ຂ້ອຍຮັກເຈົ້າ
khǭi hak chao[kʰɔːj˧˩.hak̚˧.t͡ɕaw˥˨]
The English phrase "I love you" is expressed in Lao as ຂ້ອຍຮັກເຈົ້າ (khǭi hak chao).
This phrase is used as an affirmation of romantic feeling.
Meaning: affirmation of romantic feeling (phrase)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of three parts: ຂ້ອຍ (I), ຮັກ (love) and ເຈົ້າ (you).
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The phrase ຂ້ອຍຮັກເຈົ້າ is a standard, neutral way to express affection in most romantic contexts. Additionally, the variation Khoi rak khun can be used to translate "I love you" in informal settings.
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb ຮັກ (love) does not change its form based on the subject or the tense.
How do you pronounce it?
khǭi hak chao
Did you know?
- Couples in Laos may use nicknames or terms like ອ້າຍ (older brother) and ນ້ອງ (younger sibling) instead of the pronouns ຂ້ອຍ and ເຈົ້າ when saying 'I love you'.
- When expressing intense affection, Lao speakers might use the word ຄິດຮອດ (to miss/to think of) as a subtle, indirect way to convey deep love without being overly blunt.
- Lao is a tonal language, meaning the word ຮັກ must be pronounced with a specific tone to be understood correctly as 'love'.
Examples in context
- ຂ້ອຍຮັກເຈົ້າ.I love you.This example shows how to use ຂ້ອຍຮັກເຈົ້າ.Tatoeba #8975706 by Analu_Kalaka, translation #1434 by awael58
- ຂ້ອຍຮັກເຈົ້າຫຼາຍຫຼາຍ.khoy hak chao lai lai.I love you very much.
- ເຈົ້າຮູ້ບໍ່ວ່າຂ້ອຍຮັກເຈົ້າ?chao hu bo wa khoy hak chao?Do you know that I love you?
Example conversation
A couple is talking before going to sleep.
- Aຂ້ອຍຮັກເຈົ້າເດີ້.khoy hak chao derI love you.
- Bຂ້ອຍກໍ່ຮັກເຈົ້າຄືກັນ.khoy kor hak chao khu kanI love you too.
- Aຝັນດີເດີ້.fan dee derSweet dreams.
- Bຝັນດີຄືກັນ.fan dee khu kanSweet dreams to you too.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “I love you” translations and entries ຂ້ອຍຮັກເຈົ້າ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
