ແມວ
mǣu[mɛːw˧˥]
The English word "cat" is translated into Lao as ແມວ (mǣu).
ແມວ refers to the domestic species of cat.
Meaning: domestic species (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
mǣu
Did you know?
- While ແມວ refers to a domestic cat, Lao uses different classifiers when counting animals, so you cannot simply say the number and the word ແມວ together.
- The Lao word ແມວ is an onomatopoeia, meaning the word itself was created to mimic the sound a cat makes.
- If you travel to Thailand, you will find that the word for cat, แมว, is a cognate of the Lao word and sounds nearly identical.
Examples in context
- ແມວໂຕນີ້ໜ້າຮັກຫຼາຍ.maew to ni na hak lai.This cat is very cute.
- ຂ້ອຍຢາກໄດ້ແມວສີຂາວ.khoy yak dai maew si khao.I want a white cat.
- ແມວກໍາລັງນອນຢູ່.maew kam lang non yu.The cat is sleeping.
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about a pet at home.
- Aເຈົ້າມີແມວຢູ່ເຮືອນບໍ່?chao mi maew yu huean bo?Do you have a cat at home?
- Bມີ, ຂ້ອຍມີແມວສອງໂຕ.mi, khoy mi maew song to.Yes, I have two cats.
- Aພວກມັນເປັນແນວໃດແດ່?phuak man pen naew dai dae?How are they?
- Bພວກມັນໃຈດີ ແລະ ໜ້າຮັກຫຼາຍ.phuak man chai di lae na hak lai.They are kind and very cute.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “cat” translations and entries ແມວ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ແມວ, CC BY-SA 4.0.
