Need useful Lao vocabulary for Laos? Begin with ສະບາຍດີ (sabaidee) for hello, ຂອບໃຈ (khop chai) for thank you, ຂໍໂທດ (kho thot) for sorry or excuse me, ເທົ່າໃດ? (thao dai?) for how much, and ຫ້ອງນ້ຳຢູ່ໃສ? (hong nam yu sai?) for where is the restroom. These expressions help with real problems before you have memorised long sentences.
This guide teaches 50 Lao words and phrases, each with Lao writing, an approximate Latin-letter reading, a plain-English meaning and a situation where you can use it. The groups cover everyday greetings, getting clarification, food and prices, road and rail vocabulary, and useful signs. A short dialogue teaches you how the words fit together.
Quick summary: Lao is the national language of Laos. It is a tonal language with its own script, and Latin spellings differ between learning guides. Learn sabaidee, khop chai, thao dai?, yu sai? and bo pen nyang first. Show written Lao when pronunciation is unclear, check important prices and directions, and do not rely on a phrasebook for medical or allergy-related safety.
Quick answers: eight expressions to start with
- ສະບາຍດີ — Hello
- ສະບາຍດີຕອນເຊົ້າ — Good morning
- ສະບາຍດີຕອນແລງ — Good evening
- ຂອບໃຈ — Thank you
- ຂອບໃຈຫຼາຍໆ — Thank you very much
- ຢູ່ໃສ? — Where is it?
- ເທົ່າໃດ? — How much?
- ບໍ່ເຂົ້າໃຈ — I do not understand
Find your answer: 50 words and phrases · Examples · Common mistakes · Four-week plan · FAQs.
What you need to know about Lao words
The language behind the expressions
Lao is widely used in Laos as a national language, alongside many local languages, including Khmu and Hmong varieties. A phrasebook should not imply that every person in the country has the same mother tongue. Start with a courteous greeting, pay attention to how people respond and ask for a simpler answer rather than assuming that an English-to-Lao translation must match every local situation.
Why Lao script matters
Lao script is related to Thai but remains a separate writing system. Learning a few recurring expressions in their original form helps with real signs. ຫ້ອງນ້ຳ means bathroom, ໂຮງໝໍ hospital, ຕະຫຼາດ market and ສະຖານີ station. You may learn to recognise those words visually before you can pronounce them correctly.
Tones and approximate readings
Lao has lexical tones; a different tone or vowel length may affect the meaning of a word. Romanised phrases such as sabaidee and thao dai are helpful cues but are not exact phonetic transcripts. Other sources may spell the same expression differently. Use native-speaker recordings with the script when you practise and show written text for important questions.
Polite requests without a one-word shortcut
The word ກະລຸນາ (kaluna) can mean please in formal language or notices. Many everyday questions, however, are better learned as full expressions. If you want to ask for directions, combine a destination with ຢູ່ໃສ? (yu sai?). If you need something repeated, ask the listener to say it again or show you rather than merely adding a formal ‘please’.
Social address and relationships
Terms such as ອ້າຍ (ai), ເອື້ອຍ (euay) and ນ້ອງ (nong) can be used when addressing people in relation to age or familiarity. These words are more complicated than simple English ‘sir’ or ‘madam’ translations. Listen to local speakers and avoid assuming you know how a stranger wishes to be addressed.
What Lao words cannot safely tell you
A menu description such as ‘not spicy’ is not evidence that food is safe for a serious allergy. If someone needs to avoid peanuts, fish, another ingredient or cross-contact, show the exact allergen and get a clear confirmation from the people preparing the food. Similarly, a word for hospital does not replace medical interpreting.
What to do when a price or direction is unclear
A learner may know ເທົ່າໃດ? (How much?) without understanding a spoken answer. If the result involves money, ask to see the number in writing and confirm that the figure is in kip or another stated currency. If the result involves a route, point to a map and check the destination.
The most useful order for learning
Begin with politeness and questions, then add situations in which you would need food, transport or public services. It is easier to recognise ten words with a clear purpose than to memorise a large alphabetical list. Every time you learn a new phrase, connect its writing, sound, meaning and a real-life action.
50 essential Lao words and phrases
Use the final column to see when an expression helps. Learn ten related words at a time and put them into one short exchange. Romanisation is approximate; the original script is a reliable reference to show another person.
Greetings and courteous replies — 1–10
| # | Lao | Approximate reading | English meaning | Practical use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ສະບາຍດີ | sabaidee | Hello | Begin a conversation |
| 2 | ສະບາຍດີຕອນເຊົ້າ | sabaidee ton sao | Good morning | Greet in the morning |
| 3 | ສະບາຍດີຕອນແລງ | sabaidee ton laeng | Good evening | Greet in the evening |
| 4 | ຂອບໃຈ | khop chai | Thank you | Express gratitude |
| 5 | ຂອບໃຈຫຼາຍໆ | khop chai lai lai | Thank you very much | Offer stronger thanks |
| 6 | ຂໍໂທດ | kho thot | Excuse me / sorry | Apologise or get attention |
| 7 | ລາກ່ອນ | la kon | Goodbye | End a conversation |
| 8 | ບໍ່ເປັນຫຍັງ | bo pen nyang | It’s okay / no problem | Reassure someone |
| 9 | ແມ່ນ | maen | Yes / correct | Agree with a statement |
| 10 | ບໍ່ | bo | No / not | Give a negative response |
Greetings and thanks are the building blocks of a courteous exchange. Try them in the context of greeting, requesting help and leaving.
