Figure it out. Say it. Remember it.

Learning Lao: a practical guide

This is a written companion to the free Lao course on LanguagePath: what the language is like, how it sounds, the phrases you will use first, how the course is structured, and what to watch out for. Everything here comes from the same lessons you can practise interactively above.

What Lao is like

Lao is a wonderfully beginner-friendly language: no articles, no plurals, no verb endings, and no gender. Word order is subject-verb-object, just like English, so ຂ້ອຍ (I) + ຢາກ (want) + ກາເຟ (coffee) = ຂ້ອຍຢາກກາເຟ (I want coffee). You often make a yes/no question by simply adding ບໍ່ (baw) at the end. The one real challenge is the six tones, which change a word's meaning — but context, a smile, and the catchphrase ບໍ່ເປັນຫຍັງ (baw pen yang, "no problem") get you far.

Words you may already know

Pronunciation notes

Lao is a tonal language with its own alphabet — a close cousin of Thai script. Learn a few key letters and the six tones and you can sound out most words on a sign.

• ສ / ຊ — Both make an "s" sound — Lao keeps just one s (unlike Thai's 4)., as in ສາມ = sam (three) · ຊາ = saa (tea).
• ຂ / ຄ — Both are "kh" — a breathy, aspirated k. ຂ carries a high tone, ຄ a low tone., as in ຂອບໃຈ = khawp jai (thank you).
• ງ — "ng" as in "song" — and in Lao it can start a word, which English speakers find tricky., as in ງາມ = ngam (beautiful).
• ປ / ບ — "p" and "b", both said without the puff of air English adds., as in ປາ = paa (fish) · ບໍ່ = baw (no).
• ພ — A breathy, aspirated "p" — a strongly puffy p., as in ພໍ່ = pho (father).
• ລ / ຣ — "l" vs a light "r". Many Lao speakers blend r toward l, so ລາວ sounds like "laaw"., as in ລາວ = laaw (Lao).
• tone marks — Lao is tonal — six tones in the central dialect. A different pitch can mean a different word, so listen and then imitate., as in ສະບາຍດີ (sa-baai-dee) — let the tone guide you.
• ຫ — A silent "h" that raises the tone of the syllable that follows (a tone-modifier, not a real consonant)., as in ຫ້າ = haa (five) · ຫົກ = hok (six).

First phrases

The pocket phrases below are the ones learners reach for most often. Say each one out loud a few times before moving on.

How the Lao course is structured

The course has 16 short lessons that build on each other. Each one introduces a few new pieces and then asks you to construct sentences you have never seen, before revealing the answer:

1. Greetings — ສະບາຍດີ — sabaidee · sabaidee baw · laa kon
2. Being polite — khawp jai · kaluna · baw pen yang
3. Numbers 1–10 — nung · song · sam · sip
4. I want" — ຂ້ອຍຢາກ — khoy yaak · khoy baw yaak
5. Food & drink — nam · khao · ka-fae · saa
6. Getting around — bong dai · khwaa · saai · sa-thaa-nii
7. Questions & "is there…?" — mii · thao dai · baw
8. Family & people — khob-khua · mae · pho · phuean
9. Time & weather — muu nii · muu uen · a-kaat
10. Your name — ຂ້ອຍຊື່ — khoy suu · jao suu yang
11. Health & emergency — suay duay · thaan mo · baw khao jai
12. Tying it together — a capstone day out in Lao
13. Airport & tickets — ສະໜາມບິນ · ໜັງສືຜ່ານແດນ · ປີ້ · ປະຕູ
14. The taxi — ລົດແທັກຊີ · ໄປ · ໂຮງແຮມ · ຢຸດ
15. The hotel — ຈອງ · ຫ້ອງ · ກະແຈ · ຄືນ
16. Ask for help — ບໍ່ເຂົ້າໃຈ · ເວົ້າ ຊ້າ · ອັງກິດ

Inside the lessons

Here is how a few of the lessons explain the language, with worked examples and the word-by-word breakdown the course uses.

Greetings — ສະບາຍດີ

Key pieces: sabaidee · sabaidee baw · laa kon

The very first word you'll use: ສະບາຍດີ — sabaidee — hello (and goodbye). Say it out loud.

