ໂຮງຮຽນ
hōng hīan[hoːŋ˧˥.hiːə̯n˧˥]
The Lao word for school is ໂຮງຮຽນ (hōng hīan).
ໂຮງຮຽນ is a noun used to refer to an institution dedicated to teaching and learning.
Meaning: an institution dedicated to teaching and learning (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is a compound of ໂຮງ, meaning building or hall and ຮຽນ, meaning to study or learn.
How do you pronounce it?
hōng hīan
Did you know?
- In traditional Lao culture, learning was often centered around the temple, or ວັດ, rather than a ໂຮງຮຽນ. For centuries, the temple served as the primary community school for boys.
- Lao classrooms often use the term ຄູ for teacher, which carries a deep social prestige. In a ໂຮງຮຽນ, the relationship between ຄູ and student is traditionally one of high respect and filial-like duty.
- While ໂຮງຮຽນ refers to the institution, Lao has different words for specific levels of schooling. The term for university, ມະຫາວິທະຍາໄລ, uses a completely different root derived from Pali and Sanskrit.
Examples in context
- ຂ້ອຍບໍ່ຢາກໄປໂຮງຮຽນI don't want to go to school.This sentence is useful for expressing a desire not to go to ໂຮງຮຽນ.Tatoeba #14057584 by ninefi, translation #1860 by CK
- ນັ້ນບໍ່ແມ່ນໂຮງຮຽນຂ້ອຍ.That is not my school.This sentence is useful for stating that a specific place is not one's ໂຮງຮຽນ.Tatoeba #8978775 by Analu_Kalaka, translation #8978776 by Analu_Kalaka
- ພໍ່ໝູ່ຂ້ອຍໄປໂຮງຮຽນມື້ນີ້.My friend’s father is going to school today.This sentence is useful for describing someone going to ໂຮງຮຽນ.Tatoeba #8983134 by Analu_Kalaka, translation #8983135 by Analu_Kalaka
- 9 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about where to meet.
- Aເຈົ້າຈະໄປຫາຂ້ອຍຢູ່ໂຮງຮຽນບໍ?chao cha pai ha khoy yu hong hian bo?Will you come to see me at the school?
- Bໄດ້, ຂ້ອຍຈະໄປຫາເຈົ້າຢູ່ໂຮງຮຽນ.dai, khoy cha pai ha chao yu hong hian.Okay, I will go to see you at the school.
- Aເຈົ້າຈະມາຕອນໃດ?chao cha ma ton dai?When will you come?
- Bຂ້ອຍຈະໄປຮອດໂຮງຮຽນໃນອີກສິບນາທີ.khoy cha pai hot hong hian nai ik sip na thi.I will arrive at the school in ten minutes.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “school” translations and entries ໂຮງຮຽນ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
