Polite requests

❃ Polite requests

ຂ້ອຍຢາກໄປຕະຫຼາດ [ khoi yak pai talat ]: I want to go to the market.
ຂ້ອຍຢາກກິນເຂົ້າ [ khoi yak kin khao ]: I would like to eat.
ຂ້ອຍຢາກຊື້ອັນນີ້ [ khoi yak su an ni ]: I would like to buy this.
ຂ້ອຍຕ້ອງການພັກຜ່ອນ [ khoi tong kan phak phon ]: I need to rest.
ຂ້ອຍຫິວເຂົ້າ [ khoi hiw khao ]: I am hungry.
ຂ້ອຍຫິວນໍ້າ [ khoi hiw nam ]: I am thirsty.
ຂ້ອຍເມື່ອຍ [ khoi muay ]: I am tired.
ຂ້ອຍຂໍຖ່າຍຮູບໄດ້ບໍ່? [ khoi kho thai hup dai bo? ]: Can I take a photo?
ເຈົ້າຊ່ວຍຖ່າຍຮູບໃຫ້ຂ້ອຍແດ່ໄດ້ບໍ່? [ chao suay thai hup hai khoi dae dai bo? ]: Can you take a photo for me?
ຂ້ອຍຂໍຢືມອັນນີ້ໄດ້ບໍ່? [ khoi kho yum an ni dai bo? ]: Can I borrow this?
ເຈົ້າຊ່ວຍໃຫ້ຂ້ອຍເບິ່ງແດ່ໄດ້ບໍ່? [ chao suay hai khoi boeng dae dai bo? ]: Can you show me?
ຂ້ອຍກຳລັງຊອກຫາ... [ khoi kam lang xok ha... ]: I am looking for...
ຂໍເຊັກບິນແດ່? [ kho sek bin dae? ]: May I have the bill, please?
ຂ້ອຍບໍ່ເອົາອັນນີ້ [ khoi bo ao an ni ]: I don't want this.
ຂ້ອຍຢາກໄປຫາໝໍ [ khoi yak pai ha mo ]: I want to see a doctor.
ກະລຸນາລໍຖ້າຢູ່ທີ່ນີ້ [ kaluna lo tha yu thi ni ]: Please wait here.
ຊ່ວຍເອີ້ນແທັກຊີໃຫ້ແດ່ໄດ້ບໍ່? [ suay oen theksi hai dae dai bo? ]: Can you call a taxi?
ຂ້ອຍກຳລັງຊອກຫາໝູ່ຂອງຂ້ອຍ [ khoi kam lang xok ha mu khong khoi ]: I am looking for my friend.
ຊ່ວຍເປີດພັດລົມໃຫ້ແດ່ໄດ້ບໍ່? [ suay poet phat lom hai dae dai bo? ]: Could you turn on the fan?
ຊ່ວຍຂຽນລົງນີ້ແດ່ໄດ້ບໍ່? [ suay khian long ni dae dai bo? ]: Could you write it down here?

Cultural notes

Learning how to make polite requests in Laos is crucial for a smooth travel experience. While the Lao language lacks a complex system of formal honorifics like Japanese, politeness is conveyed through word choice and softening particles. When expressing a desire or intent to do an action, the phrase to use is ຂ້ອຍຢາກ (khoi yak), which means "I want to." For example, "I want to go to the market" is ຂ້ອຍຢາກໄປຕະຫຼາດ (khoi yak pai talat). However, when you are in a restaurant or a shop and you are asking someone to *give* you an object, it is more polite to use ຂໍ (kho), which means "May I have" or "Please give me." For instance, "May I have water" translates to ຂໍນໍ້າດື່ມ (kho nam duem). To make your Lao sound incredibly natural, gentle, and respectful, you must learn the magic particle ແດ່ (dae). Placed at the end of a sentence, *dae* acts as a linguistic cushion. It softens a demand into a gentle request. So, rather than bluntly saying "Give me this," saying ຂໍອັນນີ້ແດ່ (kho an ni dae) makes you sound incredibly polite. If you need assistance, saying ຊ່ວຍຂ້ອຍແດ່ (suay khoi dae - Please help me) will ensure locals rush to your aid with a smile. Lao people are inherently gentle and non-confrontational; by mastering "yak," "kho," and adding the softening "dae" to the end of your requests, your speech transforms from a string of foreign words into warm, culturally attuned communication.

✣

← Time and dates Contents Asking directions →

Other sections

Greetings and pronouns Politeness and thanks Understanding Introducing yourself Basic questions Short answers Numbers and classifiers Time and dates Asking directions Tuk-tuk and fares Buses and songthaews Train Boats and river crossings Two-wheeler rental Tickets and tours Airport and borders Road and safety Duration and delays Restaurant and street food Lao dishes Flavors and chili Diets and allergies Drinks Bill and takeaway Markets Bargaining Crafts and souvenirs Convenience stores and money Guesthouse and hotel v Room facilities Hotel problems Phone and Wi-Fi Laundry Toilets and hygiene Electricity Post and parcels General health Common symptoms Stomach issues and heatstroke Pain and body Bites and skin allergies Pharmacy Doctor and clinic Hospital and emergencies Police and safety Lost documents Lost or broken items Breaking the ice Family and age Religion and temples Traditional festivals Emotions Opinions Work and daily life Weather and nature Tourism and impressions Invitations and socializing Farewells and keeping in touch