄົນ
Khon
[kʰón
person
ຝະຫຼັ່ງ
farang
fā.rāŋ
French
ເສດ
sȅːt
speak (v)
ປາກ
pak
pȁːk
language
ພາສາ
phasa
pʰáː.sǎː
Lao
ລາວ
lao
láːw
language
ເປັນ
pen
pen]
can
ຄົນ ຝະຫຼັ່ງ ເສດ ປາກ ພາສາ ລາວ ເປັນ
Khon farang {} pak phasa lao pen
[kʰón fā.rāŋ sȅːt pȁːk pʰáː.sǎː láːw pen]
person French {speak (v)} language Lao language can
The court dancer (can/knows how to) play the lute.
ສາມາດ...ໄດ້ (samat...dai[sǎːmâːt...dâj]) to be able to, to be possible
It functions much like can but with the sense of being physically possible to do.
child boy not can {lift (v)} CL {water buffalo} upward ໄດ້.
'The boy cannot lift a water buffalo.'
Enter, join
ເຂົ້າ, khao[kʰȁw], to enter, to join, to participate
Used to indicate movement from one place to another inside, such as a house or building.
ex:
ເຮົາ
hao
[háw
We
ເຂົ້າ
khao
kʰàw
enter
ໄປ
bai
paj
go
ເຮືອນ
heuan
hɯán]
house
ເຮົາ ເຂົ້າ ໄປ ເຮືອນ
hao khao bai heuan
[háw kʰàw paj hɯán]
We enter go house
'We go into the house.'
Recipiency
ໃຫ້, hai[hȁj]to give, to permit, to let
Used to indicate that the verb is intended for someone or something else or to express a desire, a wish, or a command.
ex:
ຂໍ
Kho
[kʰɔ̌ː
request
ໃຫ້
hai
hȁj
give
ມີ
mi
míː
have
ໂຊກ
sok
sôːk
luck
ດີ
di
dìː]
good
ຂໍ ໃຫ້ ມີ ໂຊກ ດີ
Kho hai mi sok di
[kʰɔ̌ː hȁj míː sôːk dìː]
request give have luck good
'I wish (to/for) you good luck.'
ex:
ດອກ
Dok
[dɔ̏ːk
flower
ກຸຫຼາບ
kulap
kū.lȁːp
rose
ນີ້
ni
nîː
this
ຢາກ
yak
jȁːk
want
ໃຫ້
hai
hàj
give
nîː
ເຈົ້າ
jao
t͡ɕâw
you
ມີ
mi
míː]
have
ດອກ ກຸຫຼາບ ນີ້ ຢາກ ໃຫ້ {} ເຈົ້າ ມີ
Dok kulap ni yak hai {} jao mi
[dɔ̏ːk kū.lȁːp nîː jȁːk hàj nîː t͡ɕâw míː]
flower rose this want give {} you have
'This flower I want (to/for) you to have it.'
Affirmation and negation
To say no is as simple as saying ບໍ່ (bo[bɔ̄ː]), and negation simply involves placing that word in front of the verb, adjective, adverb, or noun to be negated. To say yes, especially to indicate that one is listening, one uses ໂດຍ (doi[dòːj]), especially in formal situations, or ເຈົ້າ (chao[t͡ɕâw]). To answer a question, one often repeats the verb of action that was used in the question to indicate that that action was or will be completed. One can also use ແມ່ນ (mén[mɛ̄n]), especially if the question had ແມ່ນ, as an element of the interrogative particle.
Adverbs and adjectives
Little distinction can be made between adjectives and adverbs, as any adjective that could logically be used to modify a verb can also be used as an adverb. They are often duplicated to indicate a superlative and can even be modified like verbs, mainly by the lack of a copula to link the object and adjective/adverb. Adjectives come after the noun.
ex:
ຊ້າງ
Sang
[sâːŋ
elephant
ຊ້າ
sa
sâː]
slow
ຊ້າງ ຊ້າ
Sang sa
[sâːŋ sâː]
elephant slow
'A slow elephant.'
