ລາກ່ອນ
laa koon
In Lao, ລາກ່ອນ (laa koon) is the way to say bye.
ລາກ່ອນ is a simple and polite way to say goodbye in Laos.
Meaning: short for goodbye (intj)
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
While it is the standard way to say goodbye, ລາກ່ອນ can feel quite formal or final, similar to the English word 'farewell'.
How do you pronounce it?
laa koon
Did you know?
- In casual daily life, Lao people often avoid ລາກ່ອນ entirely and instead ask ໄປໃສ ('Where are you going?'). This serves as a friendly way to acknowledge someone is leaving without the finality of a formal goodbye.
- When saying goodbye, it is customary to perform the ນົບ ('nop'), which involves pressing the palms together in a prayer-like gesture. The height of the hands relative to the face indicates the social status of the person being addressed.
- If you want to say a casual 'bye' to a friend, you are more likely to say ໄປກ່ອນເດີ (pai koon der), which literally means 'I am going first'.
Examples in context
- ລາກ່ອນ, ພົບກັນໃໝ່.la kon, phop kan mai.Bye, see you again.
- ລາກ່ອນເດີ້.la kon der.Bye bye.
- ໂອເຄ, ລາກ່ອນ.oke, la kon.Okay, bye.
Example conversation
Two friends are finishing a phone call.
- Aຂອບໃຈຫຼາຍໆເດີ້.khop chai lai lai der.Thank you very much.
- Bບໍ່ເປັນຫຍັງ, ລາກ່ອນ.bo pen yang, la kon.You're welcome, bye.
- Aລາກ່ອນ, ຂໍໃຫ້ໂຊກດີ.la kon, kho hai sok di.Bye, good luck.
- Bຂອບໃຈ, ລາກ່ອນ.khop chai, la kon.Thanks, bye.
