A1 Pronouns 1 min read Facile

Personal Pronouns (Khoi, Chao)

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Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

In Lao, 'Khoi' means 'I' and 'Chao' means 'you', but they change based on who you are talking to.

  • Use 'Khoi' (ຂ້ອຍ) for 'I' in neutral, everyday conversations.
  • Use 'Chao' (ເຈົ້າ) for 'you' when speaking to friends or acquaintances.
  • Always consider the social hierarchy, as Lao pronouns shift depending on age and status.
Subject (Khoi/Chao) + Verb + Object

Basic Pronoun Usage

Function Lao Transliteration English
Subject
ຂ້ອຍ
Khoi
I
Subject
ເຈົ້າ
Chao
You
Object
ຂ້ອຍ
Khoi
Me
Object
ເຈົ້າ
Chao
You
Possessive
ຂອງຂ້ອຍ
Khong Khoi
My/Mine
Possessive
ຂອງເຈົ້າ
Khong Chao
Your/Yours

Meanings

These are the most common neutral pronouns used to refer to the speaker and the listener in Lao.

1

Neutral Address

Used in standard, polite, non-intimate, and non-formal settings.

“ຂ້ອຍໄປຕະຫຼາດ (Khoi pai talat) - I am going to the market.”

“ເຈົ້າຊື່ຫຍັງ? (Chao seu yang?) - What is your name?”

Reference Table

Reference table for Personal Pronouns (Khoi, Chao)
Form Structure Example
Affirmative
Pronoun + Verb
ຂ້ອຍກິນ (I eat)
Negative
Pronoun + bo + Verb
ຂ້ອຍບໍ່ກິນ (I don't eat)
Question
Pronoun + Verb + bo?
ເຈົ້າກິນບໍ່? (Do you eat?)
Possessive
Noun + khong + Pronoun
ປຶ້ມຂອງຂ້ອຍ (My book)
Plural (we)
ພວກຂ້ອຍ
ພວກຂ້ອຍໄປ (We go)
Plural (you)
ພວກເຈົ້າ
ພວກເຈົ້າໄປ (You all go)

Spectre de formalité

Formel
ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າຈະກັບບ້ານ.

ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າຈະກັບບ້ານ. (Leaving a place)

Neutre
ຂ້ອຍຈະກັບບ້ານ.

ຂ້ອຍຈະກັບບ້ານ. (Leaving a place)

Informel
ເຮົາຈະກັບບ້ານ.

ເຮົາຈະກັບບ້ານ. (Leaving a place)

Argot
ໄປລະເດີ້.

ໄປລະເດີ້. (Leaving a place)

Pronoun Relationships

Communication

Speaker

  • ຂ້ອຍ I

Listener

  • ເຈົ້າ You
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Exemples par niveau

1

ຂ້ອຍຊື່ສົມສີ.

I am Somsi.

2

ເຈົ້າສະບາຍດີບໍ່?

Are you well?

3

ຂ້ອຍຮັກລາວ.

I love Laos.

4

ເຈົ້າໄປໃສ?

Where are you going?

1

ຂ້ອຍບໍ່ເຂົ້າໃຈ.

I don't understand.

2

ເຈົ້າກິນເຂົ້າແລ້ວບໍ່?

Have you eaten yet?

3

ຂ້ອຍຢາກໄປວັດ.

I want to go to the temple.

4

ເຈົ້າເຮັດວຽກຫຍັງ?

What do you do for work?

1

ຂ້ອຍຄິດວ່າເຈົ້າເວົ້າຖືກ.

I think you are right.

2

ເຈົ້າຊ່ວຍຂ້ອຍໄດ້ບໍ່?

Can you help me?

3

ຂ້ອຍບໍ່ໄດ້ຕັ້ງໃຈເຮັດໃຫ້ເຈົ້າເສຍໃຈ.

I didn't mean to hurt your feelings.

4

ເຈົ້າເຄີຍໄປຫຼວງພະບາງບໍ່?

Have you ever been to Luang Prabang?

1

ຂ້ອຍຫວັງວ່າເຈົ້າຈະເຂົ້າໃຈສະຖານະການນີ້.

I hope you understand this situation.

2

ເຈົ້າຄວນຈະບອກຂ້ອຍກ່ອນ.

You should have told me first.

3

ຂ້ອຍເຫັນດີນຳເຈົ້າໃນເລື່ອງນີ້.

I agree with you on this matter.

4

ເຈົ້າຄິດວ່າຂ້ອຍຄວນເຮັດແນວໃດ?

What do you think I should do?

1

ຂ້ອຍຮູ້ສຶກເປັນກຽດທີ່ໄດ້ຮູ້ຈັກກັບເຈົ້າ.

I am honored to know you.

2

ເຈົ້າຄົງຈະເຂົ້າໃຈວ່າຂ້ອຍມີເຫດຜົນ.

You must understand that I have my reasons.

3

ຂ້ອຍບໍ່ສາມາດຍອມຮັບຂໍ້ສະເໜີຂອງເຈົ້າໄດ້.

I cannot accept your proposal.

