ສະບາຍດີ, ເຈົ້າສະບາຍດີບໍ
sabaidee, jao sabai dee bor
The English phrase "hi, how are you" is expressed in Lao as ສະບາຍດີ, ເຈົ້າສະບາຍດີບໍ (sabaidee, jao sabai dee bor).
This phrase is a common greeting used to say hello and ask about someone's well-being. In many social situations, simply saying ສະບາຍດີ is sufficient as a greeting without needing to include the follow-up question about well-being.
What does it mean word for word?
The greeting ສະບາຍດີ is literally composed of the word ສະບາຍດີ which means "to be well" or "to be happy".
How does it change in a sentence?
In the phrase ເຈົ້າສະບາຍດີບໍ, the word ບໍ at the end functions as a question particle that turns the statement into a yes/no question.
How do you pronounce it?
sabaidee, jao sabai dee bor
When do people say it?
If someone asks you ເຈົ້າສະບາຍດີບໍ, a common response is ສະບາຍດີ (I am well).
Did you know?
- While ສະບາຍດີ is the standard greeting, Lao people often greet friends by asking ກິນເຂົ້າແລ້ວບໍ, which means 'Have you eaten yet?'
- The height of the hands during the nop changes depending on the status of the person being greeted, with higher hands showing more respect.
- The word ສະບາຍ in ສະບາຍດີ is borrowed from the Khmer word for 'comfort' or 'ease', showing the historical influence of Cambodia on the Lao language.
Examples in context
- ສະບາຍດີ, ເຈົ້າສະບາຍດີບໍ, ສາວນ້ອຍ?sabaidee, chao sabaidee bo, sao noi?Hi, how are you, young lady?
Example conversation
Two friends meet at a cafe.
- Aສະບາຍດີ, ເຈົ້າສະບາຍດີບໍ?Sabaidee, chao sabaidee bo?Hi, how are you?
- Bສະບາຍດີ, ຂ້ອຍສະບາຍດີ. ຂອບໃຈ!Sabaidee, khoy sabaidee. Khob chai!Hi, I am fine. Thanks!
- Aເຈົ້າກິນເຂົ້າແລ້ວບໍ?Chao kin khao laew bo?Have you eaten yet?
- Bກິນແລ້ວ, ຂອບໃຈຫຼາຍໆ.Kin laew, khob chai lai lai.I have, thank you very much.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ສະບາຍດີ, CC BY-SA 4.0.
