Signification
A request for a small amount of sweetener.
Contexte culturel
Traditional Lao coffee is made with a cloth filter and served with a thick layer of condensed milk. Asking for 'Nam tan noy' might only reduce the added sugar, not the condensed milk. In the capital, 'Nam tan noy' is a sign of being 'inter' (international) or health-conscious. Many cafes now have signs asking for your sweetness level. If you are a guest in a home, saying 'Nam tan noy' is polite if you are offered a drink, as it shows you are easy to please but mindful of your health. Lao traditional medicine often warns against 'too much sweet' (wan lai) as it is thought to cause 'heavy' blood. 'Nam tan noy' aligns with these traditional health views.
The Double Noy
Say 'Noy noy' to ensure they really do put only a tiny bit. Lao vendors are generous with sugar!
Condensed Milk Alert
Remember that 'Nam tan' is just white sugar. If you want less condensed milk, you must say 'Nom khon noy'.
Signification
A request for a small amount of sweetener.
The Double Noy
Say 'Noy noy' to ensure they really do put only a tiny bit. Lao vendors are generous with sugar!
Condensed Milk Alert
Remember that 'Nam tan' is just white sugar. If you want less condensed milk, you must say 'Nom khon noy'.
Smile when asking
Asking for less of something can sometimes seem like you're being difficult. A smile makes the request friendly.
Use it for food too
You can use this when ordering 'Som Tum' (Papaya Salad) if you don't want it too sweet.
Teste-toi
Fill in the blank to ask for a coffee with little sugar.
ເອົາກາເຟ, _______ ໜ້ອຍ.
The full phrase for sugar is 'Nam tan'.
Which sentence is grammatically correct in Lao?
How do you say 'Little sugar'?
Adjectives follow nouns in Lao.
Match the phrase to the goal.
You want to be healthy but still have some sugar.
'Noy' means little, which is the healthy middle ground.
Complete the dialogue.
Vendor: 'ເອົາຫວານຫຼາຍບໍ່?' -> You: 'ບໍ່, ເອົາ_______.'
You are declining 'much' (lai) and asking for 'little' (noy).
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Sweetness Levels in Lao
Zero
- • ບໍ່ໃສ່ນ້ຳຕານ
Little
- • ນ້ຳຕານໜ້ອຍ
Normal
- • ຫວານປົກກະຕິ
Extra
- • ຫວານຫຼາຍ
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesເອົາກາເຟ, _______ ໜ້ອຍ.
The full phrase for sugar is 'Nam tan'.
How do you say 'Little sugar'?
Adjectives follow nouns in Lao.
You want to be healthy but still have some sugar.
'Noy' means little, which is the healthy middle ground.
Vendor: 'ເອົາຫວານຫຼາຍບໍ່?' -> You: 'ບໍ່, ເອົາ_______.'
You are declining 'much' (lai) and asking for 'little' (noy).
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsNo, it means a small amount. For zero sugar, say 'Bo sai nam tan'.
Yes, it is very common and perfectly polite in modern Laos.
Yes, especially for salads like Tam Maak Hoong (Papaya Salad).
You can say 'Wan lai' (Too sweet) and politely ask them to fix it.
'Nam tan noy' refers to the ingredient, 'Wan noy' refers to the taste. They are often interchangeable.
Say 'Nam tan noy noy' (repeat the word noy).
Adding 'Deir' at the end makes it polite, like 'Nam tan noy deir'.
No, it's quite cheap, which is why vendors use so much of it!
Usually refined white cane sugar or liquid syrup.
Yes, it's understood everywhere from street stalls to 5-star hotels.
Expressions liées
ຫວານໜ້ອຍ
synonymLittle sweet
ບໍ່ໃສ່ນ້ຳຕານ
contrastDon't put sugar
ນ້ຳຕານຫຼາຍ
contrastMuch sugar
ນ້ຳຕານໜ້ອຍໆ
specialized formVery little sugar
ຈືດ
similarBland/Tasteless