• ສະບາຍດີ (sa-baai-dee) — hello / goodbye
• ສະບາຍດີບໍ່ (sa-baai-dee baw) — How are you?
• ຂ້ອຍສະບາຍດີ (khoy sa-baai-dee) — I'm fine / well
• ລາກ່ອນ (laa kon) — goodbye Memory hook: ≈ Thai ลาก่อน.

To say “Hello, how are you?” in Lao: ສະບາຍດີ, ສະບາຍດີບໍ່ (sa-baai-dee, sa-baai-dee baw). Built from ສະບາຍດີ = hello; ສະບາຍດີບໍ່ = how are you?.

The little word ບໍ່ (baw) at the end turns a statement into a yes/no question. It's the same trick as Thai's ไหม (mai). It also means "no" or "not".

To say “I'm fine, thanks” in Lao: ຂ້ອຍສະບາຍດີ, ຂອບໃຈ (khoy sa-baai-dee, khawp jai). Built from ຂ້ອຍ = I; ສະບາຍດີ = well; ຂອບໃຈ = thank you.

Being polite

Key pieces: khawp jai · kaluna · baw pen yang

Thank you is ຂອບໃຈ — khawp jai. Literally "accept the heart", the same idea as Thai ขอบใจ.

• ຂອບໃຈ (khawp jai) — thank you Memory hook: ≈ Thai ขอบใจ.
• ຂອບໃຈຫຼາຍໆ (khawp jai lai lai) — thanks a lot
• ກະລຸນາ (ka-lu-naa) — please Memory hook: ≈ Thai กรุณາ.
• ບໍ່ເປັນຫຍັງ (baw pen yang) — no problem / you're welcome Memory hook: ≈ Thai ไม่เป็นไร.

To say “Thanks a lot!” in Lao: ຂອບໃຈຫຼາຍໆ! (khawp jai lai lai). Built from ຂອບໃຈ = thank you; ຫຼາຍໆ = a lot.

Please, before a request, is ກະລຸນາ — kaluna. It's a polished book-word borrowed from Pali/Sanskrit.

To say “A coffee, please” in Lao: ກາເຟ, ກະລຸນາ (ka-fae, ka-lu-naa). Built from ກາເຟ = coffee; ກະລຸນາ = please.

For "you're welcome", Lao people usually say ບໍ່ເປັນຫຍັງ — baw pen yang — "no problem". It's the country's favourite phrase.

Numbers 1–10

Key pieces: nung · song · sam · sip

Numbers are the fastest win. Listen and repeat: ໜຶ່ງ, ສອງ, ສາມ — one, two, three.

• ໜຶ່ງ (nung) — 1 Memory hook: ≈ Thai หนึ่ง.
• ສອງ (song) — 2 Memory hook: ≈ Thai สอง.
• ສາມ (sam) — 3 Memory hook: ≈ Thai สาม.
• ສີ່ (sii) — 4
• ຫ້າ (haa) — 5
• ສິບ (sip) — 10 Memory hook: ≈ Thai สิบ.

To say “Two coffees, please” in Lao: ກາເຟສອງ, ກະລຸນາ (ka-fae song, ka-lu-naa). Built from ກາເຟ = coffee; ສອງ = two; ກະລຸນາ = please.

To ask the price: ລາຄາເທົ່າໃດ? — laakha thao dai — "how much is it?". ລາຄາ (laakha) = price, ເທົ່າໃດ (thao dai) = how much.

To say “How much is it?” in Lao: ລາຄາເທົ່າໃດ? (laa-khaa thao dai). Built from ລາຄາ = price; ເທົ່າໃດ = how much.

To say “It's five thousand kip” in Lao: ຫ້າພັນກີບ (haa phan kip). Built from ຫ້າ = five; ພັນ = thousand; ກີບ = kip (Lao money).

I want" — ຂ້ອຍຢາກ

Key pieces: khoy yaak · khoy baw yaak

To order anything, say ຂ້ອຍຢາກ — khoy yaak — "I want". Word-for-word it's ຂ້ອຍ (I) + ຢາກ (want).

• ຂ້ອຍ (khoy) — I
• ຢາກ (yaak) — want
• ກາເຟ (ka-fae) — coffee
• ນ້ຳ (nam) — water

To say “I want a coffee” in Lao: ຂ້ອຍຢາກກາເຟ (khoy yaak ka-fae). Built from ຂ້ອຍ = I; ຢາກ = want; ກາເຟ = coffee.

To say “I want water” in Lao: ຂ້ອຍຢາກນ້ຳ (khoy yaak nam). Built from ຂ້ອຍ = I; ຢາກ = want; ນ້ຳ = water.

