Farewells
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Lao farewells use fixed phrases often softened by the polite particle 'der' to sound friendly and respectful.
- Use 'ລາກ່ອນ' (Laa korn) for a standard, slightly formal 'Goodbye'.
- Use 'ໄປກ່ອນເດີ້' (Pai korn der) when you are the one leaving a group.
- Add 'ເດີ້' (der) at the end of farewells to sound warm and natural.
Meanings
The set of expressions used to signal departure or end a conversation in Lao culture.
Standard Departure
General way to say goodbye when leaving a person or place.
“ລາກ່ອນ (Laa korn)”
“ໄປກ່ອນເດີ້ (Pai korn der)”
Future Meeting
Expressing the intent to see the person again soon.
“ພົບກັນໃໝ່ (Phop kan mai)”
“ແລ້ວພົບກັນ (Laew phop kan)”
Well-Wishing
Wishing the other person luck or a good night.
“ໂຊກດີ (Sok dee)”
“ຝັນດີ (Fan dee)”
Common Farewell Structures
| Lao Phrase | Pronunciation | Literal Meaning | Usage |
|---|---|---|---|
| ລາກ່ອນ | Laa korn | Leave before | Formal Goodbye |
| ໄປກ່ອນເດີ້ | Pai korn der | Go before [particle] | Casual Departure |
| ພົບກັນໃໝ່ | Phop kan mai | Meet each other again | See you later |
| ໂຊກດີ | Sok dee | Good luck | General well-wishing |
| ຝັນດີ | Fan dee | Dream well | Goodnight |
| ແລ້ວເຈີກັນ | Laew jer kan | Then meet each other | Casual 'See ya' |
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Formal | ລາກ່ອນ | ລາກ່ອນເດີ້ທ່ານ |
| Informal | ໄປກ່ອນ + ເດີ້ | ໄປກ່ອນເດີ້ |
| Future | ພົບກັນ + ໃໝ່ | ພົບກັນໃໝ່ເດີ້ |
| Night | ຝັນດີ | ຝັນດີເດີ້ |
| Blessing | ໂຊກດີ | ໂຊກດີເດີ້ |
| Slang | ເຈີກັນ | ໄວ້ເຈີກັນ |
| Safe Travel | ເດີນທາງ + ດີໆ | ເດີນທາງດີໆເດີ້ |
Formalitätsspektrum
ລາກ່ອນ, ພົບກັນໃໝ່ເດີ້ທ່ານ (Leaving a group)
ລາກ່ອນ, ພົບກັນໃໝ່ (Leaving a group)
ໄປກ່ອນເດີ້, ເຈີກັນ (Leaving a group)
ໄປລະເດີ້, ເຈີກັນ (Leaving a group)
Lao Farewells by Situation
Formal
- • ລາກ່ອນ (Laa korn)
- • ຂໍລາພັກ (Kho la phak)
Friends
- • ໄປກ່ອນເດີ້ (Pai korn der)
- • ເຈີກັນ (Jer kan)
Night
- • ຝັນດີ (Fan dee)
- • ນອນຫຼັບຝັນດີ (Non lap fan dee)
Examples by Level
ລາກ່ອນ
Goodbye
ໂຊກດີ
Good luck
ໄປກ່ອນເດີ້
I'm going now (polite)
ພົບກັນໃໝ່
See you again
ຝັນດີເດີ້
Sweet dreams/Goodnight
ແລ້ວພົບກັນໃໝ່ເດີ້
See you again later
ຂໍລາກ່ອນເດີ້ທ່ານ
I must take my leave, sir/madam
ເດີນທາງໂດຍສະຫວັດດີພາບເດີ້
Have a safe journey
ມື້ໜ້າຈຶ່ງຄ່ອຍພົບກັນໃໝ່
Let's meet again some other day
ໄປແລ້ວເດີ້, ໄວ້ເຈີກັນ
I'm off, catch you later
ໂອກາດໜ້າຫວັງວ່າຄົງຈະໄດ້ພົບກັນອີກ
I hope we shall have the opportunity to meet again next time
ຂໍໃຫ້ມີຄວາມສຸກກັບການພັກຜ່ອນເດີ້
May you have happiness with your rest/vacation
Easily Confused
Learners often think Sabaidee is a universal greeting/farewell like 'Ciao'.
