ດື່ມ
dư̄m[dɯːm˧]
The English verb "drink" is translated into Lao as ດື່ມ (dư̄m).
The verb ດື່ມ is used to describe the act of consuming any liquid through the mouth, such as water, juice or alcohol. When referring specifically to water, Lao speakers use the word naam.
Meaning: consume liquid through the mouth (verb)
What does it mean word for word?
The noun for a beverage, ເຄື່ອງດື່ມ, is constructed by adding the prefix ເຄື່ອງ, which means "thing" or "tool", to the verb ດື່ມ, meaning "to drink".
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
dư̄m
Did you know?
- While ດື່ມ is the specific word for drinking, Lao speakers often use the word ກິນ, which means 'to eat', when consuming liquids like soup or traditional medicines.
- In a formal setting, when you toast with someone, you should physically hold your glass lower than the glass of an elder to show respect.
- The Lao word ດື່ມ is a cognate of the Thai word ดื่ม, meaning they share the same linguistic roots despite the different scripts used to write them.
Examples in context
- ຂ້ອຍຢາກດື່ມນ້ຳເຢັນ.khoy yak deum nam yen.I want to drink cold water.
- ເຈົ້າດື່ມນ້ຳຊາຫຼາຍເກີນໄປ.chao deum nam sa lai koen pai.You drink too much tea.
Example conversation
Two friends are at a cafe.
- Aເຈົ້າຢາກດື່ມຫຍັງ?chao yak duem nyang?What do you want to drink?
- Bຂ້ອຍຈະດື່ມຊານ້ຳຜຶ້ງ.khoy cha duem sa nam phueng.I will drink honey tea.
- Aດີເລີຍ, ຂ້ອຍກໍ່ຈະສັ່ງຄືກັນ.dee loey, khoy ko cha sang khu kan.Great, I will order that too.
- Bມາສັ່ງນ້ຳກັນເທາະ.ma sang nam kan tho.Let's order the drinks.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “drink” translations and entries ດື່ມ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ດື່ມ, CC BY-SA 4.0.