To say "no / not", put ບໍ່ (baw) before the verb: ຂ້ອຍບໍ່ຢາກ = I don't want.

To say “I don't want it” in Lao: ຂ້ອຍບໍ່ຢາກ (khoy baw yaak). Built from ຂ້ອຍ = I; ບໍ່ = not; ຢາກ = want.

Food & drink

Key pieces: nam · khao · ka-fae · saa

Eating in Laos? Key words: ເຂົ້າ (khao, rice — it also means "to eat") and ນ້ຳ (nam, water).

• ນ້ຳ (nam) — water Memory hook: ≈ Thai น้ำ.
• ເຂົ້າ (khao) — rice Memory hook: ≈ Thai ข้าว.
• ກາເຟ (ka-fae) — coffee Memory hook: ≈ Thai กาแฟ.
• ຊາ (saa) — tea Memory hook: ≈ Thai ชา.
• ເບຍ (bia) — beer Memory hook: ≈ Thai เบียร์.

To say “Water, please” in Lao: ນ້ຳ, ກະລຸນາ (nam, ka-lu-naa). Built from ນ້ຳ = water; ກະລຸນາ = please.

To say “I want coffee” in Lao: ຂ້ອຍຢາກກາເຟ (khoy yaak ka-fae). Built from ຂ້ອຍຢາກ = I want; ກາເຟ = coffee.

Delicious is ແຊບ — saep. Say it and you'll make the cook's whole day.

To say “Delicious!” in Lao: ແຊບ! (saep). Built from ແຊບ = delicious.

Getting around

Key pieces: bong dai · khwaa · saai · sa-thaa-nii

The most useful question in any town: ບ່ອນໃດ? — bong dai? — where? In full it's ຢູ່ໃສ? (yu sai?).

• ບ່ອນໃດ? (bong dai) — where?
• ຂວາ (khwaa) — right
• ຊ້າຍ (saai) — left
• ສະຖານີ (sa-thaa-nii) — the station Memory hook: ≈ Thai สถานี.
• ຫ້ອງນ້ຳ (hong nam) — the bathroom Memory hook: ≈ Thai ห้องน้ำ.

To say “Where is the station?” in Lao: ສະຖານີຢູ່ໃສ? (sa-thaa-nii yu sai). Built from ສະຖານີ = station; ຢູ່ໃສ = where is.

To say “Where is the bathroom?” in Lao: ຫ້ອງນ້ຳຢູ່ໃສ? (hong nam yu sai). Built from ຫ້ອງນ້ຳ = bathroom; ຢູ່ໃສ = where is.

ຂວາ (khwaa) = right, ຊ້າຍ (saai) = left. "Straight ahead" is ກົງ (kong).

To say “Go straight” in Lao: ໄປກົງ (pai kong). Built from ໄປ = go; ກົງ = straight.

Questions & "is there…?"

Key pieces: mii · thao dai · baw

The verb ມີ (mii) means "there is / have". Ask if something exists with ມີ...ບໍ່?

• ມີ (mii) — there is / have Memory hook: ≈ Thai มี.
• ບໍ່ມີ (baw mii) — there isn't / don't have
• ເທົ່າໃດ (thao dai) — how much / how many

To say “Do you have a table?” in Lao: ມີໂຕະບໍ່? (mii toh baw). Built from ມີ = have; ໂຕະ = table; ບໍ່ = question particle.

For prices, the phrase is ລາຄາເທົ່າໃດ? — laakha thao dai? — "how much is it?". We met it in numbers.

To say “How much is it?” in Lao: ລາຄາເທົ່າໃດ? (laa-khaa thao dai). Built from ລາຄາ = price; ເທົ່າໃດ = how much.

To say “Is there a bathroom?” in Lao: ມີຫ້ອງນ້ຳບໍ່? (mii hong nam baw). Built from ມີ = is there; ຫ້ອງນ້ຳ = bathroom; ບໍ່ = question particle.

Family & people

Key pieces: khob-khua · mae · pho · phuean

Family words: ຄອບຄົວ (khob-khua, family), ແມ່ (mae, mother), ພໍ່ (pho, father).

