Language/Lao/Vocabulary/Telling-Time

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Lao → Vocabulary → 0 to A1 Course → Telling Time

Welcome to our lesson on Telling Time in Lao! Understanding how to tell time is not just a practical skill; it’s a gateway to engaging in social interactions, planning your day, and fully enjoying your experience in Laos. Whether you're coordinating with friends, planning your sightseeing, or simply asking about the time, knowing how to express time in Lao will enrich your learning journey.

In this lesson, we'll cover the following topics:

• The basic vocabulary used for telling time

• Common phrases and expressions related to time

• Examples of how to construct sentences using time

• Practical exercises to reinforce your understanding

So, let’s dive right in!

Basic Vocabulary for Telling Time

To start, let's familiarize ourselves with some essential vocabulary related to telling time. Here’s a simple table to help you get acquainted with the words we’ll be using.

Lao	Pronunciation	English
ແລະ	lǽ	and
ຊົ່ວໂມງ	sɔ́ʊmɔ́ŋ	hour
ນາທີ	nathí	minute
ສິນທີ	sinthí	second
ເຊົ້າ	sâo	morning
ບ່າຍ	bàai	afternoon
ແລງ	lɛ̄ng	evening
ຄ່ຳ	khâŋ	night
ເມືອງ	mɯ̄aŋ	clock
ແຕ່ງສົ່ງ	tɛ̂ng sǒŋ	set the time

Telling Time in Lao

In Lao, telling time is straightforward once you grasp the basics. The structure is generally:

• Hour + ຊົ່ວໂມງ (sɔ́ʊmɔ́ŋ) + Minute + ນາທີ (nathí)

For example, if you want to say "It's 3 o'clock," you would say:

• ມັນແມ່ນ 3 ຊົ່ວໂມງ (man mɛ̂n 3 sɔ́ʊmɔ́ŋ)

Let’s look at some examples in a table format:

Lao	Pronunciation	English
ມັນແມ່ນ 1 ຊົ່ວໂມງ	man mɛ̂n 1 sɔ́ʊmɔ́ŋ	It’s 1 o’clock
ມັນແມ່ນ 2 ຊົ່ວໂມງ 10 ນາທີ	man mɛ̂n 2 sɔ́ʊmɔ́ŋ 10 nathí	It’s 2 o’clock and 10 minutes
ມັນແມ່ນ 4 ຊົ່ວໂມງ 30 ນາທີ	man mɛ̂n 4 sɔ́ʊmɔ́ŋ 30 nathí	It’s 4 o’clock and 30 minutes
ມັນແມ່ນ 5 ຊົ່ວໂມງ 45 ນາທີ	man mɛ̂n 5 sɔ́ʊmɔ́ŋ 45 nathí	It’s 5 o’clock and 45 minutes
ມັນແມ່ນ 6 ຊົ່ວໂມງ 15 ນາທີ	man mɛ̂n 6 sɔ́ʊmɔ́ŋ 15 nathí	It’s 6 o’clock and 15 minutes

Common Expressions Related to Time

Now, let’s explore some common expressions that you will frequently encounter when discussing time. Knowing these phrases will help you engage in conversations more naturally.

Here are some examples:

Lao	Pronunciation	English
ອາທິດທີ່ແລ່ນເທົ່າໃດ?	aathít thī lɛ́n thāo dai?	What time does it run?
ມັນແມ່ນເວລາສັ່ນສູງສຸດ	man mɛ̂n wélā sǎn sǔng sùt	It’s the highest time.
ເວລາໃດສູງສຸດ?	wélā dai sǔng sùt?	What time is highest?
ຂໍແຈ້ງເວລາຂອງເຈົ້າ	khǒǔ jɛ́ng wélā khǒŋ jèng	Please tell me your time.
ລົດຈະໜັກສູງສຸດ	lót jà nàk sǔng sùt	The bus is very late.

Important Notes about Telling Time

When expressing time, it’s important to be aware of the following notes:

• In spoken Lao, people often omit the word "ນາທີ" (nathí) when the minute is zero. For example, ມັນແມ່ນ 3 ຊົ່ວໂມງ (man mɛ̂n 3 sɔ́ʊmɔ́ŋ) is commonly used instead of saying ມັນແມ່ນ 3 ຊົ່ວໂມງ 0 ນາທີ.

• When asking for the time, you can simply say "ບໍ່ມີເວລາບໍ່?" (bɔ̄ mī wélā bɔ̄?), which means "Do you have the time?"

• In formal contexts, it's best to use the full expressions to show respect.

Practice Exercises

Now that you’re familiar with the vocabulary and structure for telling time, let’s reinforce your learning with some practice exercises.

