ຄົນໂງ່
khon ngō
The Lao word for idiot is ຄົນໂງ່ (khon ngō). Wiktionary also lists ຄົນບັດຊົບ (khon bat sop) and ໂງ່ (ngō).
Meaning: person of low general intelligence (noun)
Ways to say it
| Lao | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| ຄົນໂງ່ | khon ngō |
| ຄົນບັດຊົບ | khon bat sop |
| ໂງ່ | ngō |
The term is used to describe a person of low general intelligence.
What does it mean word for word?
The noun ຄົນໂງ່ is composed of ຄົນ, meaning person and ໂງ່, meaning stupid or foolish.
Which one should you use?
While ຄົນໂງ່ is the noun used to mean 'an idiot', the word ໂງ່ functions as an adjective meaning 'stupid' to describe a person's intelligence or a specific action. Additionally, ຄົນບັດຊົບ is a version used to refer to an idiot or fool.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The form ຄົນບັດຊົບ is a more colloquial or slangy way to refer to an idiot compared to the standard ຄົນໂງ່.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word ໂງ່ can function as an adjective on its own, whereas ຄົນໂງ່ specifically refers to the person as a noun.
How do you pronounce it?
khon ngō
Did you know?
- In Laos, calling a friend ໂງ່ can actually be a sign of deep intimacy rather than a genuine insult.
- While ຄົນໂງ່ refers to intelligence, the term ຄົນບັດຊົບ can carry a connotation of being 'wretched' or 'pathetic' in addition to being a fool.
- In certain contexts, calling someone ໂງ່ refers to a lack of 'street smarts' and life experience rather than a lack of innate intelligence.
Examples in context
- ລາວເປັນຄົນໂງ່.Lao pen khon ngo.He is an idiot.
- ຢ່າເປັນຄົນໂງ່ໃຫ້ເຂົາເຈົ້າຫຼອກ.Ya pen khon ngo hai khao lok.Don't be an idiot and let them trick you.
- ຂ້ອຍບໍ່ຢາກເປັນຄົນໂງ່ໃນຕາຄົນອື່ນ.Khoy bo yak pen khon ngo nai ta khon eun.I don't want to be seen as an idiot by others.
Example conversation
Two friends are arguing over a mistake.
- Aເປັນຫຍັງເຈົ້າຈຶ່ງເຮັດແບບນັ້ນ?pen yang chao chueng het baep nan?Why did you do that?
- Bຂ້ອຍພຽງແຕ່ເຮັດຜິດເທົ່ານັ້ນ.khoy phiang tae het phit thao nan.I just made a mistake.
- Aເຈົ້າເຮັດຕົວຄືຄົນໂງ່ແທ້ໆ.chao het tua khu khon ngo thae thae.You are really acting like an idiot.
- Bຢຸດເວົ້າແບບນັ້ນໃສ່ຂ້ອຍ!yut vao baep nan sai khoy!Stop talking to me like that!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “idiot” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