• ຄອບຄົວ (khob-khua) — family Memory hook: ≈ Thai ครอบครัว.
• ແມ່ (mae) — mother
• ພໍ່ (pho) — father
• ອ້າຍ (aai) — older brother
• ເອື້ອຍ (euai) — older sister
• ເພື່ອນ (phuean) — friend Memory hook: ≈ Thai เพื่อน.

To say “I have a friend” in Lao: ຂ້ອຍມີເພື່ອນ (khoy mii phuean). Built from ຂ້ອຍ = I; ມີ = have; ເພື່ອນ = friend.

ມີ (mii) = "have". So ຂ້ອຍມີ... = "I have...". Drop a number after a noun: ຂ້ອຍມີເພື່ອນສອງ = I have two friends.

To say “I have a family” in Lao: ຂ້ອຍມີຄອບຄົວ (khoy mii khob-khua). Built from ຂ້ອຍ = I; ມີ = have; ຄອບຄົວ = family.

Time & weather

Key pieces: muu nii · muu uen · a-kaat

Today is ມື້ນີ້ (muu nii), tomorrow is ມື້ອື່ນ (muu uen).

• ມື້ນີ້ (muu nii) — today
• ມື້ອື່ນ (muu uen) — tomorrow
• ອາກາດ (a-kaat) — weather Memory hook: ≈ Thai อากาศ.
• ຝົນ (fon) — rain Memory hook: ≈ Thai ฝน.

To say “See you tomorrow” in Lao: ພົບກັນມື້ອື່ນ (phop kan muu uen). Built from ພົບກັນ = see each other; ມື້ອື່ນ = tomorrow.

Ask about the weather: ອາກາດເປັນແນວໃດ? — a-kaat pen naew dai? — "how's the weather?".

To say “It's hot” in Lao: ອາກາດຮ້ອນ (a-kaat hon). Built from ອາກາດ = weather; ຮ້ອນ = hot.

Hot is ຮ້ອນ (hon), cold is ເຢັນ (yen).

Your name — ຂ້ອຍຊື່

Key pieces: khoy suu · jao suu yang

Introduce yourself: ຂ້ອຍຊື່… — khoy suu… — "my name is…". ຊື່ (suu) = name.

To say “My name is Alex” in Lao: ຂ້ອຍຊື່ Alex (khoy suu Alex). Built from ຂ້ອຍ = I; ຊື່ = name; Alex = your name.

To ask someone's name: ເຈົ້າຊື່ຫຍັງ? — jao suu yang? — "what's your name?". ເຈົ້າ (jao) = you, ຫຍັງ (yang) = what.

To say “What's your name?” in Lao: ເຈົ້າຊື່ຫຍັງ? (jao suu yang). Built from ເຈົ້າ = you; ຊື່ = name; ຫຍັງ = what.

ເຈົ້າ (jao) is the friendly "you" for a peer or friend. Lao often makes things polite through the right pronoun and a warm tone rather than extra words.

To say “Nice to meet you” in Lao: ຍິນດີທີ່ໄດ້ຮູ້ຈັກ (nyin dii thii dai hu-jak). Built from ຍິນດີ = glad; ຮູ້ຈັກ = to know (someone).

Health & emergency

Key pieces: suay duay · thaan mo · baw khao jai

If you need help, shout ຊ່ວຍ! — suay! — help! Or the fuller ຊ່ວຍດ້ວຍ! (suay duay!).

• ຊ່ວຍດ້ວຍ! (suay duay) — help!
• ທ່ານຫມໍ (thaan mo) — the doctor Memory hook: ≈ Thai หมอ.
• ຫ້ອງນ້ຳ (hong nam) — the bathroom Memory hook: ≈ Thai ห้องน้ำ.
• ບໍ່ເຂົ້າໃຈ (baw khao jai) — I don't understand Memory hook: ≈ Thai ไม่เข้าใจ.

To say “Help!” in Lao: ຊ່ວຍດ້ວຍ! (suay duay). Built from ຊ່ວຍ = help; ດ້ວຍ = please (softener).

To say “I don't understand” in Lao: ຂ້ອຍບໍ່ເຂົ້າໃຈ (khoy baw khao jai). Built from ຂ້ອຍ = I; ບໍ່ = not; ເຂົ້າໃຈ = understand.

To say you need help: ຂ້ອຍຕ້ອງການຄວາມຊ່ວຍເຫຼືອ — khoy tong kaan khuaam suay luea — "I need help".

Tying it together

Key pieces: a capstone day out in Lao

Great — you've built a real toolbox. This capstone uses only words you've met. Build each line yourself before revealing.

