ຊ່ອຍ
sǭi
The Lao word for help is ຊ່ອຍ (sǭi). Wiktionary also lists ຊ່ວຽ (suāi).
Meaning: transitive: provide assistance to (someone or something) (verb)
Ways to say it
| Lao | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| ຊ່ອຍ | sǭi |
| ຊ່ວຽ | suāi |
The verb means to provide assistance to someone or something.
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is sǭi.
Did you know?
- Lao speakers often use ຊ່ວຍ when asking for a favor that is not strictly 'help', such as asking a vendor to 'help' them by giving a lower price.
- In Lao culture, asking for ຊ່ອຍ can be a subtle way to initiate a social bond, as the act of helping others is central to the concept of 'bun' or spiritual merit.
- In formal Lao, you might see the word ຊ່ວຍເຫຼືອ instead of just ຊ່ວຍ. The second word ເຫຼືອ literally means 'to remain' or 'to be left over'.
Example sentences for Lao are not verified yet.
Example conversation
Two people are in a kitchen.
- Aເຈົ້າຊ່ອຍຂ້ອຍລ້າງຈານໄດ້ບໍ່?chao soy khoy lang chan dai bo?Can you help me wash the dishes?
- Bໄດ້, ຂ້ອຍຈະຊ່ອຍດຽວນີ້.dai, khoy cha soy diao ni.Yes, I will help right now.
- Aຂອບໃຈຫຼາຍໆ.khop chai lai lai.Thank you very much.
- Bບໍ່ເປັນຫຍັງ.bo pen yang.You're welcome.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “help” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