ex:
ໄປ
Bai
[baj
ບ້ານ
ban
bâːn
ຊ້າ
sa
sâː
ໆ
saa
sâː]
ໄປ ບ້ານ ຊ້າ ໆ
Bai ban sa saa
[baj bâːn sâː sâː]
'Go to the village slowly.'
ex:
ສາວ
Sao
[sǎːw
ງາມ
ngam
ŋáːm
ທີ່
thi
tʰīː
ໄວ
wai
wáj]
ສາວ ງາມ ທີ່ ໄວ
Sao ngam thi wai
[sǎːw ŋáːm tʰīː wáj]
'A lady who becomes pretty quickly.'
ex:
ບ່າວ
Bao
[bāːw
ທີ່
thi
tʰīː
ຊິ
si
sī
ໂກ້
ko
kôː]
ບ່າວ ທີ່ ຊິ ໂກ້
Bao thi si ko
[bāːw tʰīː sī kôː]
'A boy who will be handsome.'
Equivalence, comparatives, and superlatives
To indicate that something is the same, one uses ຄືກັນ (khu kan[kʰɯ́ːkàn]). To indicate that one is similar to something else, one uses ຄືກັບ (khu kap[kʰɯ́ːkáp]).
Comparatives take the form "A ກວ່າ (kwa[kuā]) B", or A is more than B. The superlative is expressed by "A ທີ່ສຸດ (thisut[tʰīːsút])", or A is the best. All adjectives can be altered in this way:
ex:
ຜອງ
pong
[pʰɔ̌ːŋ]
tall
+
+
+
+
ກວ່າ
kwa
/kuāː/
COMP
=
=
=
=
ຜອງກວ່າ
pong kwa
[pʰɔ̌ːŋ kūa]
taller
ຜອງ + ກວ່າ = ຜອງກວ່າ
pong + kwa = {pong kwa}
[pʰɔ̌ːŋ] + /kuāː/ = {[pʰɔ̌ːŋ kūa]}
tall + COMP = taller
ex:
ນ້ອຍ
noy
/nɔ̂ːj/
small
+
+
+
+
ກວ່າ
kwa
/kuāː/
COMP
=
=
=
=
ນ້ອຍກວ່າ
noy kwa
[nɔ̂ːj kūa]
smaller
ນ້ອຍ + ກວ່າ = ນ້ອຍກວ່າ
noy + kwa = {noy kwa}
/nɔ̂ːj/ + /kuāː/ = {[nɔ̂ːj kūa]}
small + COMP = smaller
ex:
ຄູ
Khou
[kʰúː
ປ່ອ
pong
pɔ̄ːŋ
ງກວ່າ
kwa
kūa
ນັກຮຽນ
nak hian
nāk.hían]
ຄູ ປ່ອ ງກວ່າ ນັກຮຽນ
Khou pong kwa {nak hian}
[kʰúː pɔ̄ːŋ kūa nāk.hían]
'The teacher is smarter than the student.'
ex:
ສາວ
Sao
[sǎːw
ນັ້ນ
nan
nân
ງາມ
ngam
ŋáːm
ທີ່ສຸດ
thisut
tʰīː.sút]
ສາວ ນັ້ນ ງາມ ທີ່ສຸດ
Sao nan ngam thisut
[sǎːw nân ŋáːm tʰīː.sút]
'That lady is the prettiest.'
Questions
Lao uses special tag words at the beginning or the end of the sentence to indicate a question, so the modern use of the question mark (?) is redundant.
Yes–no questions end in ບໍ່ (bo[bɔ̄ː]), but Lao also has other sentence interrogative finals that indicate whether or not the speaker expects an answer, knows the answer to be expected, will be surprised, or is rhetorically asking a question, but they are generally used only in conversational settings.
ex:
ສະບາຽ
sabai
[sā.bàːj
ດີ
di
dìː
ບໍ່
bo
bɔ̄ː]
ສະບາຽ ດີ ບໍ່
sabai di bo
[sā.bàːj dìː bɔ̄ː]
'Are you well?'
