ຂໍໂທດ
khǭ thōt[kʰɔː˩(˧).tʰoːt̚˥˨]
In Lao, 'sorry' is expressed as ຂໍໂທດ (khǭ thōt). Wiktionary also lists ຂໍອະໄພ (khǭ ʼa phai).
Meaning: expression of regret or sorrow (intj)
Ways to say it
| Lao | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| ຂໍໂທດ | khǭ thōt | [kʰɔː˩(˧).tʰoːt̚˥˨] (narrow) [kʰɔː˥˧˧.tʰoːt̚˧˦] (narrow) |
| ຂໍອະໄພ | khǭ ʼa phai |
The phrase ຂໍໂທດ is a versatile expression used to apologize for a mistake or to get someone's attention, functioning much like 'excuse me' in English.
What does it mean word for word?
Literally, ຂໍໂທດ means 'ask for forgiveness' or 'ask for fault/error'.
Which one should you use?
ຂໍໂທດ is the standard, everyday way to say 'sorry' or 'excuse me'. In contrast, ຂໍອະໄພ is a more formal and polite way to say 'forgive me' or 'pardon me'.
How do you pronounce it?
khǭ thōt
Did you know?
- While English speakers use 'sorry' to express sympathy, such as 'I am sorry for your loss', a Lao speaker would rarely use ຂໍໂທດ for this, as it focuses more on one's own fault.
- The formal term ຂໍອະໄພ is derived from Pali, the ancient liturgical language of Theravada Buddhism, making it sound more spiritual or elevated than the everyday ຂໍໂທດ.
- While ຂໍໂທດ is used for apologies, Lao culture often emphasizes a physical gesture called the 'nop' (pressing palms together) to convey the sincerity of the regret.
Examples in context
- ຂໍໂທດ, ຂ້ອຍມາຊ້າ.kho thot, khoy ma sa.Sorry, I am late.
- ຂໍໂທດຫຼາຍໆເດີ້.kho thot lai lai der.I am very sorry.
- ຂໍໂທດ, ຂ້ອຍບໍ່ຮູ້.kho thot, khoy bo hu.Sorry, I don't know.
Example conversation
A person accidentally bumps into another person on the street.
- Aຂໍໂທດ, ຂ້ອຍບໍ່ໄດ້ຕັ້ງໃຈ.kho thot, khoy bo dai tang chai.Sorry, I didn't mean to.
- Bບໍ່ເປັນຫຍັງ.bo pen nyang.It's okay.
- Aເຈົ້າເປັນຫຍັງບໍ່?chao pen nyang bo?Are you alright?
- Bຂ້ອຍບໍ່ເປັນຫຍັງ, ຂອບໃຈ.khoy bo pen nyang, khop chai.I'm fine, thank you.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “sorry” translations and entries ຂໍໂທດ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
