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Laos · Lao Travel Phrases

The most useful local expressions, ordered by importance. Pronunciations are approximate.

Greetings

  1. 1
    ສະບາຍດີ
    Hello (with palms together, on meeting) “sabaidee”
  2. 2
    ຂອບໃຈ
    Thank you “khop jai”
  3. 3
    ຂອບໃຈຫຼາຍໆ
    Thank you very much “khop jai lai lai”
  4. 4
    ແມ່ນ / ບໍ່
    Yes / No “maen / bor”
  5. 5
    ຂໍໂທດ
    Excuse me / Sorry “kho thot”
  6. 6
    ບໍ່ເປັນຫຍັງ
    It's okay / You're welcome “bor pen nyang”
  7. 7
    ລາກ່ອນ
    Goodbye “la kon”
Local etiquette
  • Greet with palms pressed together and a slight bow — the 'nop' — while saying 'sabaidee'. The higher your hands, the more respect shown.
  • Laos moves at an unhurried pace. Shouting, showing anger, or rushing people makes them shut down. A smile and patience are the best manners.

Basics

  1. 1
    ຂ້ອຍບໍ່ເຂົ້າໃຈ
    I don't understand “khoy bor khao jai”
  2. 2
    ຂ້ອຍເວົ້າພາສາລາວບໍ່ໄດ້
    I don't speak Lao “khoy wao phasa lao bor dai”
  3. 3
    ເຈົ້າເວົ້າພາສາອັງກິດໄດ້ບໍ?
    Do you speak English? “jao wao phasa angkit dai bor?”
  4. 4
    ເວົ້າຊ້າໆແດ່
    Please speak slowly “wao sa sa dae”
  5. 5
    ນີ້ແມ່ນຫຍັງ?
    What is this? “nee maen nyang?”
  6. 6
    ຫ້ອງນ້ຳຢູ່ໃສ?
    Where is the toilet? “hong nam yu sai?”
  7. 7
    ຖ່າຍຮູບໄດ້ບໍ?
    May I take a photo? “thai hoop dai bor?”
  8. 8
    ຊ່ວຍແດ່
    Please help me “suay dae”
Local etiquette
  • The head is sacred — never touch anyone's head, even a child's. The feet, by contrast, are the lowest, most impure part.
  • Don't point at things or people with your feet, or sit with your soles facing a person or a Buddha image.
  • Avoid public displays of affection or loud emotional outbursts.

Shopping

  1. 1
    ອັນນີ້ເທົ່າໃດ?
    How much is this? “an nee thao dai?”
  2. 2
    ແພງໂພດ
    Too expensive “phaeng phot”
  3. 3
    ຫຼຸດໄດ້ບໍ?
    Can you lower the price? “lut dai bor?”
  4. 4
    ຖືກໆແດ່
    Make it cheaper, please “theuk theuk dae”
  5. 5
    ຈ່າຍເປັນເງິນກີບໄດ້ບໍ?
    Can I pay in Kip (local currency)? “jai pen ngen kip dai bor?”
  6. 6
    ຂ້ອຍເອົາອັນນີ້
    I'll take this one “khoy ao an nee”
Local etiquette
  • Bargain, but gently. A soft haggle once or twice with a smile is about right.
  • The Kip is the main currency; US dollars and Thai baht are also accepted at tourist spots. Keep small Kip notes handy.
  • Vendors often lack change for large notes, so carry small bills.

Restaurant

  1. 1
    ຂໍເມນູແດ່
    The menu, please “kho menu dae”
  2. 2
    ອັນນີ້ແມ່ນຫຍັງ?
    What dish is this? “an nee maen nyang?”
  3. 3
    ຂໍອັນນີ້
    This one, please “kho an nee”
  4. 4
    ບໍ່ເອົາເຜັດ
    Not spicy, please “bor ao phet”
  5. 5
    ຂໍນ້ຳແດ່
    Water, please “kho nam dae”
  6. 6
    ແຊບຫຼາຍ
    Very delicious “saep lai”
  7. 7
    ຄິດເງິນແດ່
    The bill, please “khit ngen dae”
Local etiquette
  • The staple is sticky rice (khao niaow) — pinch off a small ball by hand and dip it in the dishes.
  • Meals are shared, with everyone eating from communal dishes; take from the shared plates onto your own.
  • Drink only bottled water, and be cautious with ice unless it's factory-made (the tube-shaped kind with a hole).
  • Lao food can be very spicy and pungent. Say 'bor ao phet' (not spicy) in advance if needed.

Getting around

  1. 1
    ໄປ...ເທົ່າໃດ?
    How much to...? (tuk-tuk/taxi) “pai ... thao dai?”
  2. 2
    ແພງໂພດ, ຫຼຸດແດ່
    Too expensive, lower it please “phaeng phot, lut dae”
  3. 3
    ໄປ...ໄດ້ບໍ?
    Can you take me to...? “pai ... dai bor?”
  4. 4
    ຈອດຢູ່ນີ້
    Stop here, please “jort yu nee”
  5. 5
    ໄກບໍ?
    Is it far? “kai bor?”
  6. 6
    ສະຖານີລົດເມຢູ່ໃສ?
    Where is the bus station? “sathani lot me yu sai?”
  7. 7
    ຂ້ອຍຫຼົງທາງ
    I'm lost “khoy long thang”
Local etiquette
  • Always agree the destination and fare with a tuk-tuk before getting in — there are no meters.
  • Travel is slow; many roads are unpaved or mountainous, so allow extra time.
  • Roads are poor at night — travel by day whenever possible.

Hotel

  1. 1
    ຂ້ອຍຈອງຫ້ອງໄວ້
    I have a room reservation “khoy jong hong wai”
  2. 2
    ມີນ້ຳຮ້ອນບໍ?
    Is there hot water? “mee nam hon bor?”
  3. 3
    ແອບໍ່ເຢັນ
    The AC isn't cooling “ae bor yen”
  4. 4
    ລະຫັດ Wi-Fi ແມ່ນຫຍັງ?
    What's the Wi-Fi password? “lahat wi-fi maen nyang?”
  5. 5
    ຝາກເຄື່ອງໄດ້ບໍ?
    Can I leave my luggage? “faak kheuang dai bor?”
Local etiquette
  • Remove your shoes before entering temples, guesthouses, and homes. Shoes by the door are the signal to take yours off.
  • Power and water cuts happen occasionally — a flashlight and some spare water are useful.

Emergency

  1. 1
    ຊ່ວຍແດ່!
    Help! “suay dae!”
  2. 2
    ໂທຫາຕຳຫຼວດແດ່
    Please call the police “tho ha tamluat dae”
  3. 3
    ໂທຫາລົດໂຮງໝໍແດ່
    Please call an ambulance “tho ha lot hong mo dae”
  4. 4
    ໂຮງໝໍຢູ່ໃສ?
    Where is a hospital? “hong mo yu sai?”
  5. 5
    ຂ້ອຍເສຍໜັງສືຜ່ານແດນ
    I lost my passport “khoy sia nangsue phan daen”
  6. 6
    ຂ້ອຍບໍ່ສະບາຍ
    I feel sick “khoy bor sabai”
Local etiquette
  • Police 191, ambulance 195, fire 190. Tourist Police operate in Luang Prabang, Vientiane, and elsewhere.
  • Medical facilities are limited; serious emergencies may require evacuation to Thailand (e.g. Udon Thani), so get travel insurance.
  • If you lose your passport, get a local police report and contact your embassy/consulate in Vientiane.