ມາກິນເຂົ້າ
ma kin khao
The Lao phrase for "come eat" is ມາກິນເຂົ້າ (ma kin khao).
ມາກິນເຂົ້າ is used as a standard invitation to signal that a meal is ready and ready to be consumed.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of ມາ (come), ກິນ (eat) and ເຂົ້າ (rice/food/meal).
How do you pronounce it?
ma kin khao
When do people say it?
In this invitation, the word for 'rice' (ເຂົ້າ) is used metonymically to represent 'food' or 'a meal'.
Did you know?
- If you are a guest and someone says ມາກິນເຂົ້າ, it is often considered polite to decline once or twice before accepting to avoid appearing too hungry or eager.
- In many Lao households, simply saying ກິນເຂົ້າ (eat rice) functions as a polite way to ask 'Have you eaten yet?', acting as a common greeting similar to 'How are you?'
- The word ກິນ (eat) is used in many Lao idioms to describe consuming things that are not food, such as 'eating' wind when talking about feeling cold.
Examples in context
- ທຸກຄົນ, ມາກິນເຂົ້າກັນເຖາະ.thuk khon, ma kin khao kan tho.Everyone, let's come eat.
Example conversation
A mother calls her son for dinner in their home.
- Aລູກ, ມາກິນເຂົ້າໄດ້ແລ້ວ.luk, ma kin khao dai laew.Son, come eat now.
- Bກຳລັງໄປແລ້ວແມ.kam lang pai laew mae.I'm coming, mom.
- Aຟ້າວມາກິນເຂົ້າໄວໆ.fao ma kin khao vai vai.Hurry up and come eat.
- Bໂດຍ, ຈະໄປດຽວນີ້.doi, cha pai diao ni.Okay, I'll go right now.
