Lao Language--Grammar Notes 30

Note the use of dāŋ nàn ດັ່ງນັ້ນ 'therefore, so' and bɔ̄ɔ dāŋ nàn ບໍ່ດັ່ງນັ້ນ 'otherwise'. thâa or khán ຖ້າ , ຄັນ 'if' may be used with bɔ̄ɔ dāŋ nàn ບໍ່ດັ່ງນັ້ນ.

ບໍ່ມີເງິນ ດັ່ງນັ້ນໄປບໍ່ໄດ້

bɔ̄ɔ míi ŋǝ́n dāŋ nàn pay bɔ̄ɔ day

There's no money so we cant't go.

ຕ້ອງມີເງິນ ບໍ່ດັ່ງນັ້ນໄປບໍ່ໄດ້

tɔ̀ɔŋ míi ŋǝ́n bɔ̄ɔ dāŋ nàn pay bɔ̄ɔ day

We have to have money, otherwise we can't go.

nā ນະ is a final particle which can be translated in different ways depending on the context. It often occurs with dǝ̀ǝ ເດີ . lὲεw ແລ້ວ sometimes becomes lā ລະ when it precedes nā ນະ.

ໄປນະ

pay nā

I am going, O.K.?

ບໍ່ມີນະ

bɔ̄ɔ míi nā

There isn't any, I am afraid.

ລົດສິອອກລະນະ

lōt si ɔ̂ɔk lā nā

Hey, the bus is about to leave.

wày ໄວ້ is a secondary verb. It means to 'do somthing for furture use or reference.'

ຈື່ໄວ້ເດີ

cȳy wày dǝ̀ǝ

Please remember it.

ເອົາເຄື່ອງໄວ້ຢູ່ນີ້

aw khȳaŋ wày jūu nīi

Put the things away here.

ເອົາໄວ້ມື້ໜ້າ

aw wày mỳy nâa

Let's make it (a date) another time.

ບອກລາວໄວ້

bɔ̂ɔk láaw wày

Tell him in advance.

ເກັບປີ້ໄວ້

khy̌n ຂຶ້ນ, lóŋ ລົງ are used with vehicles, boats and planes meaning 'to get in, get on' and 'to get out of, get off.'

kép pìi wày

Keep the ticket.

thelefòn ເທເລໂຟນ 'telephone' is borrowed from Frence and English. There is another word for 'telephone ' which you will learn later. tii sǎay ຕີສາຍ and tii thelefòn ຕີເທເລໂຟນ are often used for 'to telephone, or call'. tii sǎay ຕີສາຍ also means 'to telegraph'.

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2003 SEAsite Laos. Lao Language
Last Modified: 10/13/03