ງົວ
ngūa[ŋuːə̯˧˥]
The English word "cow" is translated into Lao as ງົວ (ngūa).
ງົວ is a noun referring to an adult female of the species Bos taurus.
Meaning: adult female of species Bos taurus (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is ngūa.
Did you know?
- In Lao culture, cows and oxen are often used as a measurement of wealth and social status in rural villages.
- In some Lao idioms, the word ງົວ is used to describe someone who is slow-witted or stubborn.
- The Lao term ງົວ is a cognate of the Old Chinese word for cattle, 牛, suggesting a very ancient connection between these language families.
Examples in context
- ງົວໂຕນີ້ໃຫຍ່ຫຼາຍ.ngua to ni nyai lai.This cow is very big.
- ຂ້ອຍເຫັນງົວຢູ່ໃນທົ່ງ.khoy hen ngua yu nai thong.I see a cow in the field.
- ງົວພວກນັ້ນກິນຫຍ້າ.ngua phuak nan kin ya.Those cows are eating grass.
Example conversation
A farmer is talking to a neighbor about his animals.
- Aເຈົ້າມີງົວຈັກໂຕ?chao mi ngua chak to?How many cows do you have?
- Bຂ້ອຍມີງົວຫ້າໂຕ.khoy mi ngua ha to.I have five cows.
- Aງົວຂອງເຈົ້າເບິ່ງແຂງແຮງດີ.ngua khong chao boeng khaeng haeng di.Your cows look very healthy.
- Bຂອບໃຈຫຼາຍໆ.khop chai lai lai.Thank you very much.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “cow” translations and entries ງົວ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ງົວ, CC BY-SA 4.0.
