Basic Survival Phrases
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Master the essential Lao phrases to navigate daily life, focusing on politeness markers like 'doy' and 'chao'.
- Always add 'chao' (polite particle) at the end of sentences.
- Use 'bor pen yang' to mean 'no problem' or 'it's okay'.
- Combine 'khoi' (I) with 'yak dai' (want) to express needs.
Meanings
These phrases are the building blocks for basic interaction in Laos, focusing on polite requests and social acknowledgment.
Greetings
Establishing social contact.
“Sabai dee”
“Sabai dee bor?”
Politeness
Showing respect to the listener.
“Khop chai”
“Khop chai lai lai”
Needs
Expressing basic desires.
“Khoi yak dai...”
“Khoi bor khao jai”
Basic Sentence Structure
| Subject | Verb | Object | Polite Particle |
|---|---|---|---|
| Khoi | yak dai | nam | chao/doy |
| Khoi | bor khao jai | - | chao/doy |
| Chao | pai | talat | bor? |
| Khoi | pen | khon lao | chao/doy |
| Khoi | kin | khao | chao/doy |
| Chao | mee | nam | bor? |
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Affirmative | Subject + Verb | Khoi khao jai |
| Negative | Subject + bor + Verb | Khoi bor khao jai |
| Question | Subject + Verb + bor? | Khao jai bor? |
| Polite | Sentence + chao/doy | Sabai dee chao |
| Request | Khoi + yak dai + Object | Khoi yak dai nam |
| Gratitude | Khop chai + Particle | Khop chai chao |
| Apology | Khoi + kor thot | Khoi kor thot |
Espectro de formalidad
Khop chai lai lai (General)
Khop chai (General)
Khop chai (General)
Khop chai der (General)
Survival Phrases Map
Greeting
- Sabai dee Hello
Needs
- Yak dai Want
Examples by Level
Sabai dee
Hello
Khop chai
Thank you
Bor pen yang
No problem
La gon
Goodbye
Khoi yak dai nam
I want water
Khoi bor khao jai
I don't understand
Hong nam yoo sai?
Where is the bathroom?
An nee men yang?
What is this?
Khoi yak pai talat
I want to go to the market
Chao suay khoy dai bor?
Can you help me?
Khoi pen khon tang pathet
I am a foreigner
Khao jai laew, khop chai
I understand now, thank you
Khoi bor kin phet
I don't eat spicy food
Chao mee hong wang bor?
Do you have a room available?
Khoi yak hai chao suay
I would like you to help
Khop chai lai lai sam lap kan suay luea
Thank you very much for the help
Khoi kor thot tee ma sai
I apologize for being late
Chao phor ja khao jai bor?
Do you happen to understand?
Khoi yak hai chao pai song
I would like you to take me
Bor pen yang, khoy yindee
No problem, I am happy to help
Khoi mee khwam pen huang
I am concerned
Chao hen dee nam bor?
Do you agree?
Khoi bor khoei hen mak kon
I have never seen this before
Khop chai nai kan hai khwam ruam mue
Thank you for the cooperation
Easily Confused
Both are 'bor'.
Both are particles.
Spelling variations.
Errores comunes
Sabai dee (no smile)
Sabai dee (with smile)
Khop chai (no particle)
Khop chai chao
Bor (as no)
Bor (as question)
Khoi (as you)
Khoi (as I)
Yak dai (no object)
Yak dai [object]
Bor pen yang (wrong context)
Bor pen yang (for apologies)
Hong nam (no question)
Hong nam yoo sai?
Using formal with friends
Using informal
Ignoring tones
Using correct tones
Literal translation
Cultural equivalent
Formal in slang
Slang in slang
Ignoring regional dialect
Using local dialect
Over-formalizing
Natural speech
Sentence Patterns
Khoi yak dai ___
___ yoo sai?
Khoi bor ___
Chao ___ bor?
Real World Usage
An nee men yang?
Pai talat bor?
Khoi yak dai khao
Mee hong wang bor?
Sabai dee
Suay khoy dai bor?
Smile
Tones
Particles
Respect
Smart Tips
Always smile.
Use particles.
Add 'lai lai'.
Say 'bor khao jai'.
Pronunciación
Tones
Lao has 6 tones.
Question
Sentence + bor ↑
Rising pitch at the end.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of 'chao' as 'Ciao' (Italian hello) but for Lao politeness.
Visual Association
Imagine a friendly local smiling and nodding while saying 'chao'.
Rhyme
To say hello with a smile, use Sabai dee all the while.
Story
You arrive in Vientiane. You say 'Sabai dee' to a local. They smile. You say 'Khop chai' after they help you. You feel like a local.
Word Web
Desafío
Use three Lao phrases in one day.
Notas culturales
Politeness is paramount.
Lao is a Tai-Kadai language.
Conversation Starters
Sabai dee, chao!
Yak dai nam bor?
Khao jai bor?
Pai talat bor?
Journal Prompts
Test Yourself
Sabai ___
Khop chai ___
Find and fix the mistake:
Khoi bor khao jai chao.
Arrange the words in the correct order:
All words placed
Click words above to build the sentence
Where is the bathroom?
Answer starts with: Hon...
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
Bor pen yang
Hong nam yoo ___?
Score: /8
Ejercicios de practica
8 exercisesSabai ___
Khop chai ___
Find and fix the mistake:
Khoi bor khao jai chao.
dai / Khoi / nam / yak
Where is the bathroom?
Sabai dee
Bor pen yang
Hong nam yoo ___?
Score: /8
Preguntas frecuentes (8)
A polite particle for men.
Use 'bor'.
It has tones, but simple grammar.
For women.
It means no problem.
Add 'bor' at the end.
No, use time markers.
Use particles and smile.
In Other Languages
Sawatdee
Tones differ.
Hola
No tones.
Bonjour
No tones.
Hallo
No tones.
Konnichiwa
No tones.
Ni hao
Different grammar.
