Ways to say it
| Lao | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| ກະລຸນາ | ka lu nā | [ka(ʔ˧˥).luʔ˧.naː˧˥] (narrow) [ka(ʔ˩˨).luʔ˧˨.naː˩˨] (narrow) |
| ກະຣຸນາ | ka ru nā | |
| ຊ່ວຍ | suāi | |
| ຊ່ອຍ | sǭi | |
| ໂປຣດ | prōt |
Lao uses different words for 'please' based on whether you are making a formal request or a casual one. While ກະລຸນາ is the standard way to make a polite request, in everyday spoken Lao, people often use the word ຊ່ວຍ to sound more natural and less stiff. This word literally functions as 'help', meaning you are asking someone to 'help' you do something.
Which one should you use?
ກະລຸນາ is used for formal requests. In contrast, ຊ່ວຍ is a more common, informal way to say 'please' by asking someone to 'help' you. The word ໂປຣດ is a highly formal version of 'please' that is typically reserved for written instructions, official announcements or very polite public notices.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
ຊ່ວຍ is used in colloquial, spoken Lao to avoid sounding stiff. ໂປຣດ is used for highly formal situations, such as official notices or written instructions.
How does it change in a sentence?
When using the informal 'please' with ຊ່ວຍ, it is very common to add the particle ແດ່ at the end of the request to soften the tone, forming the pattern ຊ່ວຍ…ແດ່ to mean 'please (do something) for me'.
How do you pronounce it?
ka lu nā
Did you know?
- The word ກະລຸນາ comes from the Sanskrit word for 'compassion'. When you say 'please' in this formal way, you are technically appealing to the other person's sense of mercy.
- Using the highly formal ໂປຣດ in a casual conversation with a friend would sound unintentionally comedic or overly dramatic, similar to using 'I beseech thee' in English.
- You will almost never hear the word ໂປຣດ spoken aloud in a conversation. It is a 'paper word' primarily used for signs and official government notices.
Examples in context
- ກະລຸນາອ່ານຈາກໜ້າ 50 ເຖິງໜ້າ 100 ໃນປື້ມຫົວນີ້.Please read from page 50 to page 100 in this book.This sentence demonstrates the use of ກະລຸນາ when giving a reading instruction.Tatoeba #8995295 by Analu_Kalaka, translation #8995297 by Analu_Kalaka
- ກະລຸນາຂຽນຊື່ເຈົ້າດ້ວຍໝຶກດຳຫຼືໝຶກຟ້າແຕ່ບໍ່ແມ່ນໝຶກແດງ.Please write your name in black or blue ink but not in red ink.This sentence shows how to use ກະລຸນາ when requesting someone to write something in a specific color of ink.Tatoeba #8997038 by Analu_Kalaka, translation #8997039 by Analu_Kalaka
- ກະລຸນາຊ່ວຍເປີດປະຕູໃຫ້ແດ່.kaluna suay peud pa tu hai dae.Please help open the door.
Example conversation
A person is asking for a menu at a restaurant.
- Aກະລຸນາເອົາເມນູໃຫ້ຂ້ອຍແດ່.karuna ao menu hai khoy dae.Please give me the menu.
- Bໄດ້ເລີຍ, ນີ້ແມ່ນເມນູ.dai loei, nee maen menu.Sure, here is the menu.
- Aຂອບໃຈຫຼາຍໆ.khop chai lai lai.Thank you very much.
- Bຍິນດີຊ່ວຍ.yin dee suay.You're welcome.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “please” translations and entries ກະລຸນາ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ກະລຸນາ, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
