High-Register Pronouns
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Lao pronouns change based on the social status and age of the person you are addressing.
- Use 'khoy' (ຂ້ອຍ) for neutral/informal 'I' and 'chao' (ເຈົ້າ) for 'you'.
- Use 'than' (ທ່ານ) for formal/respectful 'you' when speaking to superiors or strangers.
- Use 'aoi' (ອ້າຍ) for older brother/male peer and 'euy' (ເອື້ອຍ) for older sister/female peer.
Pronoun Usage Table
| Pronoun | Lao Script | Usage | Register |
|---|---|---|---|
|
I
|
ຂ້ອຍ
|
Neutral
|
Neutral
|
|
You
|
ເຈົ້າ
|
Neutral
|
Neutral
|
|
You
|
ທ່ານ
|
Formal
|
Formal
|
|
Older Brother
|
ອ້າຍ
|
Peer/Elder
|
Informal
|
|
Older Sister
|
ເອື້ອຍ
|
Peer/Elder
|
Informal
|
|
Younger Sibling
|
ນ້ອງ
|
Peer/Younger
|
Informal
|
Meanings
Lao pronouns are not just placeholders for names; they define the relationship between speakers.
Neutral/Peer
Used between friends or equals.
“ຂ້ອຍໄປຕະຫຼາດ”
“ເຈົ້າກິນເຂົ້າແລ້ວບໍ່”
Formal/Respectful
Used for elders, officials, or strangers.
“ທ່ານມາແຕ່ໃສ”
“ຂໍໂທດທ່ານ”
Kinship-based
Using family titles to address non-family members.
“ອ້າຍໄປໃສ”
“ເອື້ອຍກິນເຂົ້າບໍ່”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
Pronoun + Verb
|
ຂ້ອຍໄປ (I go)
|
|
Negative
|
Pronoun + bor + Verb
|
ຂ້ອຍບໍ່ໄປ (I don't go)
|
|
Question
|
Pronoun + Verb + bor
|
ເຈົ້າໄປບໍ່ (Are you going?)
|
|
Formal
|
Than + Verb
|
ທ່ານສະບາຍດີ (Are you well?)
|
|
Kinship
|
Aoi + Verb
|
ອ້າຍກິນເຂົ້າ (Brother eats)
|
|
Short Answer
|
Pronoun + Verb
|
ຂ້ອຍໄປ (I am)
|
Formalitätsspektrum
ທ່ານຈະໄປບໍ່ (Daily)
ເຈົ້າຈະໄປບໍ່ (Daily)
ອ້າຍຈະໄປບໍ່ (Daily)
ໄປບໍ່ (Daily)
Lao Pronoun Hierarchy
Formal
- ທ່ານ You [Formal]
Informal
- ອ້າຍ Older Brother
Register Comparison
Choosing a Pronoun
Is the person older?
Pronoun Categories
Kinship
- • ອ້າຍ
- • ເອື້ອຍ
- • ນ້ອງ
Beispiele nach Niveau
ຂ້ອຍຊື່ສຸວັນ
I am Suvan
ເຈົ້າສະບາຍດີບໍ່
Are you well?
ຂ້ອຍຮັກເຈົ້າ
I love you
ເຈົ້າໄປໃສ
Where are you going?
ອ້າຍກິນເຂົ້າແລ້ວບໍ່
Have you [older brother] eaten?
ເອື້ອຍໄປຕະຫຼາດບໍ່
Are you [older sister] going to the market?
ນ້ອງຊື່ຫຍັງ
What is your [younger sibling] name?
ທ່ານມາແຕ່ໃສ
Where do you [formal] come from?
ທ່ານຕ້ອງການຄວາມຊ່ວຍເຫຼືອບໍ່
Do you [formal] need help?
ອ້າຍຊ່ວຍຂ້ອຍແດ່
Brother, please help me
ນ້ອງໄປຮຽນກ່ອນເດີ
I [younger] am going to school now
ເອື້ອຍມີເວລາບໍ່
Do you [older sister] have time?
ຂໍໃຫ້ທ່ານໂຊກດີ
Wish you [formal] good luck
ອ້າຍເຫັນປຶ້ມຂ້ອຍບໍ່
Brother, did you see my book?
ນ້ອງຂໍໂທດຫຼາຍໆ
I [younger] apologize very much
ທ່ານເປັນຄົນລາວບໍ່
Are you [formal] Lao?
ທ່ານປະທານຈະມາຮອດຈັກໂມງ
What time will you [formal/President] arrive?
ອ້າຍຄິດວ່າແນວໃດ
What do you [older brother] think?
ນ້ອງຂໍອະນຸຍາດໄປກ່ອນ
I [younger] ask permission to leave
ທ່ານໝໍສະບາຍດີບໍ່
Are you [Doctor] well?