Other common interrogatives
Who? ຜູ້ໃດ (phoudai[pʰȕːdàj]) and its common short form ໃຜ (phai[pʰǎj])
ex:
ຜູ້ໃດ
phoudai
[pʰȕː dàj
who.INTERR
ຂາຽ
khai
kʰǎːj
sell (v)
ໄຂ່
khai
kʰāj
egg
ໄກ່
kai
kāj]
chicken
ຜູ້ໃດ ຂາຽ ໄຂ່ ໄກ່
phoudai khai khai kai
[{pʰȕː dàj} kʰǎːj kʰāj kāj]
who.INTERR {sell (v)} egg chicken
'Who sells chicken eggs?'
ex:
ໃຜ
phai
[pʰǎj
who.INTERR
ກັບໄປ
kap pai
káp pàj
leave for (v)
ຈຳປາສັກ
Champassak
t͡ɕàm.pàː.sák]
Champassak
ໃຜ ກັບໄປ ຈຳປາສັກ
phai {kap pai} Champassak
[pʰǎj {káp pàj} t͡ɕàm.pàː.sák]
who.INTERR {leave for (v)} Champassak
'Who left for Champassak?'
What? ຈັ່ງໃດ (changdai[t͡ɕāŋ.dàj]) and its common short form ຫຽັງ (gnang[ɲǎŋ])
When? ເມື່ອໃດ (mua dai[mɯ̄adàj]), and many others.
There are numerous ways to ask when something will occur, many of which are formed by adding ໃດ (dai/dàj/) which after a noun marking time, e.g., ເວລາໃດ (vela dai[wéːláːdàj]), ຍາມໃດ (gnam dai[ɲáːmdàj]), and ປານໃດ (pan dai[pàːndài]).
Why? ເປັນຈັ່ງໃດ (pen changdai[pènt͡ɕāŋ.dàj])
The phrase by itself can also mean What's wrong?, but can also ask why or for what reason a condition is occurring.
How? ແນວໃດ (nèw dai[nɛ́ːwdàj])
There are numerous ways to ask how?, some interchangeable with Lao equivalents for what? and why? but in the sense of how something is accomplished or done, one can also use ເຊັ່ນໃດ (sen dai[sēn.dàj]), ຢ່າງໃດ (yang dai[jāːŋdàj]) or ດັ່ງໃດ (dang dai[dāŋ.dàj]).
ex:
ເຮັດ
het
[hēt
do (v)
ແນວໃດ
nèw dai
nɛ́ːw dàj]
how.INTERR
ເຮັດ ແນວໃດ
het {nèw dai}
[hēt {nɛ́ːw dàj}]
{do (v)} how.INTERR
How does one do it?'
How Much/Many? (General Things) ຈັກ (chak[t͡ɕák])
ex:
ບາດ
bat
/bȁːt
Now
ນີ້
ni
nīː
here [right now]
ຈັກ
chak
tʃák
how many
ຄົນ
khon
khón
people
ໄປ
pai
paj
go (v)
ສູ່ຂວັນ
sukhwan
sūːkʰwǎːn/
baisi ceremony
ບາດ ນີ້ ຈັກ ຄົນ ໄປ ສູ່ຂວັນ
bat ni chak khon pai sukhwan
/bȁːt nīː tʃák khón paj sūːkʰwǎːn/
Now {here [right now]} {how many} people {go (v)} {baisi ceremony}
'How many people attend the baisi ceremony?'
How Much? (Price) ເທົ່າໃດ (thao dai[tʰāwdàj]) or its variant ທໍ່ໃດ (tho dai[tʰɔ̄ːdàj])
{older brother} want ໄດ້ wife good {or not.INTERR}
'Does older brother want a good wife or not?'
Eh? ຫຼື (lu/lɯ̀/)
This is a rather informal interrogative particle equivalent to English eh? or hmm? or huh?.
ex:
ສະບາຍດີ
sabai di
[sā.bàːj dìː
be well (v)
ຫຼື
lu
lɯ̀]
huh.INTERR
ສະບາຍດີ ຫຼື
{sabai di} lu
{[sā.bàːj dìː} lɯ̀]
{be well (v)} huh.INTERR
'You okay, huh?
Answers to questions usually just involve repetition of the verb and any nouns for clarification.