Questions and conversation repair — 11–20
| # | Lao | Approximate reading | English meaning | Practical use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | ເຈົ້າສະບາຍດີບໍ່? | chao sabaidee bo? | How are you? | Ask about wellbeing |
| 12 | ຂ້ອຍສະບາຍດີ | khoi sabaidee | I am fine | Answer how you are |
| 13 | ເຈົ້າຊື່ຫຍັງ? | chao su nyang? | What is your name? | Ask about a name |
| 14 | ຂ້ອຍຊື່ … | khoi su … | My name is … | Introduce yourself |
| 15 | ຢູ່ໃສ? | yu sai? | Where is it? | Find a location |
| 16 | ເທົ່າໃດ? | thao dai? | How much? | Ask a price or quantity |
| 17 | ບໍ່ເຂົ້າໃຈ | bo khao chai | I do not understand | Explain confusion |
| 18 | ພາສາອັງກິດ | phasa angkit | English language | Ask about shared language |
| 19 | ຊ່ວຍແດ່ | suay dae | Please help | Request assistance |
| 20 | ກະລຸນາ | kaluna | Please (formal) | Make a formal request |
A beginner who can ask for clarification is less likely to misunderstand a price or destination.
Meals, markets and prices — 21–30
| # | Lao | Approximate reading | English meaning | Practical use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 | ນ້ຳ | nam | Water | Ask for water |
| 22 | ເຂົ້າ | khao | Rice | Discuss food |
| 23 | ເຂົ້າໜຽວ | khao niao | Sticky rice | Find a staple dish |
| 24 | ອາຫານ | ahan | Food / meal | Read a menu |
| 25 | ກາເຟ | kafe | Coffee | Order coffee |
| 26 | ຊາ | sa | Tea | Order tea |
| 27 | ຕະຫຼາດ | talat | Market | Find a market |
| 28 | ແຊບ | saep | Delicious | Compliment a meal |
| 29 | ບໍ່ເຜັດ | bo phet | Not spicy | State a preference |
| 30 | ແພງ | phaeng | Expensive | Comment on a price |
Always check ingredients and preparation for food allergies. ‘Not spicy’ is not the same as allergen-free.
Bus, train and directions — 31–40
| # | Lao | Approximate reading | English meaning | Practical use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31 | ລົດເມ | lot me | Bus | Find road transport |
| 32 | ສະຖານີ | sathani | Station | Find a transport stop |
| 33 | ລົດໄຟ | lot fai | Train | Discuss rail travel |
| 34 | ລົດຕຸກຕຸກ | lot tuk-tuk | Tuk-tuk vehicle | Find local transport |
| 35 | ປີ້ | pi | Ticket | Ask about fares |
| 36 | ທາງ | thang | Road / way | Read a direction |
| 37 | ທາງເຂົ້າ | thang khao | Entrance / way in | Read an entry sign |
| 38 | ທາງອອກ | thang ok | Exit / way out | Read an exit sign |
| 39 | ຊ້າຍ | sai | Left | Follow directions |
| 40 | ຂວາ | khwa | Right | Follow directions |
Recognise the written entrance and exit terms; use a map or current notice to confirm directions.
Daily services and written signs — 41–50
| # | Lao | Approximate reading | English meaning | Practical use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 41 | ຫ້ອງນ້ຳ | hong nam | Bathroom / toilet | Find facilities |
| 42 | ໂຮງໝໍ | hong mo | Hospital | Find medical care |
| 43 | ຮ້ານຂາຍຢາ | han khai ya | Pharmacy / medicine shop | Find medication |
| 44 | ຕຳຫຼວດ | tamluat | Police | Request official help |
| 45 | ເງິນ | ngoen | Money | Discuss payment |
| 46 | ກີບ | kip | Lao kip | Understand a price |
| 47 | ໂຮງແຮມ | hong haem | Hotel | Find lodging |
| 48 | ເປີດ | poet | Open | Read opening information |
| 49 | ປິດ | pit | Closed / close | Read closing information |
| 50 | ມື້ອື່ນ | mue un | Tomorrow | Discuss a future day |
Keep the original writing on your phone when you need a service, rather than depending only on approximate pronunciation.
Real conversations that connect the vocabulary
A language learner does not need to memorise an entire grammar book before solving a basic problem. Practise each sample aloud, then change the item or destination to make the phrase transferable. Real speakers may respond differently, so ask for clarification when you are unsure.
