ເຕັ້ນ
ten
To dance in Lao is to say ເຕັ້ນ (ten). Wiktionary also lists ເຕັ້ນລຳ (ten lam) and ຟ້ອນ (fǭn).
Meaning: move rhythmically to music (verb)
Ways to say it
| Lao | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| ເຕັ້ນ | ten | |
| ເຕັ້ນລຳ | ten lam | |
| ຟ້ອນ | fǭn | [fɔːn˥˨] (narrow) [fɔːn˧˦] (narrow) |
The verb for dancing describes moving rhythmically to music. In casual contexts, the form ເຕັ້ນ can also mean to jump or bounce.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase ເຕັ້ນລຳ combines the verb for jumping or dancing, ເຕັ້ນ, with the word ລຳ, which is often associated with rhythmic movement or dancing.
Which one should you use?
The choice of word depends on the style of movement: ຟ້ອນ is used for traditional, graceful or folk dancing, while ເຕັ້ນ refers to more modern or energetic dancing.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
ten
Did you know?
- The traditional term ຟ້ອນ is closely related to the Northern Thai word ฟ้อน and other Tai-language variations like the Shan word ၽွၼ်ႉ, reflecting a shared regional history of classical dance.
- Because ເຕັ້ນ can mean 'to bounce', a child jumping on a bed might be described using the same word used for dancing in a club.
- The word ລຳ used in the context of dancing can also be applied to anything that follows a rhythmic pattern, such as poetry.
Examples in context
- ລາວມັກເຕັ້ນ.lao mak ten.He likes to dance.
- ເຈົ້າເຕັ້ນງາມຫຼາຍ!chao ten ngam lai!You dance very beautifully!
Example conversation
Two friends are at a music festival.
- Aເພງນີ້ມ່ວນຫຼາຍ, ມາເຕັ້ນກັນເຖາະ!pheng ni muan lai, ma ten kan tho!This song is great, let's dance!
- Bໄດ້ເລີຍ, ຂ້ອຍຢາກເຕັ້ນຫຼາຍ.dai loei, khoi yak ten lai.Sure, I really want to dance.
- Aເບິ່ງແມ່ຍິງຄົນນັ້ນເຕັ້ນແມ່.beung mae ying khon nan ten mae.Look at that woman dancing.
- Bແມ່ນແລ້ວ, ລາວເຕັ້ນເກັ່ງຫຼາຍ.maen laeo, lao ten keng lai.Yes, she is a great dancer.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “dance” translations and entries ຟ້ອນ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ຟ້ອນ, CC BY-SA 4.0.
