Language/Lao/Vocabulary/Common-Foods

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Lao → Vocabulary → 0 to A1 Course → Food and Drinks → Common Foods

Introduction

In this lesson, we will focus on learning words for common Lao foods and how to talk about your likes and dislikes. Food is an essential part of any culture, and by learning about Lao cuisine, you will not only expand your vocabulary but also gain insight into Lao culture and traditions. We will cover a wide range of food items, from staple dishes to popular snacks and desserts. By the end of this lesson, you will be able to confidently discuss Lao food and express your preferences in Lao. Let's get started!

Vocabulary

Let's begin by learning some common Lao food vocabulary. Below is a table with Lao words, their pronunciation, and English translations.

Lao	Pronunciation	English
ເຂົ້າສາມເຄື່ອງ	khao sam keo	rice
ເຂົ້າສາມຫວານ	khao sam wan	fried rice
ໄຂ່ດີ	kai di	chicken
ໄຂ່ເກີດ	kai gai	grilled chicken
ປາ	pa	fish
ເຂົ້າປາ	khao pa	steamed fish
ລາບ	lap	beef
ວັດສີໄຄ	vat siwai	beef noodles
ລາບເກີດ	lap gai	minced chicken
ສັດຕູ	sat thu	pork
ພັນຂາ	phan kha	pork belly
ເຂົ້າພັນຂາ	khao phan kha	grilled pork belly
ປີ້	bai	vegetables
ເຂົ້າປີ້	khao bai	stir-fried vegetables
ເຂົ້າຫມາກ	khao mak	garlic
ຜັກເຂົ້າ	pak khao	cabbage
ຕຳໝາກ	tam mak	papaya salad
ຄິດເຂົ້າ	kid khao	soup
ນ້ຳຕານ	nam than	soup with meat
ດີດເຂົ້າ	di di khao	dessert
ດີດເຂົ້າຂາວ	di di khao khao	sticky rice dessert

Now that we have learned some basic food vocabulary, let's move on to discussing likes and dislikes.

Expressing Likes and Dislikes

When it comes to expressing your likes and dislikes in Lao, you can use the following phrases:

1. ຂ້ອຍມັກໂດຍສະຖານທີ່ເກີດ. (khoy mak doy satai kaet) - I like it a lot. 2. ຂ້ອຍມັກເຮັດບັນທີ່ເກີດ. (khoy mak het ban satai kaet) - I really like it. 3. ຂ້ອຍມັກໂດຍທີ່ບໍ່ເກີດ. (khoy mak doy thi baw kaet) - I don't like it. 4. ຂ້ອຍມັກເຮັດບັນທີ່ບໍ່ເກີດ. (khoy mak het ban satai thi baw kaet) - I really don't like it.

For example: - ຂ້ອຍມັກໂດຍສະຖານທີ່ເກີດ. (khoy mak doy satai kaet) - I like it a lot. - ຂ້ອຍມັກເຮັດບັນທີ່ເກີດ. (khoy mak het ban satai kaet) - I really like it. - ຂ້ອຍມັກໂດຍທີ່ບໍ່ເກີດ. (khoy mak doy thi baw kaet) - I don't like it. - ຂ້ອຍມັກເຮັດບັນທີ່ບໍ່ເກີດ. (khoy mak het ban satai thi baw kaet) - I really don't like it.

Now let's practice using these phrases in context.

Practice

1. Complete the following sentences with the appropriate food vocabulary and preference phrase:

- ຂ້ອຍມັກໂດຍທີ່ເກີດ, ຂ້ອຍມັກເຮັດບັນທີ່ເກີດ. (khoy mak doy thi baw kaet, khoy mak het ban satai kaet.) - I don't like fish, I really like chicken.

