Language/Lao/Vocabulary/Basic-Greetings

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Lao → Vocabulary → 0 to A1 Course → Greetings and Introductions → Basic Greetings

Introduction

In this lesson, we will begin by exploring the basics of greetings and introductions in Lao. Learning how to greet someone and introduce yourself is essential in any language, as it sets the tone for communication and shows respect and politeness. Mastering the basic greetings in Lao will allow you to connect with native speakers, make new friends, and navigate social situations with ease. By the end of this lesson, you will be able to confidently say hello, goodbye, and use other common greetings in Lao. Let's get started!

Greetings in Lao

In Lao culture, greetings play an important role in daily interactions. They reflect the politeness and respect that is deeply ingrained in Lao society. Lao people are known for their warm and welcoming nature, and a simple greeting can go a long way in building relationships. Here are some common greetings in Lao:

1. Sabaidee (ສະບາຍດີ)

Sabaidee is the most common and widely used greeting in Lao. It is used to say hello and can be used at any time of the day. Sabaidee is a versatile greeting that can be used in both formal and informal settings. It is also used to ask "how are you?" and can be followed by the question "sabaidee baw?" which means "how are you?". Let's see how it's pronounced:

Lao	Pronunciation	English
ສະບາຍດີ	sà-baai-dii	hello

2. Sabaidee mai (ສະບາຍດີໃດ)

Sabaidee mai is another common greeting in Lao, which means "how are you?". It is a friendly and polite way to ask someone about their well-being. This greeting is used when you want to show genuine interest in the other person's welfare. Let's see how it's pronounced:

Lao	Pronunciation	English
ສະບາຍດີໃດ	sà-baai-dii mâi	how are you?

3. Sabaidee bor (ສະບາຍດີບໍ່)

Sabaidee bor is another variation of the greeting "how are you?" in Lao. It is used to ask someone if they are well or fine. This greeting is often used in a more casual setting among friends and acquaintances. Let's see how it's pronounced:

Lao	Pronunciation	English
ສະບາຍດີບໍ່	sà-baai-dii bòr	how are you?

4. Sabaidee pen yang (ສະບາຍດີເປັນຍັງ)

Sabaidee pen yang is a polite greeting used to ask someone how they have been lately. It shows a genuine interest in the well-being of the other person. This greeting is often used when you haven't seen someone for a while and want to catch up with them. Let's see how it's pronounced:

Lao	Pronunciation	English
ສະບາຍດີເປັນຍັງ	sà-baai-dii pen yang	how have you been?

5. Sabaidee lai lai (ສະບາຍດີລາຍລາຍ)

Sabaidee lai lai is a more formal and polite way to greet someone in Lao. It is used to show extra respect and is often used when greeting elders or people of higher status. This greeting conveys a sense of humility and politeness. Let's see how it's pronounced:

Lao	Pronunciation	English
ສະບາຍດີລາຍລາຍ	sà-baai-dii lai lai	hello (very polite)

Cultural Insights

Greetings in Lao are more than just words. They reflect the values and traditions of Lao culture. Here are some cultural insights related to greetings in Lao:

1. Bowing: When greeting someone in Lao, it is common to place your hands together in a prayer-like gesture and slightly bow your head. This is a sign of respect and is often accompanied by the greeting "sabaidee".

2. Personal Space: Lao people generally value personal space and physical contact is not common during greetings. Handshakes are becoming more common, especially in business settings, but it is always best to wait for the other person to initiate physical contact.

3. Titles and Hierarchy: Lao society has a hierarchical structure, and it is common to use titles when addressing someone of higher status. Elders are respected and referred to with terms like "nai" (Mr.) or "nang" (Mrs./Miss). It is important to use the appropriate title when greeting someone.

4. Smile: Lao people are known for their warm and friendly smiles. Smiling is a common way to greet someone and show friendliness and approachability.

5. Greetings in Everyday Life: Greetings are not only used when meeting someone for the first time or in formal settings. In Lao culture, it is common to greet people you encounter throughout the day, such as neighbors, vendors, or co-workers. This helps to foster a sense of community and connection.

Practice Exercises

Now it's time to practice what you've learned! Here are some exercises to help you reinforce your understanding of basic greetings in Lao:

Exercise 1: Match the Greetings Match the Lao greetings on the left with their English translations on the right.

Lao	English Translation
ສະບາຍດີ	a. how are you?
ສະບາຍດີໃດ	b. hello
ສະບາຍດີບໍ່	c. how have you been?
ສະບາຍດີເປັນຍັງ	d. hello (very polite)
ສະບາຍດີລາຍລາຍ	e. how are you?

Solution: a-e, b-a, c-b, d-d, e-c

Exercise 2: Create Your Own Conversations Create a short conversation using the greetings you've learned. Imagine you are meeting a Lao friend for the first time. Use at least three different greetings and responses.

Solution: Person A: Sabaidee! Person B: Sabaidee! Sabaidee pen yang? Person A: Sabaidee lai lai! Sabaidee mai? Person B: Sabaidee bor! Sabaidee lai lai?

Conclusion

Congratulations! You have completed the lesson on basic greetings in Lao. You have learned how to say hello, goodbye, and ask about someone's well-being in Lao. Remember to practice these greetings in real-life situations to become more comfortable and confident. Greetings are an important part of Lao culture and by using them, you will be able to connect with native speakers and show respect and politeness. In the next lesson, we will continue exploring greetings and introductions by learning how to introduce yourself and ask for someone's name. Sôk dii! (Goodbye!)

Table of Contents - Lao Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

  ---

Greetings and Introductions

• Basic Greetings
• Introducing Yourself

  ---

Pronouns and Verb to be

• Personal Pronouns
• Verb to be

  ---

Numbers and Time

• Numbers 1-10
• Telling Time

  ---

Nouns and Plurals

• Nouns
• Plurals

  ---

Family and Relationships

• Family Members
• Relationships

  ---

Adjectives and Adverbs

• Adjectives
• Adverbs

  ---

Food and Drinks

• Common Foods
• Ordering at a Restaurant

  ---

Lao Customs and Etiquette

• Greetings and Social Etiquette
• Festivals and Celebrations

  ---

Questions and Negations

• Question Words
• Negations

  ---

Travel and Transportation

• Modes of Transportation
• Asking for Directions

  ---

Prepositions and Conjunctions

• Prepositions
• Conjunctions

  ---

Shopping and Money

• Shopping Vocabulary
• Money and Currency

  ---

Lao Food and Dining

• Traditional Lao Dishes
• Eating Customs and Etiquette

  ---

Tenses and Verb Conjugation

• Present Tense
• Past Tense

  ---

Weather and Seasons

• Weather Vocabulary
• Seasons

  ---

Comparatives and Superlatives

• Comparatives
• Superlatives

  ---

Hobbies and Interests

• Common Hobbies
• Sports and Activities

  ---

Lao Music and Arts

• Traditional Music
• Arts and Crafts

Sources

• 21 Essential Phrases You'll Need in Laos
• Useful Words And Phrases In Lao: For 2022 And Onwards! - Ling App
• 50 Essential Lao words and phrases for travelers: your basic Lao ...

Other Lessons

• Seasons
• Food
• Clothes
• Numbers 1 10
• Drinks
• Count to 10
• Introducing Yourself
• Counting and Numbers
• How to Say Hello and Greetings

Next Lesson — Introducing Yourself ▶️