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks

Fill in the blanks with the correct Lao words to complete the sentences.

1. ມັນແມ່ນ ___ 3 ຊົ່ວໂມງ.

2. ມັນແມ່ນ ___ 4 ຊົ່ວໂມງ 15 ນາທີ.

3. ຂໍແຈ້ງເວລາຂອງ ______.

4. ສີ່ຊົ່ວໂມງ ____ ນາທີ.

5. ມັນແມ່ນ 6 ຊົ່ວໂມງ ___ ນາທີ.

Solutions:

1. 0

2. 30

3. ເຈົ້າ (jèng)

4. 45

5. 15

Exercise 2: Translate the Sentences

Translate the following sentences into Lao.

1. It’s 7 o’clock.

2. What time is it?

3. It’s 9 o’clock and 25 minutes.

4. The bus is late.

5. Please tell me the time.

Solutions:

1. ມັນແມ່ນ 7 ຊົ່ວໂມງ.

2. ຂໍແຈ້ງເວລາຂອງເຈົ້າ?

3. ມັນແມ່ນ 9 ຊົ່ວໂມງ 25 ນາທີ.

4. ລົດຈະໜັກ.

5. ຂໍແຈ້ງເວລາ.

Exercise 3: Answer the Questions

Answer the following questions in Lao.

1. What time do you wake up?

2. What time do you go to bed?

3. What time does school start?

4. What time do you eat lunch?

5. What time do you finish work?

Solutions:

1. ຂໍແຈ້ງເວລາເຈົ້າຕື່ນ?

2. ມັນແມ່ນກະຈາຍຕອນໃດ.

3. ຂໍແຈ້ງເວລາຂອງໂຮງຮຽນ.

4. ແລງເວລາໃດສິນລົດ.

5. ມັນແມ່ນສິນທີ.

Exercise 4: Create Your Own Sentences

Try to create your own sentences telling the time. Use the structure you’ve learned!

1. _______________

2. _______________

3. _______________

4. _______________

5. _______________

Solutions: (Student's creations will vary)

Exercise 5: Matching Time Expressions

Match the Lao phrases with their English meanings.

1. ເວລາໃດສູງສຸດ?

2. ມັນແມ່ນ 3 ຊົ່ວໂມງ

3. ເຂົ້າໃຈເວລາຂອງເຈົ້າ

4. ລົດຈະໜັກ

5. ຂໍແຈ້ງເວລາ

Solutions:

1 - c, 2 - a, 3 - e, 4 - b, 5 - d

Exercise 6: Time Conversion

Convert the following time from Lao to English.

1. ມັນແມ່ນ 8 ຊົ່ວໂມງ.

2. ມັນແມ່ນ 10 ຊົ່ວໂມງ 5 ນາທີ.

3. ມັນແມ່ນ 12 ຊົ່ວໂມງ 30 ນາທີ.

4. ມັນແມ່ນ 1 ຊົ່ວໂມງ 45 ນາທີ.

5. ມັນແມ່ນ 2 ຊົ່ວໂມງ 15 ນາທີ.

Solutions:

1. It’s 8 o’clock.

2. It’s 10 o’clock and 5 minutes.

3. It’s 12 o’clock and 30 minutes.

4. It’s 1 o’clock and 45 minutes.

5. It’s 2 o’clock and 15 minutes.

Exercise 7: Role Play

Pair up with a classmate and practice asking and telling the time in Lao. Use the phrases you’ve learned.

Example dialogue:

• A: ຂໍແຈ້ງເວລາຂອງເຈົ້າ?

• B: ມັນແມ່ນ 5 ຊົ່ວໂມງ.

Exercise 8: Listening Comprehension

Listen to the teacher say various times in Lao and write down what you hear.

Solutions: (To be checked by the teacher)

Exercise 9: Write a Short Paragraph

Write a short paragraph about your daily routine, including times.

Solutions: (Student’s writing will vary)

Exercise 10: Quiz Yourself

Create a quiz for yourself or with friends about telling time. Include questions and answers based on what you learned in this lesson.

Solutions: (Student’s quiz will vary)

Congratulations! You’ve made it through the lesson on telling time in Lao. Make sure to practice regularly so you feel comfortable using this vital skill in your conversations. Keep exploring, and soon you’ll be able to express yourself with confidence!

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

• Telling The Time In Lao: The #1 Awesome Need-To-Know Guide ...
• Lao-tse - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms | Vocabulary.com
• Learning my first hard language: Lao – A Latina Diplomat's Journey

Other Lessons

• House Home
• Introducing Yourself
• Geography
• Colors
• Family Members
• Asking for Directions
• How to Say Hello and Greetings
• Basic Survival Word and Phrases
• Basic Greetings
• Vegetables

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