ເມົາ
mao[maw˧˥]
The English word "drunk" is translated into Lao as ເມົາ (mao). Wiktionary also lists ເມົາເຫຼົ້າ (mao lao) and ຂີ້ເຫຼົ້າ (khī lao).
Meaning: intoxicated after drinking too much alcohol (adj)
Ways to say it
| Lao | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| ເມົາ | mao | [maw˧˥] (narrow) [maw˩˨] (narrow) |
| ເມົາເຫຼົ້າ | mao lao | |
| ຂີ້ເຫຼົ້າ | khī lao |
The word ເມົາ is used to describe being intoxicated after drinking too much alcohol. It can function as both an adjective and a verb (to become drunk).
What does it mean word for word?
The word ເມົາເຫຼົ້າ (mao lao) is a compound where ເມົາ (mao) means 'drunk/dizzy' and ເຫຼົ້າ (lao) means 'alcohol'.
Which one should you use?
While ເມົາ (mao) can mean being drunk from alcohol, it is also used more broadly to describe feeling dizzy, motion sick or lightheaded. ຂີ້ເຫຼົ້າ (khī lao) is used colloquially to refer to a person who is a habitual drunkard or someone who is currently very drunk.
How do you pronounce it?
mao
Did you know?
- The term ຂີ້ເຫຼົ້າ combines ຂີ້ (dirt or excrement) with ເຫຼົ້າ (alcohol) to create a derogatory label for a drunkard.
- In Lao culture, the state of being ເມົາ is often used as a social 'pass' to behave more loudly or boldly than is normally acceptable in their reserved society.
- In some contexts, ເມົາ is used metaphorically to describe being 'drunk' with power or 'drunk' with love.
Examples in context
- ລາວເມົາຫຼາຍ.lao mao lai.He is very drunk.
- ຢ່າໃຫ້ລາວຂັບລົດຖ້າລາວເມົາ.ya hai lao khap lot tha lao mao.Don't let him drive if he is drunk.
- ຂ້ອຍຮູ້ສຶກເມົາໜ້ອຍໜຶ່ງ.khoy hu suek mao noi nueng.I feel a little drunk.
Example conversation
Two friends are talking at a party about a mutual friend.
- Aເຈົ້າເຫັນນັກຮຽນຄົນນັ້ນບໍ່? ລາວເມົາແລ້ວ.chao hen nak hian khon nan bo? lao mao laew.Do you see that student? He is already drunk.
- Bແມ່ນແລ້ວ, ລາວເມົາຫຼາຍກວ່າທຸກຄົນ.maen laew, lao mao lai kua thuk khon.Yes, he is more drunk than everyone else.
- Aພວກເຮົາຄວນພາລາວໄປນອນ.phuak hao khuan pha lao pai non.We should take him to sleep.
- Bຕົກລົງ, ຂ້ອຍຈະຊ່ວຍເຈົ້າ.tok long, khoy cha xuay chao.Okay, I will help you.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “drunk” translations and entries ເມົາ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
