ສະມະນະ
sa ma na
The English word "monk" can be translated into Lao using several terms, primarily ສະມະນະ (sa ma na). Wiktionary also lists ສົງ (song) and ສົມ (som).
Meaning: male member of monastic order (noun)
Ways to say it
| Lao | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| ສະມະນະ | sa ma na | |
| ສົງ | song | |
| ສົມ | som | [som˩(˧)] (narrow) [som˥˧˧] (narrow) |
| ນັກສິດ | nak sit |
The terms refer to a male member of a monastic order.
Which one should you use?
While ສະມະນະ is the formal term for a monk, ສົງ is the much more common, everyday word used in spoken Lao.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
ສະມະນະ is a formal, Pali-derived term used in religious or official contexts rather than daily conversation.
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization for ສະມະນະ is sa ma na.
When do people say it?
When addressing monks, the word ຂ້າ can be used to display politeness.
Did you know?
- Women are strictly forbidden from touching a ສົງ or their robes, as physical contact between a monk and a woman is a violation of monastic discipline.
- The word ສົງ is actually a shortened form of the Pali word ສັງຄະ (saṅgha), which refers to the entire community of monks rather than just a single individual.
- The way one interacts with the ສົງ involves specific physical postures, such as keeping one's head lower than the monk's to show respect.
Example sentences for Lao are not verified yet.
Example conversation
Two people are visiting a temple.
- Aເບິ່ງສະມະນະທາງນັ້ນດູ.beung samana thang nan du.Look at the monk over there.
- Bເພິ່ນກໍາລັງຍ່າງໄປທາງໃດ?phen kam lang nyang pai thang dai?Which way is he walking?
- Aສະມະນະກໍາລັງຍ່າງໄປທີ່ວັດ.samana kam lang nyang pai thi vat.The monk is walking to the temple.
- Bພວກເຮົາໄປນໍາເພິ່ນເທາະ.phuak hao pai nam phen tho.Let's follow him.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “monk” translations and entries ສົມ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
