A2 Sentence Structure 1 min read Easy

Polite Imperatives

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Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

To make a command polite in Lao, simply add the particle 'dê' or 'kà-lú-na' to your verb phrase.

  • Use 'kà-lú-na' (please) at the start for formal requests: 'kà-lú-na nǎng' (Please sit).
  • Add 'dê' at the end of a sentence for a friendly, polite tone: 'kin kâo dê' (Please eat).
  • Use 'yàa' before a verb to make a polite negative command: 'yàa pai' (Please don't go).
Verb + (Object) + dê (Polite Particle)

Meanings

The polite imperative is used to soften commands, making them sound like requests or suggestions rather than orders.

1

Friendly Request

Softening a command for friends or peers.

“nǎng dê.”

“ao dê.”

2

Formal Request

Using 'kà-lú-na' for polite, formal requests.

“kà-lú-na nǎng.”

“kà-lú-na ao.”

Polite Imperative Formation

Type Structure Example Register
Positive Verb + dê pai dê Neutral
Formal kà-lú-na + Verb kà-lú-na pai Formal
Negative yàa + Verb + dê yàa pai dê Neutral
Formal Negative kà-lú-na yàa + Verb kà-lú-na yàa pai Formal
Object Verb + Object + dê ao kâo dê Neutral
Formal Object kà-lú-na + Verb + Object kà-lú-na ao kâo Formal

Reference Table

Reference table for Polite Imperatives
Form Structure Example
Affirmative Verb + dê pai dê
Formal kà-lú-na + Verb kà-lú-na pai
Negative yàa + Verb + dê yàa pai dê
Formal Negative kà-lú-na yàa + Verb kà-lú-na yàa pai
Object Verb + Object + dê ao kâo dê
Formal Object kà-lú-na + Verb + Object kà-lú-na ao kâo

Formality Spectrum

Formal
kà-lú-na nǎng.

kà-lú-na nǎng. (Asking someone to sit.)

Neutral
nǎng dê.

nǎng dê. (Asking someone to sit.)

Informal
nǎng.

nǎng. (Asking someone to sit.)

Slang
nǎng nà.

nǎng nà. (Asking someone to sit.)

Polite Imperative Map

Polite Imperative

Casual

  • dê polite particle

Formal

  • kà-lú-na please

Negative

  • yàa don't
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Examples by Level

1

pai dê.

Please go.

2

nǎng dê.

Please sit.

3

kin dê.

Please eat.

4

ao dê.

Please take it.

1

kà-lú-na nǎng.

Please sit.

2

yàa pai dê.

Please don't go.

3

kà-lú-na ròo.

Please wait.

4

yàa kin dê.

Please don't eat.

1

kà-lú-na sòng è-ka-sǎn dê.

Please send the document.

2

yàa wao dê.

Please don't talk.

3

kà-lú-na pai hǎa kòy.

Please come see me.

4

ao nǎng-sǔe dê.

Please take the book.

1

kà-lú-na tà-yàai kòy dê.

Please explain it to me.

2

yàa pai hǎa kǎo dê.

Please don't go see him.

3

kà-lú-na tǒk-lóng dê.

Please agree.

4

ao kâo dê.

Please have some rice.

1

kà-lú-na pì-jǎ-lá-ná dê.

Please consider it.

2

yàa hěng dê.

Please don't be stubborn.

3

kà-lú-na sà-dèng dê.

Please show it.

4

pai dê, kòy tà-yàai.

Go ahead, I'll explain.

1

kà-lú-na pì-jǎ-lá-ná kòo-tòk-lóng dê.

Please consider the agreement.

2

yàa kà-wǎn dê.

Please don't be worried.

3

kà-lú-na tà-yàai kòo-mǔn dê.

Please explain the data.

4

ao dê, kòy jà pai.

Okay, I will go.

Easily Confused

Polite Imperatives vs Standard Imperative

Learners think they can use the standard imperative for everything.

Polite Imperatives vs Question Particles

Learners confuse 'dê' with question particles.

Polite Imperatives vs Formal vs Informal

Learners use 'kà-lú-na' with friends.

Common Mistakes

✗

pai

✓

pai dê

Too blunt.
✗

dê pai

✓

pai dê

Wrong word order.
✗

kà-lú-na pai dê

✓

kà-lú-na pai

Redundant particles.
✗

yàa pai

✓

yàa pai dê

Too blunt.
✗

kà-lú-na ao dê

✓

kà-lú-na ao

Redundant.
✗

yàa dê pai

✓

yàa pai dê

Wrong order.
✗

pai kà-lú-na

✓

kà-lú-na pai

Wrong order.
✗

kà-lú-na nǎng dê

✓

kà-lú-na nǎng

Redundant.
✗

yàa kà-lú-na pai

✓

kà-lú-na yàa pai

Wrong order.
✗

dê nǎng

✓

nǎng dê

Wrong order.
✗

kà-lú-na yàa dê pai

✓

kà-lú-na yàa pai

Too many particles.
✗

pai kà-lú-na dê

✓

kà-lú-na pai

Redundant.

Sentence Patterns

___ dê.

kà-lú-na ___.

yàa ___ dê.

kà-lú-na yàa ___.

