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Lao Street talk Phrases

Swear words, slang, colorful expressions. 12+ essential phrases with phonetic pronunciation and 4 full conversation flows for street talk situations in Laos.

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Essential Street talk Phrases in Lao

Sorted by usefulness. Phonetic pronunciation included.

เบšเปเปˆเป€เบ›เบฑเบ™เบซเบเบฑเบ‡

baw-pen-nyahng

No problem / It's nothing / Don't worry

เป€เบšเบเบฅเบฒเบง

BEE-a-lao

Beerlao (national beer)

เบกเปˆเบงเบ™

moo-AN

Fun / Enjoyable / Great vibes

เบ„เบฑเบเบซเบผเบฒเบ

KHAK-lye

Awesome / Amazing / So cool!

เบเบปเบ

nyohk

Cheers! / Raise your glass! (toast)

เบชเบฐเบšเบฒเบ

sa-BAI

Chill / Relaxed / All good

เป€เบ”

day

Hey / Right / Come on (affirmative particle)

เปเบžเบ‡เบซเบผเบฒเบ

PEHNG-lai

Way too expensive!

เป€เบ›เบตเปˆเบ™

puhn

Buddy / Mate / Bro (casual)

เบฎเป‰เบฒเบ™เป€เบšเบ

hahn-BEE-a

Beer shop / Open-air bar

เบšเบฑเบ

bahk

Dude / Guy (informal male title)

เบ•เบณเปเบเป‰เบง

tahm-keh-oh

Clink glasses / Hit glasses

...and 62 more street talk phrases in the app.

Sample: Chatting with people on the street

A real street talk conversation in Lao -- both sides of the interaction.

Them

A local greets you and asks where you're from

เป„เบ›เบ•เบฒเบกเบชเบฐเบ”เบงเบ เป€เบ”

pie tahm sadooak day

Just wandering around, no plan

You

เบกเบฒเบˆเบฒเบ เบเบฃเบฑเปˆเบ‡เป€เบชเบ”! เบฎเบนเป‰ เบเบฃเบฑเปˆเบ‡ เบšเป

mah chahk fah-lahng set hoo fah-lahng baw

I'm from France! Do you know France?

Them

The person recognizes France enthusiastically

เป€เบซเบฑเบ™เบ”เบต เป€เบ”! เป„เบ›เบ”เปˆเบงเบ™

hehn-DEE day pie dooan

I'm down! Let's go quick

You

เบญเบฒเบซเบฒเบ™เบ—เบตเปˆเบ™เบตเป‰ เปเบŠเบš เบเบงเปˆเบฒ เบเบฃเบฑเปˆเบ‡ เป€เบฅเบตเบ

ah-hahn thee nee sep kwah fah-lahng luh-ee

The food here is so much better than France!

Them

The person is impressed you speak Lao

เป€เบซเบฑเบ™เบ”เบต เป€เบ”, เบกเบฒ เบเบดเบ™ เบ™เบณเบเบฑเบ™

hehn-DEE day mah kin nahm-kahn

Come, sit down! Have some food!

You

เปœเป‰เบญเบเปœเบถเปˆเบ‡ เป€เบ”! เบเบฑเบ‡เบฎเบฝเบ™ เบขเบนเปˆ

noy nung day yahng hee-ahn yoo

Just a little! But I'm trying!

4 street talk conversations available in the app.

FAQ

What happens when they answer back at the street talk in Laos?

That's the hard part -- and exactly what TalkThere prepares you for. Each of the 4 street talk conversations shows you the full back-and-forth: what you say, what they'll likely respond, and how to keep going. You won't freeze when they answer in Lao.

Is this enough to get by at a street talk in Laos?

Yes. These are the 12+ phrases that actually come up in real street talk interactions -- not textbook phrases. Sorted by how often you'll need them, with pronunciation you can read at a glance.

Do I need to learn Lao script to use this?

No. Every Lao phrase has phonetic pronunciation written in plain English. You read it like English and say it out loud. The script is there for reference, but you don't need it.

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