4

ເຈົ້າໄດ້ພິຈາລະນາສິ່ງທີ່ຂ້ອຍເວົ້າໄປແລ້ວບໍ່?

Have you considered what I said?

1

ຂ້ອຍຂໍສະແດງຄວາມຂອບໃຈມາຍັງເຈົ້າ.

I would like to express my gratitude to you.

2

ເຈົ້າເຫັນດີນຳຂ້ອຍໃນການປ່ຽນແປງນີ້ບໍ່?

Do you concur with me on this change?

3

ຂ້ອຍຈະປະຕິບັດຕາມທີ່ເຈົ້າຕ້ອງການ.

I will proceed as you require.

4

ເຈົ້າໄດ້ໄຕ່ຕອງຢ່າງຖີ່ຖ້ວນກ່ຽວກັບສິ່ງທີ່ຂ້ອຍສະເໜີບໍ່?

Have you reflected thoroughly on what I proposed?

Facile à confondre

Personal Pronouns (Khoi, Chao) vs Chao (Pronoun) vs Chao (Particle)

Chao can mean 'you' or 'yes'.

Personal Pronouns (Khoi, Chao) vs Khoi vs Khapachao

Both mean 'I'.

Personal Pronouns (Khoi, Chao) vs Dropping Pronouns

Learners think they must use pronouns.

Erreurs courantes

✗

ຂ້ອຍເຈົ້າ (Khoi Chao)

✓

ຂ້ອຍ (Khoi)

Don't combine them.
✗

ເຈົ້າກິນ (Chao kin)

✓

ຂ້ອຍກິນ (Khoi kin)

Confusing I and You.
✗

ຂ້ອຍ ໄປ ຕະຫຼາດ (Khoi pai talat)

✓

ຂ້ອຍໄປຕະຫຼາດ (Khoi pai talat)

Spaces are not used between words in Lao.
✗

ຂ້ອຍ ກິນ ເຂົ້າ (Khoi kin khao)

✓

ຂ້ອຍກິນເຂົ້າ (Khoi kin khao)

Lao script is written continuously.
✗

ເຈົ້າ ເປັນ ໃຜ? (Chao pen phai?)

✓

ເຈົ້າແມ່ນໃຜ? (Chao maen phai?)

Use 'maen' for identity questions.
✗

ຂ້ອຍ ບໍ່ ໄປ (Khoi bo pai)

✓

ຂ້ອຍບໍ່ໄປ (Khoi bo pai)

Continuous script.
✗

ເຈົ້າ ຮັກ ຂ້ອຍ ບໍ່? (Chao hak khoi bo?)

✓

ເຈົ້າຮັກຂ້ອຍບໍ່? (Chao hak khoi bo?)

Continuous script.
✗

ຂ້ອຍ (Khoi) to a monk

✓

ຂ້ານ້ອຍ (Khanoy)

Use humble pronouns for monks.
✗

ເຈົ້າ (Chao) to a teacher

✓

ອາຈານ (Ajan)

Use titles for teachers.
✗

ຂ້ອຍ (Khoi) to a boss

✓

ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າ (Khapachao)

Use formal pronouns for superiors.

Structures de phrases

ຂ້ອຍ___.

ເຈົ້າ___ບໍ່?

ຂ້ອຍແມ່ນ___.

ເຈົ້າຈະໄປ___ບໍ່?

Real World Usage

Ordering food constant

ຂ້ອຍເອົາເຂົ້າໜຽວ.

Texting very common

ເຈົ້າຢູ່ໃສ?

Job interview common

ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າສົນໃຈວຽກນີ້.

Travel common

ຂ້ອຍຈະໄປຫຼວງພະບາງ.

Food delivery app common

ຂ້ອຍສັ່ງອາຫານ.

Social media very common

ເຈົ້າເຮັດຫຍັງຢູ່?

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💡

Drop the pronoun

If the subject is clear, don't say it. It sounds more natural.
⚠️

Don't use with monks

Always use respectful pronouns for monks.
🎯

Use titles

Using 'Ajan' (Teacher) is better than 'Chao' for teachers.
💬

Be polite

Add 'der' at the end to sound softer.

Smart Tips

Drop the pronoun if the context is obvious.

ຂ້ອຍໄປຕະຫຼາດ. ຂ້ອຍຊື້ເຂົ້າ. → ຂ້ອຍໄປຕະຫຼາດ. ຊື້ເຂົ້າ.

Use 'Ajan' instead of 'Chao'.

ເຈົ້າສະບາຍດີບໍ່? → ອາຈານສະບາຍດີບໍ່?

Add 'bo' at the end.

ເຈົ້າໄປຕະຫຼາດ. → ເຈົ້າໄປຕະຫຼາດບໍ່?

Use 'Khoi' and 'Chao' as they are the safest.

Using a formal pronoun incorrectly. → Using 'Khoi' and 'Chao'.

Prononciation

/kʰɔːj/

Khoi

The 'kh' is an aspirated k sound. The 'oi' is a diphthong.

/tɕaːw/

Chao

The 'ch' is an unaspirated sound. The 'ao' is a diphthong.

Question

Sentence + bo ↑

Rising intonation at the end indicates a question.

