ຄວັນ
khuan[kʷʰan˧˥]
The English word 'smoke' is translated into Lao as ຄວັນ (khuan). If unsure, use ຄວັນ. Wiktionary also lists ຄວັນໄຟ (khuan fai).
Meaning: visible particles and vapour given off by burning material (noun)
Ways to say it
| Lao | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| ຄວັນ | khuan | [kʷʰan˧˥] (narrow) [kʷʰan˩˨] (narrow) |
| ຄວັນໄຟ | khuan fai |
The term ຄວັນ refers to the noun meaning the visible particles and vapour given off by burning material. When referring specifically to the act of smoking tobacco or cigarettes, the verb ສູບຢາ is used. You may also encounter the verb ດູດ, which describes the physical action of inhaling or sucking, often used in the context of smoking or ສູບ and ດູດ to describe inhaling and exhaling smoke from a burning cigarette.
What does it mean word for word?
The word ຄວັນໄຟ is a compound where ຄວັນ means smoke and ໄຟ means fire.
Which one should you use?
While ຄວັນ is the general term for smoke, ຄວັນໄຟ specifically refers to smoke produced by a fire.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
khuan
Did you know?
- In Lao, the verb for smoking tobacco ສູບຢາ literally translates to 'inhaling medicine'.
- In traditional Lao cooking, the 'smoke' ຄວັນ from wood fires is often intentionally used to preserve meats and fish by hanging them above the hearth.
- The word ດູດ is used for the physical act of sucking, which can apply to smoking a cigarette or drinking through a straw.
Examples in context
- ມີຄວັນອອກມາຈາກເຕົາ.mi khuan ok ma chak tao.There is smoke coming out of the stove.
- ຂ້ອຍບໍ່ມັກກິ່ນຄວັນ.khoy bo mak kin khuan.I do not like the smell of smoke.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “smoke” translations and entries ຄວັນ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
