ໃບ້
bai
The English word 'dumb' can be translated to Lao as ໃບ້ (bai).
While ໃບ້ can be used colloquially to mean 'stupid', its primary and literal meaning is 'mute'.
Meaning: stupid (adj)
What does it mean word for word?
The word ໃບ້ literally means 'mute' or 'unable to speak'.
Which one should you use?
To express the concept of 'stupid' (lacking intelligence) more accurately, the word ໂງ່ is typically used instead of ໃບ້.
How do you pronounce it?
bai
Did you know?
- In Lao, the word ໃບ້ is frequently used to describe a game of 'charades' where players must act out a word without speaking. In this context, it is a functional term for acting out clues.
- Using ໃບ້ to mean 'stupid' can be perceived as much more offensive than in English, because it targets a person's physical ability to communicate.
- While an English speaker might use 'dumb' to mean 'silent', a Lao speaker using ໃບ້ implies a permanent physical inability to speak. Using it casually to mean 'quiet' can cause significant social misunderstanding.
Example conversation
Two friends are discussing a mistake.
- Aເປັນຫຍັງເຈົ້າເຮັດແບບນັ້ນ?pen yang chao het baep nan?Why did you do that?
- Bຂ້ອຍຮູ້ສຶກວ່າຂ້ອຍໃບ້ແທ້ໆ.khoy hoo seuk va khoy bai thae thae.I feel like I'm really dumb.
- Aເຈົ້າບໍ່ໄດ້ໃບ້ດອກ.chao bo dai bai dok.You aren't dumb.
- Bຂອບໃຈຫຼາຍໆ.khob chai lai lai.Thank you very much.
