Language/Lao/Grammar/Question-Words
| ◀️ Festivals and Celebrations — Previous Lesson | Next Lesson — Negations ▶️ |
Welcome to this exciting lesson on Question Words in Lao! Understanding how to ask questions is a fundamental part of mastering any language, and Lao is no exception. In this lesson, we will explore the essential question words that will enable you to seek information and engage in conversations with ease.
As a beginner, you might find asking questions a bit daunting at first, but don't worry! By the end of this lesson, you will be equipped with the tools necessary to form questions in Lao confidently. We will dive into the vocabulary, pronunciation, and usage of these question words, along with plenty of examples to illustrate each point.
Here’s a quick outline of what we will cover:
What are Question Words?
Question words, also known as interrogative words, are crucial for forming inquiries. They help us gather information, clarify points, or express curiosity about something. In Lao, question words often come at the beginning of a question and can change the tone of a conversation.
Common Question Words in Lao
Let’s get into the nitty-gritty! Below are some common question words you will encounter in Lao, along with their pronunciation and English translations.
| Lao | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| ໃຜ | phai | Who |
| ແນວໃດ | naew dai | What |
| ໃສ | sai | Where |
| ເວລາໃດ | wela dai | When |
| ເທີ່ໃດ | thee dai | Why |
| ເບີ່ງແນວໃດ | boeng naew dai | How |
| ເພາະໃດ | phao dai | For what reason |
| ແນວໃດແລະເທີ່ໃດ | naew dai lae thee dai | Which |
Usage of Question Words
Now that we have the question words, let’s explore how to use them in sentences. The structure typically involves placing the question word at the beginning of the sentence, followed by the subject and verb.
Examples of Using Question Words
Here are 20 examples to illustrate how to use these question words in different contexts:
| Lao | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| ໃຜ໐ກັບເຈົ້າ? | phai ok kap chao? | Who are you with? |
| ແນວໃດແບບນັ້ນ? | naew dai baeb nan? | What kind is that? |
| ໃສ່ອິດສະບັດແລະເພີ່ນສັດ? | sai oedisabat lae phen sat? | Where is the market and the animal? |
| ເວລາໃດສັງຟາທັງ? | wela dai sangfa thang? | When is the festival? |
| ເທີ່ໃດເຮັດແລະຄໍາແນະນຳ? | thee dai het lae kham naenam? | Why is this happening? |
| ເບີ່ງແນວໃດສິງ? | boeng naew dai sing? | How do you do this? |
| ເພາະໃດສັງສິລະລະດັບ? | phao dai sangsilaladat? | For what reason are you studying? |
| ແນວໃດແລະເທີ່ໃດທີ່ເມືອງ? | naew dai lae thee dai thee muang? | Which place in the city? |
| ໃຜຄື່ບິນ? | phai khue bin? | Who is flying? |
| ແນວໃດແລະຈິດສິລະລະດັບ? | naew dai lae jit silaladat? | What skills do you have? |
| ໃສ່ບໍ່ແລະສອຍ? | sai bo lae soy? | Where do you live? |
| ເວລາໃດສັງມະດິ? | wela dai sangmadhi? | When will you arrive? |
| ເທີ່ໃດຄວາມຈິງ? | thee dai khwam jing? | Why is it real? |
| ເບີ່ງແນວໃດສັງສິລະລະດັບ? | boeng naew dai sangsilaladat? | How do you express that? |
| ເພາະໃດສັງສິລະລະດັບ? | phao dai sangsilaladat? | For what reason are you teaching? |
| ແນວໃດແລະເທີ່ໃດສັນທິ? | naew dai lae thee dai santhi? | Which is the best location? |
| ໃຜສັງສິລະລະດັບ? | phai sangsilaladat? | Who is the best? |
| ແນວໃດແລະເທີ່ໃດສັງສິລະລະດັບ? | naew dai lae thee dai sangsilaladat? | What is the best way? |
| ໃສ່ຊັນຊັດ? | sai chan chad? | Where is the headquarters? |
Practicing with Exercises
Now that we've had a thorough look at question words, it's time to put your knowledge into practice! Below are 10 exercises designed to reinforce what you've just learned.
Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks
Complete the sentences by filling in the correct question word.
1. ______ ແລະຕະກົດ? (What)
2. ______ ໃດສັດ? (Where)
3. ______ ແລະເທີ່ໃດ? (Which)
4. ______ ໃຜແລະດົດ? (Who)
5. ______ ເວລາ? (When)
Exercise 2: Matching Questions
Match the Lao question words with their English translations.
| Lao | English |
|---|---|
| ໃຜ | Who |
| ແນວໃດ | What |
| ໃສ | Where |
| ເວລາໃດ | When |
| ເທີ່ໃດ | Why |
Exercise 3: Sentence Creation
Use one question word to create a question about the following topics:
1. Your favorite food
2. Your friend’s name
3. Your favorite place to visit
Exercise 4: Translation Challenge
Translate the following questions into Lao:
1. Where are you going?
2. What do you like to eat?
3. Who is your best friend?
Exercise 5: Answer the Question
Respond to these questions in Lao:
1. ໃຜ໐ກັບເຈົ້າ? (Who are you with?)
2. ແນວໃດແບບນັ້ນ? (What kind of person are you?)
3. ເວລາໃດສັງຟາທັງ? (When is the festival?)
Solutions and Explanations
It’s essential to review your answers to solidify your understanding.
Solutions to Exercise 1
1. ແນວໃດ
2. ໃສ
3. ແນວໃດ
4. ໃຜ
5. ເວລາ
Solutions to Exercise 2
- ໃຜ: Who
- ແນວໃດ: What
- ໃສ: Where
- ເວລາໃດ: When
- ເທີ່ໃດ: Why
Solutions to Exercise 3
(Sample responses)
1. ຂໍແຈ້ງບໍ່ສູນສິລະລະດັບເຮັດໄດ້.
2. ຂໍແຈ້ງບໍ່ສູນສິລະລະດັບເຮັດໄດ້.
3. ຂໍແຈ້ງບໍ່ສູນສິລະລະດັບເຮັດໄດ້.
Solutions to Exercise 4
1. ໃສ່ເຈົ້າແລະສັງກັບແລະຕະກົດ?
2. ຂໍແຈ້ງບໍ່ສູນສິລະລະດັບເຮັດໄດ້.
3. ໃຜ໐ກັບເຈົ້າ?
Solutions to Exercise 5
1. ຂໍແຈ້ງບໍ່ສູນສິລະລະດັບເຮັດໄດ້.
2. ຂໍແຈ້ງບໍ່ສູນສິລະລະດັບເຮັດໄດ້.
3. ຂໍແຈ້ງບໍ່ສູນສິລະລະດັບເຮັດໄດ້.
Congratulations on completing this lesson on question words in Lao! Continue to practice, and soon you will find yourself asking questions like a native speaker. Keep exploring the beautiful Lao language, and don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or need assistance.
Sources
- Lao grammar - Wikipedia
- Lao Language - Why does it get confused with Thai? - Bilingua
- Lao and Thai - same, same but not really - Pulse of Asia
Other Lessons
- Nouns
- Personal pronouns
- Comparatives
- Verb to be
- Pronouns
- Negations
- Present Tense
- Superlatives
- Give your Opinion
- Demonstrative Pronouns
| ◀️ Festivals and Celebrations — Previous Lesson | Next Lesson — Negations ▶️ |