ທ່ານມີຄວາມເຫັນແນວໃດຕໍ່ບັນຫານີ້
What is your [formal] opinion on this issue?
ອ້າຍໃຫຍ່ສັ່ງໃຫ້ເຮັດແບບນີ້
The elder brother ordered it this way
ນ້ອງນ້ອຍຂໍສະແດງຄວາມຍິນດີ
I [younger] would like to congratulate you
ທ່ານຜູ້ມີກຽດທັງຫຼາຍ
Distinguished guests [formal]
Leicht verwechselbar
Both mean 'you'.
Both are kinship titles.
Both can mean 'I'.
Häufige Fehler
Using 'khoy' for everyone
Use kinship terms
Using 'chao' for a teacher
Use 'than'
Ignoring age
Use 'aoi/euy'
Using names instead of titles
Use 'aoi/euy'
Mixing up 'aoi' and 'euy'
Aoi=male, Euy=female
Using 'than' with friends
Use 'chao'
Forgetting 'nong'
Use 'nong' for younger
Using formal pronouns in a bar
Use neutral
Using 'than' for a peer
Use 'aoi/euy'
Using 'chao' for a monk
Use 'than'
Using wrong honorific for officials
Use 'than'
Overusing 'than'
Use kinship
Underusing 'than'
Use 'than'
Satzmuster
___ ສະບາຍດີບໍ່?
___ ກິນເຂົ້າແລ້ວບໍ່?
___ ມາແຕ່ໃສ?
___ ຕ້ອງການຫຍັງ?
Real World Usage
ອ້າຍ, ເອົາເຂົ້າໜຽວໜຶ່ງ
ທ່ານ, ຂໍເອກະສານແດ່
ເຈົ້າເປັນແນວໃດ
ທ່ານ, ໄປສະໜາມບິນບໍ່
ນ້ອງ, ວຽກບ້ານເຮັດແລ້ວບໍ່
ທ່ານໝໍ, ຂ້ອຍເຈັບທ້ອງ
When in doubt, use 'than'.
Avoid names.
Watch the locals.
Smile!
Smart Tips
Use 'than' until invited otherwise.
Use 'aoi' or 'euy'.
Use 'than'.
Use 'nong'.
Aussprache
Tones
Lao is a tonal language, so pronoun tones must be accurate.
Question
ເຈົ້າໄປບໍ່? ↑
Rising intonation for questions.
Einprägen
Eselsbrücke
Think of 'Than' as 'Thank you' (Formal).
Visuelle Assoziation
Imagine a ladder. 'Than' is at the top, 'Chao' is in the middle, and 'Nong' is at the bottom.
Rhyme
Use 'Than' for a man, 'Chao' for a friend, 'Aoi' for a brother, until the end.
Story
I met a man named Som. I called him 'Aoi' because he was older. He smiled. I asked 'Aoi, are you well?' He replied, 'Yes, I am.'
Word Web
Herausforderung
Try to address three people using the correct kinship title today.
Kulturelle Hinweise
The majority culture emphasizes age hierarchy.
Uses similar kinship structures.
Strong emphasis on family titles.
Lao pronouns evolved from ancient Tai kinship terms.
Gesprächseinstiege
ທ່ານເຮັດວຽກຫຍັງ?
ອ້າຍຊື່ຫຍັງ?
ເຈົ້າໄປຕະຫຼາດບໍ່?
ນ້ອງຮຽນຢູ່ໃສ?
Tagebuch-Impulse
Häufige Fehler
Test Yourself
___ ສະບາຍດີບໍ່? (Formal)
Addressing a friend: ___
Find and fix the mistake:
ທ່ານໄປໃສ (to friend) -> ___
Arrange the words in the correct order:
All words placed
Click words above to build the sentence
Are you [formal] well?
Answer starts with: ທ່າ...
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
Addressing an elder brother: ___
___ ຂໍໂທດ (I, younger)
Score: /8
Ubungsaufgaben
8 exercises___ ສະບາຍດີບໍ່? (Formal)
Addressing a friend: ___
Find and fix the mistake:
ທ່ານໄປໃສ (to friend) -> ___
ບໍ່ / ເຈົ້າ / ສະບາຍດີ
Are you [formal] well?
ທ່ານ - ?
Addressing an elder brother: ___
___ ຂໍໂທດ (I, younger)
Score: /8
FAQ (8)
No, it is too informal for elders.
Use 'than' until you know.
No, it is for any older male.
It is a respectful title.
Only with close friends.
Using neutral pronouns for elders.
Yes, kinship terms are.
Use kinship titles.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Tú vs Usted
Lao uses kinship terms more.
Tu vs Vous
Lao is more complex with age.
Du vs Sie
Lao uses family titles.
Keigo
Japanese is more rigid.
Formal titles
Lao is more kinship-focused.
Ni vs Nin
Lao uses more kinship terms.
