Translate Lao to English
Lao text appears in government documents from Vientiane, tourism materials, product labels, business correspondence, and messages from Lao-speaking friends. The curving Lao script may look unfamiliar, but the translator processes it fully. Paste your text above.
Common Lao to English translations
| Lao | English | Pronunciation | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ສະບາຍດີ | Hello | sah-BYE-dee | ||
| ສະບາຍດີ ຕອນເຊົ້າ | Good morning | sah-BYE-dee tawn CHOW | ||
| ຂອບໃຈ | Thank you | KAWP jai | ||
| ກະລຸນາ | Please | gah-ROO-nah | ||
| ອັນນີ້ລາຄາເທົ່າໃດ? | How much is this? | un-NEE lah-KAH tow-DAI | ||
| ຫ້ອງນ້ຳຢູ່ໃສ? | Where is the bathroom? | hawng nahm YOO sai | ||
| ຂ້ອຍບໍ່ເຂົ້າໃຈ | I do not understand | koy baw KOW jai | ||
| ຊ່ອຍຂ້ອຍໄດ້ບໍ? | Can you help me? | suay koy dai BAW | ||
| ຂ້ອຍຢາກດື່ມຊາ | I would like tea | koy YAHK deum CHAH | ||
| ຂໍບິນ, ກະລຸນາ | The bill, please | kaw BIN gah-ROO-nah | ||
| ຍິນດີທີ່ໄດ້ຮູ້ຈັກ | Nice to meet you | yin-DEE tee dai HOO-jak | ||
| ລາກ່ອນ | Goodbye | lah GAWN | ||
| ຂ້ອຍຕ້ອງການໜໍຫມໍ | I need a doctor | koy TAWNG gahn maw | ||
| ຂໍໂທດ | Excuse me | kaw TOHT |
Tips for Lao to English translation
Lao script does not use spaces between words. Like Thai, words flow continuously and readers identify boundaries from context. The translator handles word segmentation automatically, but errors in segmentation can occasionally produce incorrect translations.
Lao text from formal sources (government, education) may use a more literary register with Pali and Sanskrit loanwords. Casual Lao, especially in messaging, uses simpler vocabulary and may abbreviate words.
Lao has borrowed extensively from Thai, French (colonial influence), and increasingly English. Words like ກາເຟ (cafe) and ໂຮງໜໍ (hotel) are common Lao loanwords that translate back to their origins easily.
Numbers in Lao can be written in Lao numerals (໐-໙) or Arabic numerals (0-9). Modern Lao text increasingly uses Arabic numerals, especially in business and technology contexts. The translator handles both.
About the Lao language
Lao is a Tai language closely related to Thai, belonging to the Kra-Dai language family. It is the official language of Laos, spoken by about 7 million people in Laos and understood by roughly 23 million Isan speakers in northeastern Thailand. The Lao script was developed from the Khmer script, which itself derived from Indian Brahmi.
Laos is one of Southeast Asia's smallest economies but is experiencing rapid growth in tourism, hydroelectric power, and trade. The country's Buddhist heritage, French colonial architecture, and natural beauty (Luang Prabang, Vang Vieng, the Mekong River) attract increasing numbers of visitors. Lao language skills are valuable for anyone working in development, tourism, or trade in the Mekong region.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. Unlimited.
Yes. All Lao characters processed.
Yes.
Standard Lao works best. Heavy Isan vocabulary may produce less accurate results.
Good for general understanding. Professional review for important documents.
Lao, like Thai, does not use spaces between words. This is standard for the writing system.
Visit our English to Lao page.
No.
No. Lao is Kra-Dai; Chinese is Sino-Tibetan. Both are tonal, but they are unrelated.
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