Understanding
❃ Understanding
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ເຈົ້າເວົ້າພາສາອັງກິດໄດ້ບໍ່?
[ chao vao phasa angkit dai bo? ] -
Do you speak English?
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ເຈົ້າເວົ້າພາສາຝຣັ່ງໄດ້ບໍ່?
[ chao vao phasa falang dai bo? ] -
Do you speak French?
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ຂ້ອຍເວົ້າພາສາລາວໄດ້ໜ້ອຍໜຶ່ງ
[ khoi vao phasa lao dai noi nung ] -
I speak a little bit of Lao.
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ຂ້ອຍເວົ້າພາສາລາວບໍ່ເປັນ
[ khoi vao phasa lao bo pen ] -
I don't speak Lao.
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ເຈົ້າເຂົ້າໃຈບໍ່?
[ chao khao chai bo? ] -
Do you understand?
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ຂ້ອຍເຂົ້າໃຈ
[ khoi khao chai ] -
I understand.
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ຂ້ອຍບໍ່ເຂົ້າໃຈ
[ khoi bo khao chai ] -
I don't understand.
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ຂ້ອຍບໍ່ຮູ້
[ khoi bo hu ] -
I don't know.
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ກະລຸນາເວົ້າຊ້າໆແດ່
[ kaluna vao sa sa dae ] -
Could you speak more slowly, please?
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ກະລຸນາເວົ້າອີກເທື່ອໜຶ່ງແດ່
[ kaluna vao ik thua nung dae ] -
Could you repeat that, please?
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ເຈົ້າເວົ້າວ່າຫຍັງ?
[ chao vao va nyang? ] -
What did you say?
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ອັນນີ້ພາສາລາວເວົ້າວ່າແນວໃດ?
[ an ni phasa lao vao va naew dai? ] -
How do you say this in Lao?
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ອັນນີ້ແປວ່າຫຍັງ?
[ an ni pae va nyang? ] -
What does this mean?
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ກະລຸນາຂຽນໃຫ້ແດ່ໄດ້ບໍ່?
[ kaluna khian hai dae dai bo? ] -
Could you write it down, please?
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ພາສາລາວຂອງຂ້ອຍບໍ່ປານໃດ
[ phasa lao khong khoi bo pan dai ] -
My Lao is not very good.
Learning to communicate that you don't understand is crucial when traveling, but in Laos, it comes with a specific linguistic challenge: Lao is a tonal language. It features six distinct tones, meaning that the same syllable can mean "shirt," "tiger," or "to buy" depending purely on the pitch of your voice. For English speakers, whose language relies on intonation to express emotion rather than meaning, this can lead to some highly amusing misunderstandings. When a local speaks to you and you find yourself lost, a polite smile and saying ບໍ່ເຂົ້າໃຈ (bo khao chai), which means "I don't understand," will be your best friend. Because locals know their language is notoriously difficult for foreigners, they are usually very patient. Don't hesitate to ask them to slow down by saying ກະລຸນາເວົ້າຊ້າໆແດ່ (kaluna vao sa sa dae). If you are trying to pronounce a Lao word and get a blank stare in return, it is almost certainly a tone issue. Instead of repeating the word louder—which won't help—try changing the melody of the word or pointing to an object. Showing effort, even if you stumble over the pronunciation, is highly appreciated in Laos. Admitting you only speak "a little bit" (ໜ້ອຍໜຶ່ງ - noi nung) with a smile will often result in encouraging laughter and a willingness to help you learn.
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