Signification
Being sick with a minor virus.
Contexte culturel
Drinking cold water (nam yen) is strictly avoided when one is 'pen wat'. It is believed to 'freeze' the illness inside. The 'Rainy Season' (May-Oct) is the peak time for this phrase. Getting your head wet in the rain is seen as the direct cause of 'pen wat'. Using menthol balms (like Tiger Balm) on the nose and neck is the standard home treatment for 'pen wat'. Health is a communal topic. It is polite to ask colleagues if they are 'pen wat' if they look tired.
The 'Pen' Rule
Remember that 'pen' is used for almost all health states in Lao. If you feel it, you 'are' it.
Avoid 'Mi'
Never say 'Khoy mi wat'. It's the most common mistake for English speakers.
Signification
Being sick with a minor virus.
The 'Pen' Rule
Remember that 'pen' is used for almost all health states in Lao. If you feel it, you 'are' it.
Avoid 'Mi'
Never say 'Khoy mi wat'. It's the most common mistake for English speakers.
Warm Water
If you tell a Lao person you are 'pen wat', they will almost certainly tell you to drink warm water. Just say 'khop chai' (thank you)!
Teste-toi
Fill in the correct verb for 'to have a cold'.
ຂ້ອຍ ____ ຫວັດ. (I have a cold.)
In Lao, we use 'ເປັນ' (to be) with illnesses, not 'ມີ' (to have).
Which sentence means 'I have a bit of a cold'?
Choose the best option:
'ໜ້ອຍໜຶ່ງ' means 'a little bit'.
Match the symptom to the phrase.
Someone is sneezing and has a runny nose. What are they?
'ເປັນຫວັດ' is for colds; the others are stomach ache, toothache, and hungry.
Complete the dialogue.
A: ເຈົ້າເປັນຫວັດບໍ? B: ___________
'ໂດຍ' is a polite 'yes'. Option C is wrong because it uses 'ມີ'.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Symptoms of ເປັນຫວັດ
Symptoms
- • ໄອ (Cough)
- • ຈາມ (Sneeze)
- • ຄັດດັງ (Stuffy nose)
- • ນ້ຳມູກໄຫຼ (Runny nose)
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesຂ້ອຍ ____ ຫວັດ. (I have a cold.)
In Lao, we use 'ເປັນ' (to be) with illnesses, not 'ມີ' (to have).
Choose the best option:
'ໜ້ອຍໜຶ່ງ' means 'a little bit'.
Someone is sneezing and has a runny nose. What are they?
'ເປັນຫວັດ' is for colds; the others are stomach ache, toothache, and hungry.
A: ເຈົ້າເປັນຫວັດບໍ? B: ___________
'ໂດຍ' is a polite 'yes'. Option C is wrong because it uses 'ມີ'.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsTechnically no, you should use 'phair' (ແພ້). However, many people say 'pen wat' if they are just sneezing a lot.
Yes, it shows concern. Just use 'than' instead of 'chao' for 'you'.
'Pen wat' is a cold (sniffles); 'pen khai' is a fever (high temperature).
You can say 'tit wat' (ຕິດຫວັດ) if you caught it from someone else, but 'pen wat' is more common.
Adding 'เด้อ' (der) at the end of a warning makes it sound friendlier.
It is neutral. It's fine for both friends and doctors.
Yes, but 'jep khor' (ເຈັບຄໍ) is more specific.
It's a cultural belief that rapid temperature changes (hot to rain) shock the body's elements.
Yes, 'wat daek' (ຫວັດແດກ) is very casual/slang, meaning 'the cold is eating me'.
Say 'khuay yang' (ໃຄແນ່) or 'di kheun laew' (ດີຂຶ້ນແລ້ວ).
Expressions liées
ເປັນໄຂ້
similarTo have a fever
ບໍ່ສະບາຍ
synonymTo be unwell
ໄອ
specialized formTo cough
ຄັດດັງ
specialized formStuffy nose
ຈາມ
specialized formTo sneeze
