ນົມ
nom[nom˧˥]
The English word "milk" is translated into Lao as ນົມ (nom). Wiktionary also lists ນ້ຳນົມ (nam nom).
Meaning: liquid (noun)
Ways to say it
| Lao | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| ນົມ | nom | [nom˧˥] (narrow) [nom˩˨] (narrow) |
| ນ້ຳນົມ | nam nom | [nam˥˨.nom˧˥] (narrow) [nam˧˦.nom˩˨] (narrow) |
In Lao, both ນົມ and ນ້ຳນົມ are used to mean milk.
What does it mean word for word?
The form ນ້ຳນົມ is a compound of ນ້ຳ (water/liquid) and ນົມ (milk).
Which one should you use?
While ນົມ refers to the substance milk, ນ້ຳນົມ is often used to refer to the liquid itself or more specifically to breast milk/milk secretions.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb ໃສ່ນົມ is used to mean to express milk from mammal.
How do you pronounce it?
nom
Did you know?
- The Lao word ນົມ is a cognate shared across a vast linguistic family including the Ahom language of India and the Zhuang language of China.
- In Lao, the word ນົມ can refer to the physical anatomy of the chest, so context is vital to avoid confusion between 'drinking milk' and 'discussing breasts'.
- While ນົມ and ນ້ຳນົມ are interchangeable in some contexts, ນົມ is the more common shorthand for commercial milk products.
Examples in context
- ຂ້ອຍຢາກດື່ມນົມ.khoy yak deum nom.I want to drink milk.
- ນົມນີ້ແຊບຫຼາຍ.nom nee saep lai.This milk is very delicious.
- ມີນົມຢູ່ໃນຕູ້ເຢັນບໍ່?mee nom you nai too yen baw?Is there milk in the refrigerator?
Example conversation
A person is shopping at a local market.
- Aເຈົ້າມີນົມບໍ?chao mee nom baw?Do you have milk?
- Bມີ, ມີນົມສົດ.mee, mee nom sod.Yes, I have fresh milk.
- Aເອົານົມໜຶ່ງກ່ອງ.ao nom neung kong.Give me one carton of milk.
- Bໄດ້ເລີຍ.dai loei.Sure thing.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “milk” translations and entries ນົມ, ນ້ຳນົມ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ນົມ, ນ້ຳນົມ, CC BY-SA 4.0.
