ຫນູ
gnu
The Lao word for rat is ຫນູ (gnu).
ຫນູ is a noun used to refer to a rodent.
Meaning: rodent (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is gnu.
Did you know?
- When addressing very small children, some Lao speakers use the word ຫນູ as a term of endearment, similar to calling a child 'little one'.
- In some rural regions of Laos, certain types of field ຫນູ are considered a delicacy and are prepared as a traditional snack.
- In the Lao Zodiac, the year of the 'rat' is the first year of the twelve-year cycle, representing new beginnings and prosperity.
Examples in context
- ມີ ຫນູ ໃນ ຄົວ.mi nu nai khua.There is a rat in the kitchen.
- ຫນູ ໂຕ ນີ້ ໃຫຍ່ ຫຼາຍ.nu to ni yai lai.This rat is very big.
Example conversation
A woman notices a pest in her house and tells her husband.
- Aອ້າຍ, ມີ ຫນູ ຢູ່ ນອກ ເຮືອນ ຂອງ ເຮົາ.ai, mi nu yu noke huean khong hao.Honey, there is a rat outside our house.
- Bມັນ ເຮັດ ໃຫ້ ເຈົ້າ ຢ້ານ ບໍ່?man het hai chao yan bo?Does it make you scared?
- Aແມ່ນ ແລ້ວ, ຂ້ອຍ ຢ້ານ ຫນູ ຫຼາຍ.maen laew, khoy yan nu lai.Yes, I am very afraid of rats.
- Bບໍ່ ຕ້ອງ ຫ່ວງ, ຂ້ອຍ ຈະ ຈັດ ການ ເອງ.bo tong huang, khoy cha jat kan eng.Don't worry, I will handle it.
