A2 Adjectives 1 min read Facile

Describing Temperature

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Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

In Lao, temperature adjectives act like verbs, so you don't need a 'to be' verb like 'is' or 'are'.

  • Use 'ຮ້ອນ' (hot) or 'ໜາວ' (cold) directly after the subject: 'ມື້ນີ້ຮ້ອນ' (Today is hot).
  • Add 'ບໍ່' before the adjective for negatives: 'ມື້ນີ້ບໍ່ຮ້ອນ' (Today is not hot).
  • Add 'ບໍ່' at the end for questions: 'ມື້ນີ້ຮ້ອນບໍ່?' (Is it hot today?).
Subject + Adjective (e.g., ມື້ນີ້ + ຮ້ອນ)

Meanings

Lao uses stative verbs to describe temperature. These words function as the main predicate of the sentence.

1

Weather description

Describing the ambient temperature of the environment.

“ມື້ນີ້ໜາວ.”

“ອາກາດຮ້ອນ.”

2

Object temperature

Describing the temperature of food, drinks, or items.

“ນ້ຳນີ້ຮ້ອນ.”

“ກາເຟເຢັນ.”

Temperature Sentence Patterns

Type Structure Example
Affirmative Subject + Adjective ມື້ນີ້ຮ້ອນ
Negative Subject + ບໍ່ + Adjective ມື້ນີ້ບໍ່ຮ້ອນ
Question Subject + Adjective + ບໍ່? ມື້ນີ້ຮ້ອນບໍ່?
Emphasis Subject + Adjective + ຫຼາຍ ມື້ນີ້ຮ້ອນຫຼາຍ
Comparison Subject + Adjective + ກວ່າ ມື້ນີ້ຮ້ອນກວ່າ
State Change Subject + ເລີ່ມ + Adjective ອາກາດເລີ່ມຮ້ອນ

Reference Table

Reference table for Describing Temperature
Form Structure Example
Affirmative S + Adj ນ້ຳຮ້ອນ
Negative S + ບໍ່ + Adj ນ້ຳບໍ່ຮ້ອນ
Question S + Adj + ບໍ່ ນ້ຳຮ້ອນບໍ່
Very S + Adj + ຫຼາຍ ນ້ຳຮ້ອນຫຼາຍ
Not very S + ບໍ່ + Adj + ປານໃດ ນ້ຳບໍ່ຮ້ອນປານໃດ
Comparison S + Adj + ກວ່າ ນ້ຳຮ້ອນກວ່າ

Spectre de formalité

Formel
ອາກາດຮ້ອນຫຼາຍ.

ອາກາດຮ້ອນຫຼາຍ. (Daily conversation)

Neutre
ມື້ນີ້ຮ້ອນ.

ມື້ນີ້ຮ້ອນ. (Daily conversation)

Informel
ຮ້ອນເນາະ!

ຮ້ອນເນາະ! (Daily conversation)

Argot
ຮ້ອນຕາຍເລີຍ!

ຮ້ອນຕາຍເລີຍ! (Daily conversation)

Temperature Adjectives

Temperature

Hot

  • ຮ້ອນ hot

Cold

  • ໜາວ cold (weather)
  • ເຢັນ cool/cold (object)

Weather vs. Object

Weather
ໜາວ cold
Object
ເຢັນ cold

Question Formation

1

Is it a question?

YES
Add ບໍ່ at the end
NO
Keep as statement

Temperature Scale

🌡️

Intensity

  • • ເຢັນ (cool)
  • • ຮ້ອນ (hot)
  • • ຮ້ອນຫຼາຍ (very hot)
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Examples by Level

1

ມື້ນີ້ຮ້ອນ.

Today is hot.

2

ນ້ຳເຢັນ.

The water is cold.

3

ກາເຟຮ້ອນ.

The coffee is hot.

4

ອາກາດດີ.

The weather is good.

1

ມື້ນີ້ບໍ່ຮ້ອນ.

Today is not hot.

2

ນ້ຳນີ້ຮ້ອນບໍ່?

