Language/Lao/Vocabulary/Telling-Time
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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!
Videos
Learn Lao online, Telling the time, ເວລາ, ນາທີ, ວິນາທີ ...
Lao and Thai Mutual Intelligibility - YouTube
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
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- 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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