ໂສ້ງ
sōng[soːŋ˧˩]
In Lao, the word for pants is ໂສ້ງ (sōng). Wiktionary also lists ກາງເກງ (kāng kēng) and ໂສ້ງຍ່າມ (sng ma).
Meaning: garment covering the body from the waist downwards (noun)
Ways to say it
| Lao | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| ໂສ້ງ | sōng | [soːŋ˧˩] (narrow) [soːŋ˥˥˨] (narrow) |
|
| ກາງເກງ | kāng kēng | rare | |
| ໂສ້ງຍ່າມ | sng ma | ||
| ສົ້ງຂາຍາວ | song khā nyāu |
The word ໂສ້ງ is the most common and natural way to refer to pants in everyday Lao conversation.
What does it mean word for word?
The term ສົ້ງຂາຍາວ for long pants is composed of the word for pants and the phrase for long legs.
Which one should you use?
While ສົ້ງຂາຍາວ means long pants, the term ໂສ້ງຂາສັ້ນ (short legs) is used to refer to shorts.
How do you pronounce it?
sōng
Did you know?
- When talking about underwear, Lao speakers use ໂສ້ງໃນ, which literally means 'inside pants'.
- The word ກາງເກງ is borrowed from Thai and is often perceived as more formal or written than the common ໂສ້ງ.
- While English speakers say 'a pair of pants', Lao speakers treat the word ໂສ້ງ as a singular noun rather than a plural-only noun.
Examples in context
- ຂ້ອຍຢາກໄດ້ໂສ້ງໂຕໃໝ່.khoy yak dai song to mai.I want some new pants.
- ໂສ້ງໂຕນີ້ສີຟ້າ.song to ni si fa.These pants are blue.
Example conversation
A person is shopping for clothes in a market.
- Aເຈົ້າມີໂສ້ງສີດໍາບໍ່?chao mi song si dam bo?Do you have black pants?
- Bມີ, ມີຫຼາຍແບບເລີຍ.mi, mi lai baep loei.Yes, I have many styles.
- Aຂ້ອຍຢາກເບິ່ງໂສ້ງຂາຍາວ.khoy yak boeng song kha yao.I want to see long pants.
- Bດຽວຂ້ອຍເອົາໃຫ້ເຈົ້າເບິ່ງ.diao khoy ao hai chao boeng.I will get them for you to see.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “pants” translations and entries ໂສ້ງ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
