ສະບາຍດີຕອນສວາຍ
Sabai dee ton suai
ສະບາຍດີຕອນສວາຍ (Sabai dee ton suai) is the Lao phrase for "good afternoon".
In most social situations, Lao speakers use the general greeting ສະບາຍດີ regardless of the time of day rather than specifying the time of day.
Meaning: greeting said in the afternoon (phrase)
How do you pronounce it?
Sabai dee ton suai
Did you know?
- In Lao culture, asking if someone has eaten yet is often used as a greeting and a way to show care, sometimes replacing a formal 'good afternoon'.
- In many Southeast Asian cultures, including Laos, a formal greeting is often accompanied by a slight bow of the head while performing the 'nop'.
- The root word ສະບາຍ in ສະບາຍດີ shares the same origin as the Khmer word for 'comfortable' or 'healthy', reflecting the deep historical links between Lao and Cambodian cultures.
Example conversation
Two colleagues meet in the office hallway.
- Aສະບາຍດີຕອນສວາຍ.Sabaidee ton savay.Good afternoon.
- Bສະບາຍດີ, ເຈົ້າສະບາຍດີບໍ່?Sabaidee, chao sabaidee bor?Hello, how are you?
- Aຂ້ອຍສະບາຍດີ, ຂອບໃຈ.Khoy sabaidee, khob chai.I am fine, thank you.
- Bຍິນດີທີ່ໄດ້ພົບເຈົ້າ.Yindee thee dai phop chao.Nice to meet you.
