ຕາເວັນ
tā wen[taː˩(˧).ʋen˧˥]
The Lao word for sun is ຕາເວັນ (tā wen).
ຕາເວັນ refers to the star around which the Earth revolves. It can also be used more broadly to mean a star, specifically when it is the centre of a solar system.
Meaning: the star around which the Earth revolves (name)
What does it mean word for word?
The word ຕາເວັນ is a compound of ຕາ, meaning eye and ເວັນ, meaning day or sun. It literally translates to eye of the day.
Which one should you use?
While ຕາເວັນ is the standard term, you can use ດວງຕາເວັນ to refer to the sun specifically as a celestial body. Adding the classifier ດວງ makes the expression more formal or descriptive.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
tā wen
Did you know?
- In traditional Lao folklore and poetry, the 'eye of the day' ຕາເວັນ is often personified as an entity that watches over the world.
- The classifier ດວງ used in ດວງຕາເວັນ is also used for other glowing or spherical objects like lamps and stars.
- The word ຕາເວັນ is shared across several languages and dialects in the region, including Thai, Isan and Northern Thai.
Examples in context
- ຕາເວັນກໍາລັງຂຶ້ນ.ta wen kam lang khuen.The sun is rising.
- ແສງຕາເວັນຮ້ອນຫຼາຍ.saeng ta wen ron lai.The sunlight is very hot.
Example conversation
Two friends are walking in a park during the late afternoon.
- Aຕາເວັນກໍາລັງຈະຕົກແລ້ວ.ta wen kam lang cha tok laeo.The sun is about to set.
- Bແມ່ນແລ້ວ, ທ້ອງຟ້າງາມຫຼາຍ.maen laeo, thong fa ngam lai.Yes, the sky is very beautiful.
- Aແຕ່ແສງຕາເວັນຍັງເຮັດໃຫ້ຮ້ອນຢູ່.tae saeng ta wen yang het hai ron yu.But the sunlight is still making it hot.
- Bເຮົາຄວນຟ້າວກັບບ້ານກັນ.hao khuan fao kap ban kan.We should hurry home.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “sun” translations and entries ຕາເວັນ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ຕາເວັນ, CC BY-SA 4.0.