To say “Hello, how are you?” in Lao: ສະບາຍດີ, ສະບາຍດີບໍ່ (sa-baai-dee, sa-baai-dee baw). Built from ສະບາຍດີ = hello; ສະບາຍດີບໍ່ = how are you?.

To say “I want water, please” in Lao: ຂ້ອຍຢາກນ້ຳ, ກະລຸນາ (khoy yaak nam, ka-lu-naa). Built from ຂ້ອຍຢາກ = I want; ນ້ຳ = water; ກະລຸນາ = please.

To say “Where is the station?” in Lao: ສະຖານີຢູ່ໃສ? (sa-thaa-nii yu sai). Built from ສະຖານີ = station; ຢູ່ໃສ = where is.

To say “How much is it?” in Lao: ລາຄາເທົ່າໃດ? (laa-khaa thao dai). Built from ລາຄາ = price; ເທົ່າໃດ = how much.

Airport & tickets

Key pieces: ສະໜາມບິນ · ໜັງສືຜ່ານແດນ · ປີ້ · ປະຕູ

You have landed. The building is the ສະໜາມບິນ — sa-naam bin. Your document is a ໜັງສືຜ່ານແດນ .

• ສະໜາມບິນ (sa-naam bin) — airport
• ໜັງສືຜ່ານແດນ (nang-seu phan daen) — passport
• ປີ້ (pii) — ticket
• ປະຕູ (pa-tuu) — gate / door

To say “Where is the airport?” in Lao: ສະໜາມບິນຢູ່ໃສ? (sa-naam bin yu sai). Built from ສະໜາມບິນ = airport; ຢູ່ໃສ = where is.

To say “Here is my passport” in Lao: ນີ້ໜັງສືຜ່ານແດນຂອງຂ້ອຍ (nii nang-seu phan daen khong khoy). Built from ນີ້ = this; ໜັງສືຜ່ານແດນ = passport; ຂອງຂ້ອຍ = of mine.

To say “A ticket, please” in Lao: ປີ້, ກະລຸນາ (pii, ka-lu-naa). Built from ປີ້ = ticket; ກະລຸນາ = please.

To say “Where is the gate?” in Lao: ປະຕູຢູ່ໃສ? (pa-tuu yu sai). Built from ປະຕູ = gate; ຢູ່ໃສ = where is.

The taxi

Key pieces: ລົດແທັກຊີ · ໄປ · ໂຮງແຮມ · ຢຸດ

The driver is waiting. ລົດແທັກຊີ — lot taek-sii. Tell them ໄປໂຮງແຮມ .

• ລົດແທັກຊີ (lot taek-sii) — taxi
• ຂັບ (khap) — driver / to drive
• ຂ້ອຍຢາກໄປ (khoy yaak pai) — I want to go
• ຢຸດທີ່ນີ້ (yut thii nii) — stop here

To say “Taxi, please” in Lao: ລົດແທັກຊີ, ກະລຸນາ (lot taek-sii, ka-lu-naa). Built from ລົດແທັກຊີ = taxi; ກະລຸນາ = please.

To say “I want to go to the hotel” in Lao: ຂ້ອຍຢາກໄປໂຮງແຮມ (khoy yaak pai hong haem). Built from ຂ້ອຍຢາກ = I want; ໄປ = to go; ໂຮງແຮມ = hotel.

To say “Stop here, please” in Lao: ຢຸດທີ່ນີ້, ກະລຸນາ (yut thii nii, ka-lu-naa). Built from ຢຸດ = stop; ທີ່ນີ້ = here; ກະລຸນາ = please.

To say “How much is it?” in Lao: ລາຄາເທົ່າໃດ? (laa-khaa thao dai). Built from ລາຄາ = price; ເທົ່າໃດ = how much.

The hotel

Key pieces: ຈອງ · ຫ້ອງ · ກະແຈ · ຄືນ

At the desk: ຂ້ອຍຈອງໄວ້ແລ້ວ — I have a reservation.

• ໂຮງແຮມ (hong haem) — hotel
• ຈອງ (jawng) — reservation / to book
• ຫ້ອງ (hong) — room
• ກະແຈ (ka-jae) — key
• ໜຶ່ງຄືນ (nung kheun) — one night

To say “I have a reservation” in Lao: ຂ້ອຍຈອງໄວ້ແລ້ວ (khoy jawng wai laew). Built from ຂ້ອຍ = I; ຈອງໄວ້ = booked; ແລ້ວ = already.

