English-Lao Dictionary
Browse common English words and their Lao translations, with parts of speech and example sentences. Use this dictionary to look up everyday vocabulary or as a starting point for learning Lao.
Translate full sentences into LaoAbout Lao
Lao is the official language of Laos, belonging to the Tai-Kadai language family. It is closely related to Thai and shares much vocabulary. Lao uses its own script derived from the Khmer script. It is a tonal language with six tones depending on the dialect.
Cultural Note
Lao is closely related to Thai. It uses its own script and has six tones. The language has many Sanskrit and Pali loanwords.
Browse common Lao vocabulary
| Word | Part of speech | Translation | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pronouns | |||
| I | pron. | ຂ້ອຍ | I am very tired today. ຂ້ອຍ ເມື່ອຍ ຫຼາຍ ໃນ ມື້ນີ້. |
| you | pron. | ເຈົ້າ | You are my good friend. ເຈົ້າ ແມ່ນ ໝູ່ ທີ່ດີ ຂອງ ຂ້ອຍ. |
| he | pron. | ລາວ | He works in the city. ລາວ ເຮັດວຽກ ຢູ່ ໃນ ເມືອງ. |
| we | pron. | ພວກເຮົາ | We live near the river. ພວກເຮົາ ອາໄສ ຢູ່ ໃກ້ ແມ່ນ້ຳ. |
| they | pron. | ພວກເຂົາ | They are at school now. ພວກເຂົາ ຢູ່ ໂຮງຮຽນ ຕອນນີ້. |
| Question Words | |||
| what | int. | ຫຍັງ | What do you want? ເຈົ້າ ຕ້ອງການ ຫຍັງ? |
| where | int. | ຢູ່ໃສ | Where do you live? ເຈົ້າ ຢູ່ໃສ? |
| who | int. | ໃຜ | Who is that man? ຊາຍ ຄົນນັ້ນ ແມ່ນ ໃຜ? |
| Verbs | |||
| to go | v. | ໄປ | They go to school early. ພວກເຂົາ ໄປ ໂຮງຮຽນ ແຕ່ ເຊົ້າ. |
| to eat | v. | ກິນ | The children eat rice together. ເດັກນ້ອຍ ກິນ ເຂົ້າ ນຳກັນ. |
| to love | v. | ຮັກ | Parents love their children. ພໍ່ແມ່ ຮັກ ລູກ ຂອງ ເຂົາ. |
| Nouns | |||
| water | n. | ນ້ຳ | Water is important. ນ້ຳ ສຳຄັນ ຕໍ່ ຊີວິດ. |
| rice | n. | ເຂົ້າ | Rice is our main food. ເຂົ້າ ແມ່ນ ອາຫານຫຼັກ. |
| Adjectives | |||
| good | adj. | ດີ | This food is very good. ອາຫານ ນີ້ ດີ ຫຼາຍ. |
| Conjunctions | |||
| and | conj. | ແລະ | Tea and coffee are ready. ຊາ ແລະ ກາເຟ ພ້ອມ ແລ້ວ. |
| Interjections | |||
| yes | interj. | ແມ່ນ | Yes, I understand now. ແມ່ນ, ຂ້ອຍ ເຂົ້າໃຈ ແລ້ວ. |
| no | interj. | ບໍ່ | No, I do not know. ບໍ່, ຂ້ອຍ ບໍ່ ຮູ້. |
How It Works
Type an English word above to find its Lao translation.
Common Uses
- •Learning Lao
- •Travel to Laos
- •Reference for Lao classes
FAQ
Is this Lao-English dictionary free?
Yes, completely free.