ນັ່ງ
nang[naŋ˧]
The Lao word for sit is ນັ່ງ (nang).
This verb is used to describe a person being in a position where the upper body is upright and the legs are supported.
Meaning: of a person, be in a position in which the upper body is upright and the legs are supported (verb)
How do you pronounce it?
nang
Did you know?
- In Lao culture, the head is considered the most sacred part of the body, so you should never ນັ່ງ in a way that positions your feet or lower body pointing toward another person or a Buddha image.
- In Lao culture, the way you use the verb to describe sitting can change based on your social status, as sitting on a higher level than an elder is considered disrespectful.
- The word ນັ່ງ is a linguistic cousin to the Thai word นั่ง, meaning that despite different scripts, the two languages share the same ancient root.
Examples in context
- ນັ່ງລົງກ່ອນ, ຢ່າຟ້າວຢືນ.nang long kon, ya fao yeun.Sit down first, don't stand up yet.
- ເຈົ້ານັ່ງຢູ່ໃກ້ປ່ອງຢ້ຽມບໍ?chao nang yu kai pong yiam bo?Are you sitting near the window?
Example conversation
Two friends meet at a cafe.
- Aສະບາຍດີ, ມາຮອດແລ້ວບໍ?sabai dee, ma hot laew bor?Hello, have you arrived?
- Bແມ່ນແລ້ວ, ຂ້ອຍນັ່ງຢູ່ນີ້.maen laew, khoy nang yu nee.Yes, I am sitting here.
- Aຂ້ອຍຂໍນັ່ງນຳໄດ້ບໍ?khoy khor nang nam dai bor?Can I sit with you?
- Bໄດ້ເລີຍ, ເຊີນນັ່ງ.dai loey, soen nang.Of course, please sit.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “sit” translations and entries ນັ່ງ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ນັ່ງ, CC BY-SA 4.0.