Häufige Fehler
ສະບາຍດີ (as goodbye)
ລາກ່ອນ
ໄປກ່ອນ (without der)
ໄປກ່ອນເດີ້
Laa korn (to a best friend)
Pai korn der
Sentence Patterns
___ ກ່ອນເດີ້
Real World Usage
ໄປລະເດີ້ ເຈີກັນ!
ຂອບໃຈເດີ້, ໂຊກດີ!
ຂໍລາກ່ອນເດີ້ທ່ານ, ພົບກັນໃໝ່.
The 'Pai' Rule
Smile while saying it
Avoid Sabaidee
Smart Tips
Elongate the 'der' at the end of 'Pai korn der'.
Combine 'Khop chai' (Thank you) with 'Sok dee' (Good luck).
Default to 'Sok dee' (Good luck). It is never wrong.
Aussprache
The 'Der' Particle
The 'der' (ເດີ້) should be said with a rising-falling tone, often slightly elongated to show friendliness.
Friendly Departure
ໄປກ່ອນເດີ້ ↗↘
Conveys warmth and a promise to return.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Remember 'Laa korn' sounds like 'Large Corn'. Imagine waving goodbye to a giant piece of corn!
Visual Association
Imagine yourself walking out of a door. As you step out, you point to your feet (Pai - go) and then wave back to the people inside (der).
Rhyme
Pai korn der, see you later, sir!
Story
You are at a Lao market. You buy a papaya, say 'Sok dee' to the vendor for luck, and as you walk away, you shout 'Pai korn der!' to your friends.
Word Web
Herausforderung
Try saying 'Pai korn der' out loud three times, increasing your smile each time to match the warmth of the particle 'der'.
Kulturelle Hinweise
When saying goodbye to an elder, it is polite to perform the 'Nop' (placing palms together) while saying 'Laa korn'.
In the capital, you might hear 'Jer kan' (from Thai) more often among young people.
Lao farewells are deeply rooted in Tai-Kadai linguistic traditions, focusing on the hierarchy of the speaker.
Conversation Starters
ມື້ນີ້ຂ້ອຍຕ້ອງໄປແລ້ວ...
Journal Prompts
Test Yourself
Leaving a classroom:
ໄປກ່ອນ___
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
Find and fix the mistake:
ໄປກ່ອນດີ
Score: /4
Ubungsaufgaben
4 exercisesLeaving a classroom:
ໄປກ່ອນ___
Farewells Match
Find and fix the mistake:
ໄປກ່ອນດີ
Score: /4
FAQ (6)
Lao people often use the English word `Bye-bye`, but it's better to use `Pai korn der` to show respect for the language.
Yes, it can sound like 'Farewell' in English. Use it for people you don't know well or in professional settings.
It means 'Good Luck' (`Sok` = Luck, `Dee` = Good). It's a very common way to end an interaction.
To elders or monks, yes. To friends, a simple wave or a smile is enough.
You say `ພົບກັນມື້ອື່ນ` (Phop kan mue eun).
Yes, it's a general softening particle used in commands, requests, and greetings.
In Other Languages
Adiós / Hasta luego
Lao requires a polite particle 'der' to avoid sounding cold.
Au revoir
Lao 'Laa korn' is used less frequently in casual settings than 'Au revoir'.
Auf Wiedersehen / Tschüss
Lao farewells often include a verb like 'go' (pai), whereas German uses nouns.
Sayonara / Ja ne
Lao doesn't have as many levels of politeness as Japanese.
Ma'asalaama
Arabic is often religious in nature, whereas Lao is more social/action-oriented.
