Quoting Others
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use the particle 'waa' (ວ່າ) to report what someone else said or thought.
- Use 'waa' after verbs like 'said' (bok) or 'thought' (khit). Example: Lao bok waa...
- Keep the original tense of the speaker's words in most Lao contexts.
- Use 'khong' or 'lao' to refer back to the original speaker clearly.
Meanings
The particle 'waa' acts as a bridge between a reporting verb and the content of what was said or thought.
Direct/Indirect Reporting
Reporting speech or thoughts.
“ລາວເວົ້າວ່າລາວຫິວເຂົ້າ.”
“ຂ້ອຍຄິດວ່າຝົນຈະຕົກ.”
Reported Speech Structure
| Subject | Reporting Verb | Particle | Reported Clause |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lao | bok | waa | lao pai |
| Khoi | khit | waa | fon tok |
| Pheu | tham | waa | jow pai sai |
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Affirmative | Sub + Verb + waa + Clause | Lao bok waa lao pai |
| Negative | Sub + Verb + waa + bo + Clause | Lao bok waa bo pai |
| Question | Sub + tham + waa + Question | Lao tham waa pai bor |
طيف الرسمية
ທ່ານກ່າວວ່າເພິ່ນຈະໄປ. (Reporting a departure)
ລາວບອກວ່າລາວຈະໄປ. (Reporting a departure)
ລາວວ່າລາວຊິໄປ. (Reporting a departure)
ລາວວ່າຊິໄປ. (Reporting a departure)
The Waa Bridge
Verbs
- bok tell
- khit think
Examples by Level
ລາວບອກວ່າລາວຫິວ.
He said that he is hungry.
ຂ້ອຍຄິດວ່າຝົນຈະຕົກ.
I think that it will rain.
ເພິ່ນຖາມວ່າເຈົ້າຈະໄປໃສ.
He asked where you are going.
ລາວເວົ້າວ່າລາວບໍ່ໄດ້ເຮັດວຽກມື້ນີ້.
He said that he didn't work today.
ເຂົາເຈົ້າລືກັນວ່າຈະມີງານບຸນໃຫຍ່.
They are rumored that there will be a big festival.
ທ່ານກ່າວວ່າຄວາມສາມັກຄີແມ່ນສິ່ງສຳຄັນ.
He stated that unity is important.
Easily Confused
Learners often think they need different grammar for direct quotes.
Sometimes 'waa' is used as a verb meaning 'to say'.
Using 'jow' (you) instead of 'lao' (he/she) in reports.
أخطاء شائعة
Lao bok lao pai
Lao bok waa lao pai
Lao waa lao pai
Lao bok waa lao pai
Lao bok waa lao pai-ed
Lao bok waa lao pai
Lao bok waa pai lao
Lao bok waa lao pai
Khoi khit lao pai
Khoi khit waa lao pai
Lao tham waa pai bor
Lao tham waa jow pai bor
Lao bok waa khong pai
Lao bok waa lao pai
Lao bok waa 'Lao pai'
Lao bok waa lao pai
Lao bok waa jow pai
Lao bok waa lao pai
Lao bok waa pai
Lao bok waa lao pai
Lao klao waa lao ja pai
Lao klao waa lao ja pai
Sentence Patterns
___ bok waa ___
Khoi khit waa ___
___ tham waa ___
Khao lue kan waa ___
Real World Usage
Lao bok waa lao pai.
Pheu bok waa meeting pai.
Khao lue kan waa...
Lao bok waa khao mot.
Lao tham waa pai sai.
Pheu klao waa...
Pronoun Check
Don't Backshift
Use 'waa' for thoughts
Be clear
Smart Tips
Change the pronoun from 'I' to 'he/she'.
Use 'bok' (tell) as a safe default.
Use 'tham' (ask) instead of 'bok'.
Use 'klao' instead of 'bok'.
النطق
waa
Pronounced with a long 'a' sound.
Statement
Lao bok waa lao pai ↘
Falling intonation for statements.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Waa is the Wall that separates who said it from what they said.
Visual Association
Imagine a bridge with 'Waa' written on it connecting two people talking.
Rhyme
To report what they say, use Waa every day.
Story
Somphon told me he was tired. I said, 'Somphon bok waa lao nway.' Now I remember: Waa connects the news!
Word Web
تحدٍّ
Tell a friend three things you heard today using 'waa'.
ملاحظات ثقافية
Using 'waa' is essential for politeness when relaying information to avoid ambiguity.
The particle 'waa' originates from the verb 'to say' in older Tai languages.
Conversation Starters
What did your friend say?
What do you think about the weather?
What did the teacher say?
What is the rumor about the project?
Journal Prompts
Test Yourself
Lao bok ___ lao pai.
Which is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
Lao bok lao pai.
Lao: 'I am going.'
A: What did he say? B: He said he is hungry. -> Lao bok ___.
waa / lao / bok / pai
Which are reporting verbs?
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
Score: /8
تمارين تطبيقية
8 exercisesLao bok ___ lao pai.
Which is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
Lao bok lao pai.
Lao: 'I am going.'
A: What did he say? B: He said he is hungry. -> Lao bok ___.
waa / lao / bok / pai
Which are reporting verbs?
bok - khit - tham
Score: /8
الأسئلة الشائعة (8)
No, Lao does not use verb tenses like English.
Yes, it is the standard connector for reported speech.
Your sentence will sound incomplete or confusing.
It is neutral and used in all registers.
Use 'tham waa' followed by the question.
Yes, 'Khoi khit waa...' is very common.
Yes, 'Khao lue kan waa...' is standard.
In Lao, the structure is often the same.
In Other Languages
que
Spanish requires verb conjugation changes.
que
French has complex tense agreement rules.
dass
German changes word order (verb to end).
to
Japanese requires the verb to be in plain form.
shuo
Chinese does not have a dedicated particle like 'waa'.
anna
Arabic requires specific case endings.
