ດຳ
dam[dam˩(˧)]
The Lao word for black is ດຳ (dam).
ດຳ is used to describe the color black, referring to the appearance of absorbing all light. It can function as an adjective to describe objects or as a noun to refer to the color itself.
Meaning: absorbing all light (adj)
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
dam
Did you know?
- In certain contexts, the word ດຳ can also be used to describe the act of diving underwater, a concept entirely unrelated to the color black.
- In traditional Lao beliefs, the color ດຳ is sometimes associated with the earth and stability, rather than exclusively with mourning or negativity.
- In Lao culture, ດຳ can be used metaphorically to describe something that is secret, hidden, or illicit, similar to how 'black market' is used in English.
Examples in context
- ກະລຸນາຂຽນຊື່ເຈົ້າດ້ວຍໝຶກດຳຫຼືໝຶກຟ້າແຕ່ບໍ່ແມ່ນໝຶກແດງ.Please write your name in black or blue ink but not in red ink.This sentence is useful for seeing how to use ດຳ when describing ink.Tatoeba #8997038 by Analu_Kalaka, translation #8997039 by Analu_Kalaka
Example conversation
Two friends are looking at a photo of a landscape.
- Aຮູບນີ້ທ້ອງຟ້າມັນເບິ່ງດຳຫຼາຍ.hup ni thong fa man boeng dam lai.The sky in this photo looks very black.
- Bແມ່ນແລ້ວ, ເພາະວ່າມັນເປັນເວລາກາງຄືນ.maen laeo, phor wa man pen ve la kang khuen.Yes, because it is nighttime.
- Aເຈົ້າເຫັນຕົ້ນໄມ້ໃນຮູບບໍ່?chao hen ton mai nai hup bo?Do you see the trees in the photo?
- Bເຫັນ, ພວກມັນເບິ່ງເປັນຮູບເງົາດຳ.hen, phuak man boeng pen hup ngao dam.I see them, they look like black silhouettes.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “black” translations and entries ດຳ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
