ງາມ
ngām[ŋaːm˧˥]
The Lao word for pretty is ງາມ (ngām).
The adjective ງາມ is used to describe something or someone as pleasant or attractive, especially when referring to women and children.
Meaning: especially of women and children: pleasant, attractive (adj)
How do you pronounce it?
ngām
Did you know?
- If you use ງາມ to describe a person's character or an action, it shifts the meaning from physical attractiveness to being 'virtuous' or 'beautifully done'.
- The word ງາມ is a cognate with the Thai word งาม, meaning the two languages share the exact same root for this specific concept of beauty.
- Because ງາມ is a very positive and versatile term, it can be used in formal compliments to show high respect for the elegance of a traditional Lao ceremony.
Examples in context
- ນ້ອງສາວຄົນນັ້ນງາມຫຼາຍ.nong sao khon nan ngam lai.That young woman is very pretty.
- ລູກສາວຂອງເຈົ້າງາມຫຼາຍ.luk sao khong chao ngam lai.Your daughter is very pretty.
- ເດັກນ້ອຍຄົນນີ້ງາມແທ້ໆ.dek noy khon ni ngam thae thae.This child is truly pretty.
Example conversation
Two friends are looking at a photo of a child.
- Aເບິ່ງລູກສາວຂອງລາວແມ້.beng louk sao khong lao mae.Look at her daughter.
- Bໂອ້, ລາວງາມແທ້!oh, lao ngam thae!Oh, she is so pretty!
- Aລາວຄືແມ່ຂອງລາວຫຼາຍ.lao kheu mae khong lao lai.She looks a lot like her mother.
- Bແມ່ນແລ້ວ, ທັງສອງຄົນງາມຫຼາຍ.maen laew, thang song khon ngam lai.Yes, both of them are very pretty.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry ງາມ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ງາມ, CC BY-SA 4.0.
