Common Classifiers (An, Khon)
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
In Lao, you cannot just say 'two people'; you must use a classifier like 'khon' or 'an' after the noun.
- Use 'khon' for people: 'naksueksa song khon' (two students).
- Use 'an' for general objects: 'pum song an' (two books).
- The order is always: Noun + Number + Classifier.
Meanings
Classifiers are words used to categorize nouns based on their shape, function, or nature when counting them.
Human Classifier
Used exclusively for people.
“phi nong song khon”
“khu nueng khon”
General Object Classifier
Used for inanimate, non-specific objects.
“pum song an”
“to si an”
Classifier Structure Table
| Noun | Number | Classifier | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| phi nong | song | khon | phi nong song khon |
| pum | sam | an | pum sam an |
| naksueksa | nueng | khon | naksueksa nueng khon |
| to | si | an | to si an |
| phuean | ha | khon | phuean ha khon |
| pao | song | an | pao song an |
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Affirmative | Noun + Number + Classifier | pum song an |
| Negative | bo mi + Noun + Number + Classifier | bo mi pum song an |
| Question | Noun + Number + Classifier + bo? | pum song an bo? |
| Quantity | Noun + lai + Classifier | pum lai an |
| Specific | Noun + ni + Number + Classifier | pum ni song an |
طیف رسمیت
khoy mi phuean song khon (social)
khoy mi phuean song khon (social)
mi phuean song khon (social)
mi phuean song khon (social)
Lao Classifier Map
People
- khon person
Objects
- an thing
Examples by Level
khoy mi phi nong song khon
I have two siblings.
pum nueng an
One book.
naksueksa sam khon
Three students.
to si an
Four chairs.
khoy yak dai pum song an
I want two books.
phi chai khoy mi luk song khon
My brother has two children.
hao mi phuean ha khon
We have five friends.
ni man pum ha an
These are five books.
khoy hen naksueksa lai khon thi hong hian
I saw many students at the classroom.
hao tong kan pum song an sam lap kan hian
We need two books for studying.
khon ni pen phuean khoy song khon
These people are my two friends.
mi pum lai an bon to
There are many books on the table.
khon thi ma ha jao mi song khon
The people who came to see you are two.
pum ni mi lai an thi na son jai
This book has many interesting items.
khoy dai phop khon sam khon mue wan ni
I met three people yesterday.
hao mi pum song an nai khao
We have two books in the bag.
kan ha khon song khon ma chuay luea pen rueang sam kan
Finding two people to help is important.
pum ni pen pum nueng an thi khoy mak
This book is one book that I like.
khon ha khon ni pen phuean kan
These five people are friends.
pum song an ni pen khong khoy
These two books are mine.
khon song khon nan pen phu chiao chan
Those two people are experts.
pum song an ni mi nua nai thi na son jai
These two books have interesting content.
khoy hen khon sam khon kam lang pai
I saw three people going.
pum ha an ni pen khong khoy mot
These five books are all mine.
Easily Confused
Learners mix up which classifier to use for people vs things.
Learners put the number before the noun.
Learners forget the classifier entirely.
اشتباهات رایج
song khon phi nong
phi nong song khon
pum song
pum song an
khon song pum
pum song an
song an pum
pum song an
khoy mi song khon
khoy mi phi nong song khon
pum an song
pum song an
khon nueng
khon nueng khon
pum lai
pum lai an
khon lai
khon lai khon
pum song khon
pum song an
Sentence Patterns
khoy mi ___ ___ ___.
ni man ___ ___ ___.
jao mi ___ ___ ___ bo?
khoy yak dai ___ ___ ___.
Real World Usage
ao bia song khuat.
mi phuean song khon.
khoy mi naksueksa sam khon.
ao pum nueng an.
ao bia song khuat.
mi phuean song khon.
Default to 'an'
Don't skip
Practice daily
Politeness
Smart Tips
Always use khon.
Default to an.
Use an for things.
Pause slightly before the classifier.
تلفظ
Tone
Ensure the tone of 'khon' is correct.
Statement
pum song an.
Falling intonation at the end.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Khon is for Kin (people), An is for Anything (objects).
Visual Association
Imagine a person (khon) standing next to a box (an).
Rhyme
People use khon, things use an, counting in Lao is part of the plan.
Story
I met two people (khon) at the store. I bought two books (an) for them. They were happy.
Word Web
چالش
Count five items in your room using the correct classifier.
نکات فرهنگی
Standard usage is very common.
Similar usage, slightly different accent.
Standard usage applies.
Lao classifiers evolved from ancient Tai languages.
Conversation Starters
jao mi phi nong jak khon?
ni man pum jak an?
nai hong hian ni mi naksueksa jak khon?
jao mi pum jak an thi ban?
Journal Prompts
Test Yourself
khoy mi phuean song ___.
Which is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
pum song
Arrange the words in the correct order:
All words placed
Click words above to build the sentence
Three students.
Answer starts with: nak...
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
hao mi phuean ha ___.
Which is correct?
Score: /8
تمرینهای عملی
8 exerciseskhoy mi phuean song ___.
Which is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
pum song
song / khon / phi nong
Three students.
Match: phi nong, pum
hao mi phuean ha ___.
Which is correct?
Score: /8
سوالات متداول (8)
A word used to categorize nouns when counting.
Use it for people.
Use it for general objects.
No, it is mandatory.
Yes, almost every noun has one.
Learn the common ones like khon and an.
Yes, it is similar to measure words.
Yes, using them correctly is polite.
In Other Languages
Counters (nin, ko)
Japanese counters are more complex.
Measure words (ge)
Word order is different.
None
Lao is a classifier language.
None
Lao is a classifier language.
None
Lao is a classifier language.
None
Lao is a classifier language.
