ເຈົ້າหญิง
chao nying
The Lao word for princess is ເຈົ້າหญิง (chao nying).
ເຈົ້າหญิง is a noun used to refer to a female member of a royal family.
Meaning: female member of royal family (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
chao nying
Did you know?
- The word ເຈົ້າ in ເຈົ້າหญิง can also be used as a polite second-person pronoun meaning 'you'. In a royal context it denotes ownership or lordship but in daily conversation it is a mark of respect.
- Lao has a complex system of 'royal language' known as ຣາຊາສັບ. While ເຈົ້າหญิง is the general term for a princess specific verbs and nouns change entirely depending on the princess's rank in the hierarchy.
- In modern Lao pop culture, the term can be used playfully or sarcastically to describe a woman who is being particularly high-maintenance or 'spoiled'.
Example conversation
Two people are looking at a photograph of a royal family.
- Aຜູ້ຍິງຄົນນີ້ແມ່ນໃຜ?phu nying khon ni maen phai?Who is this woman?
- Bລາວແມ່ນເຈົ້າหญิงຂອງລາວ.lao maen chao nying khong lao.She is a princess of Laos.
- Aລາວເບິ່ງໃຈດີຫຼາຍ.lao boeng chai di lai.She looks very kind.
- Bແມ່ນແລ້ວ, ເຈົ້າหญิงທ່ານັ້ນມີເມດຕາຫຼາຍ.maen laew, chao nying tha nan mi met ta lai.Yes, that princess is very merciful.