Question: ສະບາຍດີບໍ່ (sabai di bo[sā.bàːjdìːbɔ̄ː]) Are you well?
Response: ສະບາຍດີ (sabai di[sā.bàːjdìː]) I am well or ບໍ່ສະບາຍ (bo sabai [bɔ̄ːsā.bàːj]) I am not well.
Words asked with a negative can be confusing and should be avoided. The response, even without the negation, will still be negated by the nature of the question.
ບໍ່ສະບາຍບໍ່ (bo sabai di bo/bɔːsa.bajdiːbɔː/) Are you not well?
Response: ບໍ່ສະບາຍ (bo sabai di/bɔːsa.bajdiː/) I am well.
Classifiers
Classifiers (ລັກສະນະນາມ, laksananam/lāksā.nāʔ.náːm/) are used for when referring to a number of things, either a group or a finite amount. Classifiers can be used in place of the counted noun when context makes it sufficient. There are many classifiers, which is daunting, and it is better to double the noun or the more common ones such as ທີ່ (thi/tʰīː/) or ໂຕ (to/toː/). For single items, the classifier comes before the number; for more, the classifier comes after it.
ex:
ເບັຽ
bia
/biaː
beer
ຂວດ
khuat
kʰùaːt
CL
ໜຶ່ງ
nueng
nɯ̄ŋ/
one
ເບັຽ ຂວດ ໜຶ່ງ
bia khuat nueng
/biaː kʰùaːt nɯ̄ŋ/
beer CL one
'One bottle of beer.'
ex:
ເບັຽ
bia
/biaː
beer
ສອງ
song
sɔ̌ːŋ
two
ຂວດ
khuat
kʰuàːt/
CL
ເບັຽ ສອງ ຂວດ
bia song khuat
/biaː sɔ̌ːŋ kʰuàːt/
beer two CL
'Two bottles of beer.'
The classifiers can sometimes be used in place of the nouns they group in context.
ex:
ມີຫ
mi
/míː
have
ໝາ
ma
mǎː
dog
ສອງ
song
sɔ̌ːŋ
two
ໂຕ
to
ɗoː
CL
ໃນ
nai
nái
in
ບ້ານ
ban
bâːn
village.
ໂຕ
to
ɗoː
CL
ກັດ
kat
kát
bite
ອ້າຍ
ai
ʔâːj/
older brother
ມີຫ ໝາ ສອງ ໂຕ ໃນ ບ້ານ ໂຕ ກັດ ອ້າຍ
mi ma song to nai ban to kat ai
/míː mǎː sɔ̌ːŋ ɗoː nái bâːn ɗoː kát ʔâːj/
have dog two CL in village. CL bite {older brother}
'There were two dogs in the village. The dogs bit older brother.'
Lao Classifiers
Lao
Category
ຄົນ, khon/kʰón/
People in general, except clergy and royalty.
ຄັນ, khan/kʰán/
Vehicles, bicycles, umbrellas, kitchen utensils.
ຄູ່, khu/kʰūː/
Pairs of people, animals, socks, earrings, etc.
ສະບັບ, sabap/sáʔbáp/
Papers with texts, books, documents, manuscripts, etc.
ໂຕ, to/ɗoː/
Animals, insects, birds, shirts, letters, playing cards, furniture, chairs, things with legs.
round and flat objects such as a leaf, a tray, etc.[1]
Possession
To indicate that object X belongs to object Y, Lao uses the construction X ຂອງ Y. ຂອງ (khong/kʰɔ̌ːŋ/) can also be omitted without changing the meaning.
ex:
ແຜງ
Mane
ຂອງ
POSS
ມ້າ
horse
or
or
ແຜງ
mane
ມ້າ
horse
ແຜງ ຂອງ ມ້າ {} or {} ແຜງ ມ້າ
Mane POSS horse {} or {} mane horse
A horse's mane.'
References
^Classifiers in Lao: A Cognitive Linguistic Approach
Enfield, N. J. (2007). A grammar of Lao. Berlin, Germany: Mouton de Gruyter.
Cummings, J. (2002). Lao phrasebook. Footscray, Australia: Lonely Planet Publishers.
