ລາກ່ອນ
laa gon
Goodbye in Lao is ລາກ່ອນ (laa gon).
ລາກ່ອນ is used for more permanent or long-term farewells rather than a casual 'see you later'.
Meaning: farewell (intj)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is a combination of ລາ (laa), which means to leave or to depart and ກ່ອນ (gon). Literally, the phrase means 'to leave first'.
How do you pronounce it?
laa gon
When do people say it?
In formal settings, it is customary to bow slightly when saying goodbye to show respect.
Did you know?
- In Lao culture, it is common to end a goodbye by asking ໄປໃສ? (pai sai), meaning 'where are you going?' This is not an interrogation but a friendly way to show care and interest.
- The gesture that accompanies a farewell is the 'nop', where the palms are pressed together in a prayer-like position. The higher the hands are held relative to the face, the more respect is shown to the other person.
- If you use ລາກ່ອນ with close friends every day, it might sound overly dramatic, as if you are departing for a very long time or forever.
Examples in context
- ລາກ່ອນ.la kon.Goodbye.
- ພວກເຮົາຕ້ອງລາກ່ອນແລ້ວ.phuak hao tong la kon laeo.We must say goodbye now.
Example conversation
Two friends are finishing their lunch at a cafe.
- Aມື້ນີ້ສະໜຸກຫຼາຍ, ຂອບໃຈເດ.mu nee sa nuk lai, khob chai de.Today was a lot of fun, thank you.
- Bຂອບໃຈຄືກັນ, ລາກ່ອນເດີ້.khob chai khu kan, la kon der.Thank you too, goodbye.
- Aລາກ່ອນ, ໃຫ້ເດີທາງປອດໄພ.la kon, hai der thang pod phai.Goodbye, have a safe trip.
- Bຂອບໃຈ, ແລ້ວພົບກັນ.khob chai, laew phop kan.Thanks, see you later.
