ເອື້ອຍ
ē ʼư̄ ʼa nya
In Lao, the term for sister is ເອື້ອຍ (ē ʼư̄ ʼa nya). Wiktionary also lists ນ້ອງສາວ (nǭng sāo).
Meaning: woman or girl having the same parents (noun)
Ways to say it
| Lao | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| ເອື້ອຍ | ē ʼư̄ ʼa nya |
| ນ້ອງສາວ | nǭng sāo |
Use ເອື້ອຍ to refer to an older sister and ນ້ອງສາວ to refer specifically to a younger sister.
What does it mean word for word?
The term ນ້ອງສາວ is composed of ນ້ອງ, meaning younger sibling and ສາວ, meaning young woman or girl.
Which one should you use?
Use ນ້ອງສາວ specifically for a younger sister.
How do you pronounce it?
ē ʼư̄ ʼa nya
When do people say it?
In Lao culture, ເອື້ອຍ is often used as a polite way to address a woman who is slightly older than you, even if she is not a biological sibling.
Did you know?
- In Lao society, calling a stranger ເອື້ອຍ is a way to establish an immediate familial bond and show respect without using formal titles.
- The term ສາວ within ນ້ອງສາວ is also used to describe 'maidenhood', meaning that the phrase carries a subtle connotation of being unmarried or of a certain age.
- Lao speakers use these terms to navigate social hierarchies, where the distinction between older and younger is more important than the English distinction between 'sister' and 'brother'.
Examples in context
- ນ້ອງສາວລາວໜ້າຮັກ.His younger sister is cute.This sentence shows how to use ນ້ອງສາວ to describe a younger sister.Tatoeba #8981604 by Analu_Kalaka, translation #8981605 by Analu_Kalaka
- ເອື້ອຍຂ້ອຍບໍ່ເຮັດວຽກ.My older sister doesn’t work.This sentence shows how to use ເອື້ອຍ to describe an older sister.Tatoeba #8981602 by Analu_Kalaka, translation #8981603 by Analu_Kalaka
- ເອື້ອຍຂອງຂ້ອຍກຳລັງຮຽນຢູ່ມະຫາວິທະຍາໄລ.euay khong khoy kam lang hian yu ma ha vi tha ya lai.My sister is studying at the university.
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about their families at a cafe.
- Aເຈົ້າມີເອື້ອຍຈັກຄົນ?chao mi euay chak khon?How many sisters do you have?
- Bຂ້ອຍມີເອື້ອຍໜຶ່ງຄົນ.khoy mi euay nueng khon.I have one sister.
- Aເອື້ອຍຂອງເຈົ້າເຮັດວຽກຢູ່ໃສ?euay khong chao het viak yu sai?Where does your sister work?
- Bເພິ່ນເຮັດວຽກຢູ່ໂຮງໝໍ.pheun het viak yu hong mor.She works at a hospital.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “sister” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
