ອ້າຍ
ʼāi[ʔaːj˥˨]
In Lao, the term for brother depends on whether the person is older or younger than you. The default form is ອ້າຍ (ʼāi). Wiktionary also lists ນ້ອງຊາຍ (nǭng sāi).
Meaning: male sibling (noun)
Ways to say it
| Lao | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| ອ້າຍ | ʼāi | [ʔaːj˥˨] (narrow) [ʔaːj˧˦] (narrow) |
| ນ້ອງຊາຍ | nǭng sāi |
Lao distinguishes between older and younger brothers using different words. The term ອ້າຍ refers to an older brother and is also frequently used as a polite way to address or refer to a slightly older male, even if he is not biologically related to you. The term ນ້ອງຊາຍ is used specifically to denote a younger brother.
What does it mean word for word?
The term ນ້ອງຊາຍ is composed of ນ້ອງ, meaning younger sibling and ຊາຍ, meaning male.
Which one should you use?
Use ອ້າຍ to refer to an older brother, while ນ້ອງຊາຍ is used for a younger brother.
How does it change in a sentence?
While ນ້ອງຊາຍ specifies a male younger sibling, the word ນ້ອງ alone can be used to refer to any younger sibling regardless of their gender.
How do you pronounce it?
ʼāi
Did you know?
- In Laos, ອ້າຍ is often used by women as a term of endearment for a boyfriend or husband, similar to the English word 'honey' or 'darling'.
- When referring to a brother-in-law, Lao speakers often use ອ້າຍ or ນ້ອງຊາຍ based on the relative age of the spouse, rather than having a unique word for 'in-law'.
- Using ອ້າຍ to a man much older than you could actually be seen as slightly too informal or even cheeky. For a much older man, you would switch to more formal titles like 'uncle'.
Examples in context
- ຄົນນີ້ບໍ່ແມ່ນອ້າຍຂ້ອຍ.This is not my older brother.This sentence is useful for practicing the use of ອ້າຍ to deny a biological relationship.Tatoeba #8978769 by Analu_Kalaka, translation #8978770 by Analu_Kalaka
- ນັກຮຽນຜູ້ນັ້ນບໍ່ແມ່ນນ້ອງຊາຍຂ້ອຍ.That student is not my younger brother.This sentence is useful for practicing the use of ນ້ອງຊາຍ to deny a biological relationship.Tatoeba #8981590 by Analu_Kalaka, translation #8981592 by Analu_Kalaka
- ອ້າຍຂອງຂ້ອຍຮຽນຢູ່ມະຫາວິທະຍາໄລ.ai khong khoy hian yu ma ha vi tha ya lai.My older brother studies at the university.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about their families at a cafe.
- Aເຈົ້າມີອ້າຍກີ່ຄົນ?chao mi ai gi khon?How many older brothers do you have?
- Bຂ້ອຍມີອ້າຍຄົນດຽວ.khoy mi ai khon diao.I have only one older brother.
- Aອ້າຍຂອງເຈົ້າເປັນແນວໃດແດ່?ai khong chao pen naeo dai dae?How is your brother doing?
- Bລາວສະບາຍດີ, ຂອບໃຈທີ່ຖາມ.lao sa bai di, khob chai thi tham.He is doing well, thanks for asking.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “brother” translations and entries ອ້າຍ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
