ຜູ້ເຖົ້າ
phou thao
The English phrase "old man" is translated into Lao as ຜູ້ເຖົ້າ (phou thao).
ຜູ້ເຖົ້າ is the standard way to refer to an elderly man or an elderly person in many contexts. While the literal meaning refers to an old person, it is commonly used to identify an elderly male.
Meaning: elderly man (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The term is composed of ຜູ້ (phou), meaning person or someone and ເຖົ້າ (thao), meaning old.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
ປູ່ is a respectful way to address or refer to an elderly man and often implies a grandfatherly status.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In southern Laos, the term taa is used informally to refer to an old man.
How do you pronounce it?
phou thao
Did you know?
- The word ເຖົ້າ (old) can also be used to describe an experienced or seasoned professional in certain traditional crafts.
- In Lao culture, calling an elderly man ຜູ້ເຖົ້າ to his face can be seen as blunt or even rude, as it focuses purely on his age rather than his social status.
- In some Lao rural communities, the status of ຜູ້ເຖົ້າ grants a person an informal role as a mediator or judge in village disputes.
Examples in context
- ຂ້ອຍເຫັນຜູ້ເຖົ້າກໍາລັງນັ່ງຢູ່.khoy hen phu thao kam lang nang yu.I see an old man sitting there.
- ຜູ້ເຖົ້າຄົນນີ້ມີຄວາມສຸກຫຼາຍ.phu thao khon ni mi khwam suk lai.This old man is very happy.
Example conversation
A and B are talking about a neighbor.
- Aຜູ້ເຖົ້າຄົນນັ້ນແມ່ນໃຜ?phu thao khon nan maen phai?Who is that old man?
- Bລາວແມ່ນເພື່ອນບ້ານຂອງຂ້ອຍ.lao maen pheuan ban khong khoy.He is my neighbor.
- Aລາວເບິ່ງຄືວ່າໃຈດີ.lao beng khu wa chai di.He looks kind.
- Bແມ່ນແລ້ວ, ຜູ້ເຖົ້າຄົນນັ້ນໃຈດີຫຼາຍ.maen laew, phu thao khon nan chai di lai.Yes, that old man is very kind.