Is this water hot?

3

ອາຫານນີ້ບໍ່ເຢັນ.

This food is not cold.

4

ມື້ນີ້ໜາວບໍ່?

Is it cold today?

1

ມື້ນີ້ຮ້ອນຫຼາຍ.

Today is very hot.

2

ອາກາດເຢັນສະບາຍ.

The weather is pleasantly cool.

3

ນ້ຳບໍ່ຮ້ອນປານໃດ.

The water isn't very hot.

4

ຕອນແລງອາກາດເຢັນ.

In the evening, the air is cool.

1

ອາກາດເລີ່ມຮ້ອນຂຶ້ນ.

The weather is starting to get hot.

2

ມື້ນີ້ຮ້ອນກວ່າມື້ວານ.

Today is hotter than yesterday.

3

ນ້ຳກາຍເປັນເຢັນແລ້ວ.

The water has become cold.

4

ຂ້ອຍຮູ້ສຶກຮ້ອນຫຼາຍ.

I feel very hot.

1

ອາກາດມື້ນີ້ອົບເອົ້າຫຼາຍ.

The weather today is very muggy.

2

ເຖິງວ່າຈະຮ້ອນ ແຕ່ກໍຍັງເຮັດວຽກ.

Even though it is hot, I am still working.

3

ອາກາດເຢັນເໝາະແກ່ການນອນ.

The cool weather is suitable for sleeping.

4

ບໍ່ເຄີຍພົບອາກາດຮ້ອນປານນີ້.

I have never encountered weather this hot.

1

ອາກາດປ່ຽນແປງຕາມລະດູການຢ່າງຊັດເຈນ.

The weather changes clearly according to the season.

2

ຄວາມຮ້ອນອົບເອົ້າເຮັດໃຫ້ຫາຍໃຈຍາກ.

The stifling heat makes it hard to breathe.

3

ໃນລະດູໜາວ ອາກາດຈະເຢັນຈັດ.

In the winter, the weather is extremely cold.

4

ສະພາບອາກາດບໍ່ເປັນໃຈ.

The weather is not favorable.

Easily Confused

Describing Temperature vs ໜາວ vs ເຢັນ

Both mean cold, but one is for weather and one is for objects.

Describing Temperature vs ແມ່ນ vs Adjective

Learners think they need 'to be'.

Describing Temperature vs ຫຼາຍ position

Putting 'ຫຼາຍ' before the adjective.

Erreurs courantes

✗

ອາກາດແມ່ນຮ້ອນ

✓

ອາກາດຮ້ອນ

Do not use 'ແມ່ນ' (to be) with adjectives.
✗

ຮ້ອນຫຼາຍອາກາດ

✓

ອາກາດຮ້ອນຫຼາຍ

Adjectives follow the subject.
✗

ຮ້ອນບໍ່?

✓

ອາກາດຮ້ອນບໍ່?

Always include the subject.
✗

ນ້ຳແມ່ນເຢັນ

✓

ນ້ຳເຢັນ

Avoid 'ແມ່ນ' for adjectives.
✗

ນ້ຳບໍ່ຮ້ອນບໍ່?

✓

ນ້ຳບໍ່ຮ້ອນ?