Real World Usage

Ordering food constant

ao kâo dê.

Texting very common

pai dê.

Job interview common

kà-lú-na nǎng.

Travel common

kà-lú-na ròo dê.

Food delivery app common

ao kâo-pàt dê.

Social media common

pai dê!

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💡

Use 'dê' for friends

It makes your requests sound friendly and natural.
⚠️

Don't be too formal

Using 'kà-lú-na' with close friends can sound like you are joking or being sarcastic.
🎯

Intonation matters

A rising tone on 'dê' makes it sound even more polite.
💬

Respect the hierarchy

Always use 'kà-lú-na' with elders or superiors.

Smart Tips

Add 'dê' at the end.

pai. → pai dê.

Use 'kà-lú-na'.

nǎng. → kà-lú-na nǎng.

Use 'yàa...dê'.

pai. → yàa pai dê.

Use 'kà-lú-na'.

ao. → kà-lú-na ao.

Pronunciation

dê (mid-tone)

Dê

The tone is mid-level, but in a polite request, it often rises slightly.

Polite Rising

pai dê ↑

Adds extra softness and friendliness.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Remember: 'Dê' is at the end, like a 'Day' ending your day. 'Kà-lú-na' starts the show.

Visual Association

Imagine a polite waiter holding a tray. He says 'ao dê' (please take) while bowing slightly.

Rhyme

For a request that's polite and true, add 'dê' at the end for you.

Story

Somchai wants his friend to sit. He says 'nǎng dê'. Then he meets his boss and says 'kà-lú-na nǎng'. He avoids 'nǎng' alone because it sounds like a command to a dog.

Word Web

dêkà-lú-nayàapainǎngaokin

Challenge

For the next 5 minutes, try to turn every command you think of into a polite Lao request using 'dê'.

Cultural Notes

Politeness is highly valued. Using these particles shows you respect the other person's status.

Similar to Thai 'ka/krap', but Lao uses 'dê' as a specific imperative softener.

Very similar to Lao, as they share the same language roots.

These particles evolved from ancient Lao honorific systems.

Conversation Starters

“

kà-lú-na nǎng dê.

“

pai dê.

“

yàa pai dê.

“

kà-lú-na tà-yàai dê.

Journal Prompts

Write about a time you asked someone for help.
Write a list of 5 things you would ask a friend to do.
Write a formal request for a meeting.
Write a dialogue where you politely decline a request.
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Test Yourself

Fill in the blank.

pai ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: dê
dê is the polite particle.
Choose the correct polite form. Multiple Choice

Which is polite?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: pai dê
dê is the polite particle.
Correct the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

kà-lú-na pai dê

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: kà-lú-na pai
Redundant particles.
Reorder the words. Sentence Reorder

Arrange the words in the correct order:

All words placed

Click words above to build the sentence

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: pai dê
Verb + particle.
Translate to Lao. Translation

Please sit.

Answer starts with: nǎn...

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: nǎng dê
nǎng is sit.
Choose the formal form. Multiple Choice

Which is formal?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: kà-lú-na pai
kà-lú-na is formal.
Fill in the blank.

yàa ___ dê.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: pai
Verb goes between yàa and dê.
Reorder the words. Sentence Reorder

Arrange the words in the correct order:

All words placed

Click words above to build the sentence

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: yàa pai dê
yàa + verb + dê.

Score: /8

Practice Exercises

8 exercises
Fill in the blank.

pai ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: dê
dê is the polite particle.
Choose the correct polite form. Multiple Choice

Which is polite?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: pai dê
dê is the polite particle.
Correct the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

kà-lú-na pai dê

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: kà-lú-na pai
Redundant particles.
Reorder the words. Sentence Reorder

dê / pai

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: pai dê
Verb + particle.
Translate to Lao. Translation

Please sit.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: nǎng dê
nǎng is sit.
Choose the formal form. Multiple Choice

Which is formal?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: kà-lú-na pai
kà-lú-na is formal.
Fill in the blank.

yàa ___ dê.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: pai
Verb goes between yàa and dê.
Reorder the words. Sentence Reorder

dê / pai / yàa

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: yàa pai dê
yàa + verb + dê.

Score: /8

FAQ (8)

Yes, it is very common for friends and peers.

Yes, it is used for respect.

You might sound rude.

No, it is redundant.

Yes, it means 'don't'.

No, Lao verbs don't conjugate.

Yes, but 'kà-lú-na' is more common in formal writing.

Use 'dê' with a friendly tone.

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In Other Languages

Spanish moderate

Por favor + Imperative

Lao particles are sentence-final or initial, while 'por favor' is flexible.

French moderate

S'il vous plaît

Lao is more concise.

German moderate

Bitte

Lao particles are more integrated into the sentence structure.

Japanese high

Kudasai

Japanese is more formal.

Arabic low

Min fadlak

Lao is more particle-based.

Chinese moderate

Qing

Lao has more options for politeness.

Previous
Direct Imperatives
Next
Suggestions with 'Di'

Related Grammar Rules

A1

Subject Omission
A2

Direct Imperatives
A2

Suggestions with 'Di'
B1

Topicalization
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