Mémorise-le

Moyen mnémotechnique

Khoi sounds like 'Coy' (I am shy), Chao sounds like 'Ciao' (Hello/Goodbye to you).

Association visuelle

Imagine yourself pointing at your chest saying 'Khoi' and pointing at a friend saying 'Chao'.

Rhyme

Khoi is me, Chao is you, Lao is easy, it's true!

Story

I (Khoi) walked into a shop. I saw a friend (Chao). I said 'Khoi' to introduce myself. My friend 'Chao' smiled back.

Word Web

ຂ້ອຍເຈົ້າພວກຂ້ອຍພວກເຈົ້າຂອງຂ້ອຍຂອງເຈົ້າ

Défi

Write 5 sentences using 'Khoi' and 'Chao' today.

Notes culturelles

Pronouns are often omitted to avoid sounding repetitive or overly direct.

Special pronouns are used when speaking to monks.

Titles like 'Ajan' (Teacher) or 'Than' (Sir/Madam) are preferred over 'Chao'.

These pronouns evolved from older Tai language roots.

Amorces de conversation

“

ເຈົ້າຊື່ຫຍັງ?

“

ເຈົ້າສະບາຍດີບໍ່?

“

ເຈົ້າເຮັດວຽກຫຍັງ?

“

ເຈົ້າເຄີຍໄປລາວບໍ່?

Sujets d'écriture

Introduce yourself using 'Khoi'.
Describe your friend using 'Chao'.
Write about your daily routine.
Write a dialogue between two people meeting for the first time.

Erreurs courantes

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

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Test Yourself

Fill in the blank for 'I'.

___ ກິນເຂົ້າ.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ຂ້ອຍ
Khoi means I.
Which is 'you'? Choix multiple

Which word means 'you'?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ເຈົ້າ
Chao means you.
Fix the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

ເຈົ້າ ກິນ ເຂົ້າ (Chao kin khao)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ເຈົ້າກິນເຂົ້າ
No spaces in Lao.
Make it a question. Sentence Transformation

ເຈົ້າກິນເຂົ້າ.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ເຈົ້າກິນເຂົ້າບໍ່?
Add 'bo' for questions.
Is this true? True False Rule

Lao pronouns change based on gender.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: False
Lao pronouns are gender-neutral.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: ເຈົ້າຊື່ຫຍັງ? B: ___ ຊື່ສົມສີ.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ຂ້ອຍ
Use 'Khoi' for yourself.
Order the words. Sentence Building

ຂ້ອຍ / ໄປ / ຕະຫຼາດ

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ຂ້ອຍໄປຕະຫຼາດ
Subject + Verb + Object.
Match the words. Match Pairs

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

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: I - You
Khoi is I, Chao is you.

Score: /8

Exercices pratiques

8 exercises
Fill in the blank for 'I'.

___ ກິນເຂົ້າ.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ຂ້ອຍ
Khoi means I.
Which is 'you'? Choix multiple

Which word means 'you'?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ເຈົ້າ
Chao means you.
Fix the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

ເຈົ້າ ກິນ ເຂົ້າ (Chao kin khao)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ເຈົ້າກິນເຂົ້າ
No spaces in Lao.
Make it a question. Sentence Transformation

ເຈົ້າກິນເຂົ້າ.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ເຈົ້າກິນເຂົ້າບໍ່?
Add 'bo' for questions.
Is this true? True False Rule

Lao pronouns change based on gender.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: False
Lao pronouns are gender-neutral.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: ເຈົ້າຊື່ຫຍັງ? B: ___ ຊື່ສົມສີ.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ຂ້ອຍ
Use 'Khoi' for yourself.
Order the words. Sentence Building

ຂ້ອຍ / ໄປ / ຕະຫຼາດ

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ຂ້ອຍໄປຕະຫຼາດ
Subject + Verb + Object.
Match the words. Match Pairs

Khoi - Chao

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: I - You
Khoi is I, Chao is you.

Score: /8

FAQ (8)

No, you can drop them if the context is clear.

No, 'Khoi' and 'Chao' are gender-neutral.

They are neutral, but use titles for superiors.

You will still be understood, just be polite.

Use 'Khapachao' and 'Than'.

No, it can also mean 'yes'.

Add 'puak' before the pronoun: 'puak khoi'.

Yes, they are standard in all written forms.

Scaffolded Practice

1

1

2

2

3

3

4

4

Mastery Progress

Needs Practice

Improving

Strong

Mastered

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In Other Languages

Spanish moderate

Yo/Tú

Lao lacks verb conjugation.

French moderate

Je/Tu

Lao honorifics are more complex.

German moderate

Ich/Du

Lao uses titles for respect.

Japanese high

Watashi/Anata

Japanese uses particles more extensively.

Arabic moderate

Ana/Anta

Lao is gender-neutral.

Chinese high

Wo/Ni

Chinese has specific plural markers.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Next
Demonstrative Pronouns

Related Grammar Rules

A1

Social Status Pronouns
A1

Demonstrative Pronouns
B1

Reflexive 'Eng'
B1

Mutual Action
B1

Self-Action
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