Don't double up the question particle.
✗

ຮ້ອນປານໃດ

✓

ຮ້ອນຫຼາຍ

Use 'ຫຼາຍ' for intensity.
✗

ມື້ນີ້ໜາວຫຼາຍ

✓

ມື້ນີ້ໜາວ

Sometimes 'ຫຼາຍ' is unnecessary if it's just a statement.
✗

ຂ້ອຍຮ້ອນ

✓

ຂ້ອຍຮູ້ສຶກຮ້ອນ

Use 'ຮູ້ສຶກ' for personal feelings.
✗

ນ້ຳເຢັນກວ່າອາກາດ

✓

ນ້ຳເຢັນກວ່າອາກາດ

Grammatically correct but contextually weird.
✗

ອາກາດຮ້ອນແລ້ວ

✓

ອາກາດຮ້ອນ

Don't add 'ແລ້ວ' unless it changed.
✗

ອາກາດຮ້ອນຈັດຫຼາຍ

✓

ອາກາດຮ້ອນຈັດ

Redundant intensifiers.
✗

ມື້ນີ້ຮ້ອນກວ່າທຸກມື້

✓

ມື້ນີ້ຮ້ອນກວ່າທຸກມື້

Correct, but check tone.
✗

ອາກາດບໍ່ເປັນໃຈ

✓

ອາກາດບໍ່ເປັນໃຈ

Correct, but ensure context fits.
✗

ຮ້ອນອົບເອົ້າຫຼາຍ

✓

ຮ້ອນອົບເອົ້າ

Redundant.

Sentence Patterns

ມື້ນີ້___

ນ້ຳນີ້___ບໍ່?

ອາກາດມື້ນີ້ຮ້ອນ___

ມື້ນີ້ຮ້ອນ___ມື້ວານ

Real World Usage

Texting constant

ມື້ນີ້ຮ້ອນເນາະ!

Restaurant very common

ນ້ຳນີ້ເຢັນບໍ່?

Travel common

ອາກາດໜາວຫຼາຍ.

Job Interview occasional

ອາກາດໃນຫ້ອງເຢັນດີ.

Food Delivery common

ອາຫານຮ້ອນບໍ່?

Social Media very common

ຮ້ອນຕາຍເລີຍ!

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💡

Context is Key

Always clarify if you mean the weather or an object.
⚠️

Avoid 'ແມ່ນ'

Never use 'ແມ່ນ' with adjectives.
🎯

Use 'ຫຼາຍ'

Add 'ຫຼາຍ' to sound more natural.
💬

Bonding

Complaining about heat is a great conversation starter.

Smart Tips

Use 'ອາກາດ' to be specific.

ຮ້ອນ. → ອາກາດຮ້ອນ.

Use 'ບໍ່' at the end.

ນ້ຳຮ້ອນ? → ນ້ຳຮ້ອນບໍ່?

Put 'ຫຼາຍ' at the end.

ຫຼາຍຮ້ອນ. → ຮ້ອນຫຼາຍ.

Use 'ຮູ້ສຶກ'.

ຂ້ອຍຮ້ອນ. → ຂ້ອຍຮູ້ສຶກຮ້ອນ.

Prononciation

ron (high), nao (low)

Tones

Lao is tonal. 'ຮ້ອນ' (high rising) and 'ໜາວ' (low falling).

Question

ຮ້ອນບໍ່? ↑

Rising intonation at the end for questions.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'ຮ້ອນ' (ron) like 'roasting' in the heat.

Visual Association

Imagine a sun wearing sunglasses for 'ຮ້ອນ' and an ice cube shivering for 'ໜາວ'.

Rhyme

ຮ້ອນ (ron) is hot, ໜາວ (nao) is cold, remember this and you'll be bold.

Story

I walked outside and felt the sun. 'ຮ້ອນ!' I shouted. Then I drank cold water. 'ເຢັນ!' I sighed. It was a perfect day.

Word Web

ຮ້ອນໜາວເຢັນອາກາດຫຼາຍບໍ່

Défi

Look out the window and describe the weather in Lao out loud for 5 minutes.

Notes culturelles

Complaining about the heat is a common way to bond with others.

They might use different adjectives for cold.

More likely to use English loanwords for 'air-con'.

These are native Tai-Kadai adjectives that evolved to function as predicates.

Conversation Starters

“

ມື້ນີ້ຮ້ອນບໍ່?

“

ນ້ຳນີ້ເຢັນບໍ່?

“

ອາກາດມື້ນີ້ເປັນແນວໃດ?

“

ເຈົ້າຮູ້ສຶກຮ້ອນບໍ່?