2. Match the food item with the appropriate preference phrase:

- ຂ້ອຍມັກເກີດ, ເຂົ້າພັນຂາ - ຂ້ອຍມັກໂດຍສະຖານທີ່ເກີດ, ໄຂ່ເກີດ - ຂ້ອຍມັກເຮັດບັນທີ່ເກີດ, ວັດສີໄຄ

a) I don't like pork belly, I really like beef b) I like chicken, I really like grilled chicken c) I like fish, I really like papaya salad

Answers: - ຂ້ອຍມັກເກີດ, ເຂົ້າພັນຂາ (khoy mak kaet, khao phan kha) - I don't like pork belly, I really like beef - ຂ້ອຍມັກໂດຍສະຖານທີ່ເກີດ, ໄຂ່ເກີດ (khoy mak doy satai kaet, kai gai) - I like chicken, I really like grilled chicken - ຂ້ອຍມັກເຮັດບັນທີ່ເກີດ, ວັດສີໄຄ (khoy mak het ban satai kaet, vat siwai) - I don't like pork belly, I really like beef noodles

Now that you have practiced expressing your likes and dislikes, let's explore some interesting cultural facts about Lao food.

Cultural Insights

Lao cuisine is known for its bold flavors and unique combinations of ingredients. Sticky rice, known as "khao niao," is a staple in Lao cuisine and is often eaten with various dishes. It is traditionally eaten with the hands, forming small balls that are dipped into accompanying dishes. This communal style of eating reflects the importance of sharing and togetherness in Lao culture.

Lao cuisine also incorporates a variety of herbs and spices, such as lemongrass, galangal, and kaffir lime leaves, which lend a fragrant and refreshing taste to dishes. Many Lao dishes also feature a balance of flavors, including salty, spicy, sour, and sweet elements. The popular dish "tam mak hoong," or papaya salad, is a perfect example of this balance, combining shredded unripe papaya with chili, lime juice, fish sauce, and palm sugar.

Another unique aspect of Lao food culture is the concept of "kin khao, kin khao" which translates to "eat rice, eat rice." This phrase is used as a common greeting in Lao culture and reflects the importance of rice in daily life. Rice is not only a staple food but also holds symbolic significance, representing prosperity, fertility, and abundance.

Lao cuisine is also influenced by neighboring countries such as Thailand, Vietnam, and China. This influence can be seen in dishes like "larb," a minced meat salad, which has variations in different regions. In the northern parts of Laos, "larb" is often made with pork or chicken, while in the southern parts, it is more commonly made with beef or fish.

Now that you have learned about the vocabulary and cultural aspects of Lao food, let's move on to the next section for some interactive exercises.

Exercises

1. Match the Lao food item with its English translation:

a) ເຂົ້າສາມເຄື່ອງ b) ເຂົ້າປາ c) ລາບ d) ຄິດເຂົ້າ

1. Fried rice 2. Fish 3. Beef 4. Soup

Answer: a) Fried rice b) Fish c) Beef d) Soup

2. Fill in the blanks with the appropriate food vocabulary:

a) ຂ້ອຍມັກໂດຍທີ່ເກີດ, ຂ້ອຍມັກເຮັດບັນທີ່ເກີດ. (khoy mak doy thi baw kaet, khoy mak het ban satai kaet.) - I don't like ____, I really like ____.

Answer: a) ຂ້ອຍມັກໂດຍທີ່ເກີດ, ຂ້ອຍມັກເຮັດບັນທີ່ເກີດ. (khoy mak doy thi baw kaet, khoy mak het ban satai kaet.) - I don't like fish, I really like chicken.

Conclusion

Congratulations! You have learned a variety of common Lao food vocabulary and how to express your likes and dislikes. You have also gained insight into Lao food culture and traditions. Keep practicing and exploring new Lao dishes to expand your knowledge and appreciation of Lao cuisine. Next, we will delve into the vocabulary for ordering food and drinks at a restaurant in Lao. Stay tuned!

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

• Food Ingredients In Lao: #1 Easy Vocabulary Guide - Ling App
• Laos Food - 12 of The Best Laotian Dishes You Need to Eat
• Laos: The most important words | Evaneos

Other Lessons

• Shopping Vocabulary
• House Home
• Health
• Count to 10
• Food
• Telling Time
• Ordering at a Restaurant
• Basic Survival Word and Phrases
• Days of the week
• Medecine

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