Essential Lao phrases

The words that make your first weeks in Vientiane smoother — with pronunciation you can actually say.

Greetings

ສະບາຍດີ
sa-bai-dee
Hello
ຂອບໃຈ
khop chai
Thank you
ຂອບໃຈຫຼາຍໆ
khop chai lai lai
Thank you very much

Social

ບໍ່ເປັນຫຍັງ
bo pen nyang
It's nothing / no worries

Daily life

ຂໍໂທດ
kho thot
Sorry / excuse me
ເທົ່າໃດ
thao dai
How much?
ແພງເກີນໄປ
phaeng koen pai
Too expensive
ຫ້ອງນ້ຳຢູ່ໃສ
hong nam yu sai
Where is the toilet?

Food

ແຊບ
saep
Delicious
ຄິດເງິນແດ່
khit ngeun dae
The bill, please

Emergency

ຊ່ວຍແດ່
suay dae
Help!

Some of this may be out of date. Spotted something inaccurate? Help us keep it right for the next newcomer.

Actually learn to speak Vientiane’s language

Globe Quest drills these with spaced repetition and a patient AI tutor you can practice with by voice — a few minutes a day. Free to start.