Journal Prompts

Describe the weather today.
Compare the weather in your country to Laos.
Write about a time you were very cold.
Discuss the impact of climate on daily life.
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Test Yourself

Fill in the blank: ມື້ນີ້___

ມື້ນີ້___

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ຮ້ອນ
Simple adjective usage.
Choose the correct sentence. Choix multiple

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ນ້ຳເຢັນ
No 'ແມ່ນ' needed.
Fix the sentence: ອາກາດແມ່ນໜາວ Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

ອາກາດແມ່ນໜາວ

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ອາກາດໜາວ
Remove 'ແມ່ນ'.
Reorder: ຫຼາຍ / ຮ້ອນ / ມື້ນີ້ Sentence Reorder

Arrange the words in the correct order:

All words placed

Click words above to build the sentence

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ມື້ນີ້ຮ້ອນຫຼາຍ
Subject + Adj + Intensifier.
Translate: Is it cold? Traduction

Is it cold?

Answer starts with: ໜາວ...

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ໜາວບໍ່?
Use 'ບໍ່' for questions.
Complete: A: ມື້ນີ້ຮ້ອນບໍ່? B: ___ Dialogue Completion

A: ມື້ນີ້ຮ້ອນບໍ່? B: ___

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ຮ້ອນຫຼາຍ
Natural response.
Build: Subject(ນ້ຳ) + Adj(ຮ້ອນ) + Intensifier(ຫຼາຍ) Sentence Building

Build the sentence.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ນ້ຳຮ້ອນຫຼາຍ
Correct order.
Match: ໜາວ, ຮ້ອນ, ເຢັນ Match Pairs

Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Cold(weather), Hot, Cold(object)
Correct definitions.

Score: /8

Exercices pratiques

8 exercises
Fill in the blank: ມື້ນີ້___

ມື້ນີ້___

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ຮ້ອນ
Simple adjective usage.
Choose the correct sentence. Choix multiple

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ນ້ຳເຢັນ
No 'ແມ່ນ' needed.
Fix the sentence: ອາກາດແມ່ນໜາວ Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

ອາກາດແມ່ນໜາວ

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ອາກາດໜາວ
Remove 'ແມ່ນ'.
Reorder: ຫຼາຍ / ຮ້ອນ / ມື້ນີ້ Sentence Reorder

ຫຼາຍ / ຮ້ອນ / ມື້ນີ້

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ມື້ນີ້ຮ້ອນຫຼາຍ
Subject + Adj + Intensifier.
Translate: Is it cold? Traduction

Is it cold?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ໜາວບໍ່?
Use 'ບໍ່' for questions.
Complete: A: ມື້ນີ້ຮ້ອນບໍ່? B: ___ Dialogue Completion

A: ມື້ນີ້ຮ້ອນບໍ່? B: ___

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ຮ້ອນຫຼາຍ
Natural response.
Build: Subject(ນ້ຳ) + Adj(ຮ້ອນ) + Intensifier(ຫຼາຍ) Sentence Building

Build the sentence.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ນ້ຳຮ້ອນຫຼາຍ
Correct order.
Match: ໜາວ, ຮ້ອນ, ເຢັນ Match Pairs

Match the words.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Cold(weather), Hot, Cold(object)
Correct definitions.

Score: /8

FAQ (8)

No, Lao adjectives function as verbs.

ໜາວ is for weather, ເຢັນ is for objects.

Add 'ບໍ່' at the end.

Only for equating nouns, not adjectives.

After the adjective.

No, it's a common social bonding topic.

Use 'ຫຼາຍ'.

Use 'ຮູ້ສຶກຮ້ອນ'.

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In Other Languages

English low

It is hot.

Lao does not use 'to be'.

Spanish low

Hace calor.

Lao uses the adjective directly.

French low

Il fait chaud.

Lao avoids auxiliary verbs.

German low

Es ist heiß.

Lao lacks the copula.

Japanese moderate

暑いです (Atsui desu).

Lao lacks the polite copula.

Chinese moderate

很热 (Hěn rè).

Lao structure is more flexible.

Previous
Weather Terms
Next
Seasons in Laos

Related Grammar Rules

A1

Color Adjectives
A1

Adjective Placement
A1

Adjectival Verbs
A1

Taste Descriptors
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