ກິນເຂົ້າ
kin khao[kin˩(˧).kʰaw˧˩]
In Lao, the phrase for to eat a meal is ກິນເຂົ້າ (kin khao). Wiktionary also lists ທານເຂົ້າ (thān khao).
Meaning: eat a meal (verb)
Ways to say it
| Lao | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| ກິນເຂົ້າ | kin khao | [kin˩(˧).kʰaw˧˩] (narrow) [kin˩˨.kʰaw˥˥˨] (narrow) |
| ທານເຂົ້າ | thān khao |
The verb used to express eating a meal is ກິນເຂົ້າ.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase ກິນເຂົ້າ literally translates to eat rice, where khao (rice) is used metonymically to mean food or a meal. The part ກິນ means to eat.
Which one should you use?
While ກິນເຂົ້າ is the standard way to say eat, ທານເຂົ້າ is a more polite and formal version used to show respect to elders or superiors.
How do you pronounce it?
kin khao
When do people say it?
In Lao culture, asking ກິນເຂົ້າແລ້ວບໍ? (Have you eaten yet?) is frequently used as a common social greeting, similar to 'How are you?'
Did you know?
- The word ກິນ is used in the Lao idiom for 'taking a bribe', which literally describes 'eating' money.
- The formal term ທານ is derived from Pali, the liturgical language of Theravada Buddhism, which is why it carries a higher register of respect than the common ກິນ.
- While ກິນເຂົ້າ refers to eating food, the word ກິນ is also used in Lao to describe consuming things that are not food, such as a car eating fuel or a disease eating away at the body.
Examples in context
- ພວກເຂົາໄປນຳກັນຕະຫຼາດເພື່ອກິນເຂົ້າ.They go to the market together to eat.This sentence shows the use of ກິນເຂົ້າ in the context of going to a market.Tatoeba #8983139 by Analu_Kalaka, translation #8983141 by Analu_Kalaka
- ລາວເປັນຫວັດມື້ນີ້. ລາວກິນເຂົ້າໄດ້ບໍ?He has a cold today. Can he eat?This sentence uses ກິນເຂົ້າ to ask if someone is able to eat while sick.Tatoeba #8990242 by Analu_Kalaka, translation #8990243 by Analu_Kalaka
- ຂ້ອຍກິນເຂົ້າຢູ່ເຮືອນແລ້ວຂ້ອຍຮຽນພາສາລາວ.I eat at home then I study Lao.This sentence illustrates the use of ກິນເຂົ້າ when describing a sequence of daily activities.Tatoeba #8977012 by Analu_Kalaka, translation #8977013 by Analu_Kalaka
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about their lunch plans.
- Aເຈົ້າຢາກໄປກິນເຂົ້າດຽວນີ້ບໍ?chao yak pai kin khao diao ni bo?Do you want to go eat now?
- Bໂດຍ, ຂ້ອຍຫິວຫຼາຍ.doi, khoy hiu lai.Yes, I am very hungry.
- Aພວກເຮົາຈະໄປກິນເຂົ້າຢູ່ໃສ?phuak hao cha pai kin khao yu sai?Where are we going to eat?
- Bໄປຮ້ານອາຫານໃກ້ໆນີ້ເນາະ.pai han a han kai kai ni no.Let's go to the restaurant nearby.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “eat” translations and entries ກິນເຂົ້າ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