To say “A room for one night, please” in Lao: ຫ້ອງໜຶ່ງຄືນ, ກະລຸນາ (hong nung kheun, ka-lu-naa). Built from ຫ້ອງ = room; ໜຶ່ງຄືນ = one night; ກະລຸນາ = please.

To say “The key, please” in Lao: ກະແຈ, ກະລຸນາ (ka-jae, ka-lu-naa). Built from ກະແຈ = key; ກະລຸນາ = please.

To say “Where is my room?” in Lao: ຫ້ອງຂອງຂ້ອຍຢູ່ໃສ? (hong khong khoy yu sai). Built from ຫ້ອງຂອງຂ້ອຍ = my room; ຢູ່ໃສ = where is.

Ask for help

Key pieces: ບໍ່ເຂົ້າໃຈ · ເວົ້າ ຊ້າ · ອັງກິດ

When Lao is too fast: ເວົ້າຊ້າໆ, ກະລຸນາ — speak slowly, please.

• ເວົ້າຊ້າໆ (wao saa saa) — speak slowly
• ອີກຄັ້ງ (eek khang) — again
• ພາສາອັງກິດ (phaa-saa ang-kit) — English
• ຊ່ວຍໄດ້ບໍ່? (suay dai baw) — can you help?

To say “I don't understand” in Lao: ຂ້ອຍບໍ່ເຂົ້າໃຈ (khoy baw khao jai). Built from ຂ້ອຍ = I; ບໍ່ = not; ເຂົ້າໃຈ = understand.

To say “Speak slowly, please” in Lao: ເວົ້າຊ້າໆ, ກະລຸນາ (wao saa saa, ka-lu-naa). Built from ເວົ້າ = speak; ຊ້າໆ = slowly; ກະລຸນາ = please.

To say “Can you help me?” in Lao: ຊ່ວຍຂ້ອຍໄດ້ບໍ່? (suay khoy dai baw). Built from ຊ່ວຍ = help; ຂ້ອຍ = me; ໄດ້ບໍ່ = can you?.

To say “Do you speak English?” in Lao: ເຈົ້າເວົ້າພາສາອັງກິດບໍ່? (jao wao phaa-saa ang-kit baw). Built from ເຈົ້າ = you; ເວົ້າ = speak; ພາສາອັງກິດ = English; ບໍ່ = question.

Culture and etiquette

Sticky rice is the heart

Lao meals centre on ເຂົ້າໜຽວ (khao niaw) — sticky rice, pinched into little balls and dipped into shared dishes. It's served in a woven basket and eaten with the hands. Most food words line up with Thai, so your Thai helps here too.

The nop greeting

Like Thailand, Laos greets with the ນັບ (nap) — hands pressed together in a prayer-like gesture, often with a small bow. You don't have to do it, but returning one is warm and respectful.

"Sabai sabai" & "baw pen yang"

Lao culture is famously relaxed. ສະບາຍໆ (sabai sabai) means "easy-going / chilled", and ບໍ່ເປັນຫຍັງ (baw pen yang = "no problem") is the national catchphrase. Take it slow — that's part of the charm.

Lao ≈ Thai — your head start

Lao and Thai are close cousins. A Thai speaker learns to read Lao quickly, and a huge amount of everyday vocabulary is the same: ນ້ຳ/น้ำ (water), ເຂົ້າ/ข้าว (rice), ກາເຟ/กาแฟ (coffee), ສະຖານີ/สถานี (station). Many words are near-identical.

Temples & respect

Laos, like Thailand, is Theravada Buddhist. When you visit a ວັດ (vat, temple), dress modestly, remove your shoes, and cover your shoulders — the same etiquette as Thai wats. A quiet, respectful demeanour goes a long way.

Coffee & shared meals

ກາເຟ (kafe) and ຊາ (saa) are everywhere — from street stalls to homes with home-roasted beans. Meals are shared, with dishes laid in the centre for everyone. Accepting a drink with ຂອບໃຈ (khawp jai) and a smile is the polite move.

Example dialogues

At a café

At the station

At a restaurant

Written by the LanguagePath editorial team from our own course material. Pronunciation guides are approximate English respellings; tap any phrase in the app above to hear it. Native-speaker review of every course is ongoing — tell us if you spot an error.