Buying a coffee
- You: ສະບາຍດີ. — Hello.
- You indicate ກາເຟ (coffee) on a menu.
- You: ຂອບໃຈ. — Thank you.
Starting with a simple word and pointing to the exact item is more reliable than improvising a long sentence with unknown grammar. Learn a full polite request from authentic spoken Lao as the next step.
Checking a market price
- You: ເທົ່າໃດ? (Thao dai?) — How much?
- The seller indicates a price in Lao kip.
- You confirm the amount by seeing the number.
- You: ຂອບໃຈຫຼາຍໆ. — Thank you very much.
The question is easy to memorise, but a rapid price answer may still be difficult. Check the number and the currency before paying.
Finding the restroom
- You: ຫ້ອງນ້ຳຢູ່ໃສ? (Hong nam yu sai?) — Where is the restroom?
- The other person points to a location.
- You: ຂອບໃຈ. — Thank you.
This is a good phrase to save in Lao writing on a phone. It may be understood more clearly in writing than in a learner’s first attempt at tones.
Finding a bus station
- You: ສະຖານີລົດເມຢູ່ໃສ? — Where is the bus station?
- Other person: ລ້ຽວຊ້າຍ. — Turn left.
- You: ຂອບໃຈ. — Thank you.
The same pattern can be reused for other destinations. A vocabulary guide does not provide live departure times or confirm that a route currently operates.
When the reply is unclear
- You: ບໍ່ເຂົ້າໃຈ. (Bo khao chai.) — I do not understand.
- You: ຂໍໂທດ. (Kho thot.) — Excuse me.
- You indicate the written destination or price and ask the person to point or write it.
Not understanding is useful information to communicate. Repairing a conversation is better than guessing when the details matter.
Common mistakes and how to avoid them
- Confusing Lao with Thai simply because the languages and scripts are related. They are distinct.
- Treating romanisation as an exact representation of tone or vowel length.
- Using ‘bo pen nyang’ as though it settles a serious question or risk in every context.
- Confusing ‘bo phet’ (not spicy) with a guarantee of being free from an allergen.
- Guessing a large price in kip instead of checking the displayed digits.
- Assigning older-brother or older-sister forms of address without understanding the social relationship.
- Treating a word for station as live evidence that a train or bus operates.
Four weeks from words to useful conversations
Spend ten to fifteen minutes a day practising recall. Look away from a word, try to say what it means, check the original, listen to native audio, and then use the word in a new short sentence. Return to missed words on later days rather than rereading every item indiscriminately.
- Week 1: Learn greetings, courtesy and the eight quick phrases; open and close three short imaginary conversations.
- Week 2: Practise questions, names, where, how much, and saying that you do not understand. Ask for written numbers.
- Week 3: Use food, transport and direction words with a real map, menu or photograph, then change the object in the question.
- Week 4: Learn services and useful signs. Test all fifty meanings without seeing the translations and revisit words you missed after one, three and seven days.
What mastery looks like
Imagine needing to ask a price in a Lao market, identify the correct written number, then thank the person helping you. If you can perform that exchange without reading the whole table, the words have become useful knowledge. Change the scene to a bus station or a public building and try the same skill.
Frequently asked questions
How do you say hello in Lao?
ສະບາຍດີ (sabaidee) is a common greeting.
How do you say thank you in Laos?
ຂອບໃຈ (khop chai) means thank you; add ຫຼາຍໆ for stronger thanks.
How do you ask how much something costs?
ເທົ່າໃດ? (thao dai?) asks how much.
How do you ask where the toilet is?
ຫ້ອງນ້ຳຢູ່ໃສ? (hong nam yu sai?) means ‘Where is the restroom?’
What does bo pen nyang mean?
ບໍ່ເປັນຫຍັງ usually means ‘it’s okay’ or ‘no problem’, depending on context.
Is Lao a tonal language?
Yes. Lexical tone matters, and simple Latin spellings do not capture all sounds.
Is Lao the same as Thai?
No. Lao and Thai are related, but use distinct scripts and standard vocabulary.
What is the currency of Laos?
The Lao kip. When asking prices, confirm the amount and currency.
What should beginners learn after 50 Lao words?
Learn basic script, pronunciation with native audio, numbers and reusable short request patterns.
Continue learning with eduKate
The related country guides help you connect a word to geography, society and daily life. Languages should be understood on their own terms rather than treated as interchangeable because two countries are neighbours.
- Everything About Laos
- Vocabulary for Thailand | Thai phrases
- Vocabulary for Cambodia | Khmer phrases
- Vocabulary for Myanmar | Burmese phrases
Sources and limits
Lao Airlines, Tourism Laos and the cited Lao phrasebook were used to check common expressions and script. This original educational guide is not professional interpreting. For serious food allergies, health, legal or safety concerns, use dependable written translation and appropriate professional assistance.
- Lao Airlines — Lao language and helpful words
- Koilingua — Lao phrasebook with native script
- Tourism Laos — Before you go, national language information
Reviewed: 6 November 2026.