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Lao Transport Phrases
Taxis, directions, getting around. 12+ essential phrases with phonetic pronunciation and 7 full conversation flows for transport situations in Laos.
Start learning freeEssential Transport Phrases in Lao
Sorted by usefulness. Phonetic pronunciation included.
เปเบ
pie
Go / To go
เปเบเปเบช
pie-sai
Where are you going?
เบขเบธเบเบเบตเป
yoot-nee
Stop here
เบเบธเบเป
took-took
Tuk-tuk (3-wheel taxi)
เบซเบฒเปเบช
hah-sai
Looking for... / Where is...?
เบขเบธเบ
yoot
Stop
เปเบช
sai
Where?
เบฅเบฒเบเบฒเปเบเบปเปเบฒเปเบ
lah-kah thow-dye
How much does it cost?
เบเปเบฒเบ
sai
Left
เบเบงเบฒ
khwah
Right
เบฅเบปเบ
loht
Car / Vehicle
เบเบปเบ
kawng
Straight ahead
...and 110 more transport phrases in the app.
Sample: Taking a boat on the Mekong
A real transport conversation in Lao -- both sides of the interaction.
You
เปเบฎเบทเบญ เปเบเบซเบฅเบงเบเบเบฐเบเบฒเบ เบกเบตเบเป
huh-ah pie loo-ahng pah bahng mee baw
Is there a boat to Luang Prabang?
Them
mee ohk hohk mohng sow
The agent replies about schedules
เบกเบต, เบญเบญเบเบกเบทเปเบเบตเป เบซเบปเบเปเบกเบเปเบเบปเปเบฒ
mee ohk muh-nee hohk mohng sow
Yes, departure today at 6am
You
เบเบปเปเบง เปเบ-เบเบฑเบ เปเบเบปเปเบฒเปเบ
too-ah pie gahp thow-dye
A round trip ticket, how much?
Them
song hoy pahn keep
The agent states the fare
เบชเบญเบเบฎเปเบญเบเบเบฑเบเบเบตเบ
song hoy pahn keep
200,000 kip
You
เปเบญเบปเบฒเปเบถเปเบเปเบ
ow nung bai
I'll take one ticket
7 transport conversations available in the app.
FAQ
What happens when they answer back at the transport in Laos?
That's the hard part -- and exactly what TalkThere prepares you for. Each of the 7 transport 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 transport in Laos?
Yes. These are the 12+ phrases that actually come up in real transport 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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