A1 · Débutant Chapitre 6

Who is Who: Pronouns

4 Règles totales
1 min
Règles dans ce chapitre Pratique rapide

Chapter in 30 Seconds

Master the art of Lao pronouns to connect authentically with people in every social situation.

  • Identify essential personal pronouns for daily conversation.
  • Distinguish between near and far objects using demonstratives.
  • Apply social hierarchy markers to show respect and humility.
Speak with heart, speak with respect.

Ce que tu vas apprendre

Navigating the complex system of Lao pronouns based on social status and age. Covers personal, demonstrative, and interrogative pronouns.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:

  1. 1
    By the end you will be able to: Use 'Khoi' and 'Chao' to introduce yourself and ask others about their day.
  2. 2
    By the end you will be able to: Differentiate between 'ni' (this) and 'nan' (that) to describe your surroundings.

Conseils et astuces (4)

💡

Drop the pronoun

If the subject is clear, don't say it. It sounds more natural.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Personal Pronouns (Khoi, Chao)
💡

Use your hand

Always point with your whole hand, not a finger.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Demonstrative Pronouns
💡

When in doubt, use Jao

Jao is the safest pronoun for 'you' when you don't know someone's status.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Social Status Pronouns
💡

Stay in place

Don't move the question word. Keep it where the answer would be.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Interrogative Pronouns

Vocabulaire clé (6)

ຂ້ອຍ I ເຈົ້າ You ນີ້ this ນັ້ນ that ໃຜ who ຫຍັງ what

Real-World Preview

coffee

Meeting a New Friend

Review Summary

  • Subject + Verb
  • Object + ni/nan
  • Title + Name
  • Question word at end

Erreurs courantes

Confusing the subject. Use 'Chao' for the person you are talking to.

Wrong: ຂ້ອຍຊື່ຫຍັງ? (I am named what? - asking oneself)
Correct: ເຈົ້າຊື່ຫຍັງ? (What is your name?)

Demonstratives usually follow the noun in Lao.

Wrong: ນັ້ນ ໝາກໂມ (That watermelon - missing classifier)
Correct: ໝາກໂມນັ້ນ (That watermelon)

Using 'Chao' is neutral but can feel informal to elders; use family titles for respect.

Wrong: ເຈົ້າ (Using 'Chao' for an elder)
Correct: ອ້າຍ/ເອື້ອຍ (Using respectful titles)

Next Steps

You have done an amazing job navigating the Lao pronoun system! Keep practicing and don't be afraid to make mistakes—that is how you grow.

Label items in your house using sticky notes with 'ni' or 'nan'.

Continue to: The Art of Counting

Pratique rapide (10)

Fill in the blank for 'I'.

___ ກິນເຂົ້າ.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ຂ້ອຍ
Khoi means I.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Personal Pronouns (Khoi, Chao)

Fill in the blank.

An ni khong ___?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: phai
Phai is for people.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Interrogative Pronouns

Choose the pronoun for an older male.

___ ໄປວຽກບໍ່?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ອ້າຍ
Ai is for older males.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Social Status Pronouns

Correct the mistake.

Find and fix the mistake:

ຂ້ອຍ (to a boss) ໄປວຽກ.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າ
Use formal for bosses.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Social Status Pronouns

Fill in the blank.

ປຶ້ມ ___ (this book)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ni
Ni means this.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Demonstrative Pronouns

Choose the correct word.

Chao kin ___?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: yang
Yang is for objects.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Interrogative Pronouns

Fix the sentence.

Find and fix the mistake:

ni pum

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: pum ni
Noun comes first.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Demonstrative Pronouns

Which is 'you'?

Which word means 'you'?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ເຈົ້າ
Chao means you.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Personal Pronouns (Khoi, Chao)

Choose the correct one.

Which is 'that book'?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: pum nan
Nan means that.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Demonstrative Pronouns

Fill in the blank.

Chao pai ___?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: sai
Sai is for location.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Interrogative Pronouns

Score: /10

Questions fréquentes (6)

No, you can drop them if the context is clear.
No, 'Khoi' and 'Chao' are gender-neutral.
No, only for things close to you.
You can just use 'an' or skip it.
Lao pronouns reflect social status and age.
No, it's rude to superiors.
Chapitre suivant
The Art of Counting
Retour à la feuille de route