ສໍດຳ
sǭ dam[sɔː˩(˧).dam˩(˧)]
The English word 'pencil' is translated into Lao as ສໍດຳ (sǭ dam). Wiktionary also lists ສໍ (sǭ).
Meaning: graphite writing-instrument (noun)
Ways to say it
| Lao | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| ສໍ | sǭ | [sɔː˩(˧)] (narrow) [sɔː˥˧˧] (narrow) |
| ສໍດຳ | sǭ dam | [sɔː˩(˧).dam˩(˧)] (narrow) [sɔː˥˧˧.dam˩˨] (narrow) |
The term refers specifically to a graphite writing instrument.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase ສໍດຳ literally means 'black pencil', where ສໍ (sǭ) means 'pencil/chalk' and ດຳ (dam) means 'black'.
Which one should you use?
ສໍດຳ is the specific term for a graphite pencil. In contrast, the shorter form ສໍ is a generic term that can refer to any writing implement, such as chalk or crayons. If you wish to specify colored pencils, you should use ສໍສີ (sǭ sī), where ສີ means 'color'.
How do you pronounce it?
sǭ dam
Did you know?
- In Lao culture, the term ສໍ can historically refer to a stylus used for scratching marks into palm leaves before the introduction of paper and graphite.
- While ສໍດຳ means 'black pencil', the word ດຳ is also used in Lao to describe the 'dark' or 'deep' tones of a person's skin or voice.
- When students in Laos use ສໍສີ (colored pencils), the word ສີ can also be used as a verb meaning 'to paint' or 'to color' a drawing.
Examples in context
- ເຈົ້າມີ ສໍດຳ ໃຫ້ຂ້ອຍຢືມບໍ່?chao mi so dam hai khoy yeum bor?Do you have a pencil I can borrow?
- ຂ້ອຍໃຊ້ ສໍດຳ ຂຽນວຽກ.khoy xai so dam khian viak.I use a pencil to do work.
Example conversation
A student is asking a classmate for a writing tool in a classroom.
- Aຂໍໂທດ, ເຈົ້າມີ ສໍດຳ ບໍ່?kho thot, chao mi so dam bor?Excuse me, do you have a pencil?
- Bມີ, ຂ້ອຍມີ ສໍດຳ ສອງແທ່ງ.mi, khoy mi so dam song thaeng.Yes, I have two pencils.
- Aຂອບໃຈຫຼາຍໆ, ຂ້ອຍຂໍຢືມແທ່ງໜຶ່ງໄດ້ບໍ່?khop chai lai lai, khoy kho yeum thaeng nueng dai bor?Thank you very much, can I borrow one?
- Bໄດ້ເລີຍ, ເອົາໄປໃຊ້ໄດ້.dai loei, ao pai xai dai.Sure, you can use it.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “pencil” translations and entries ສໍ, ສໍດຳ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
