ຫຍັງ
nyang[ɲaŋ˩(˧)]
The English phrase "what" is translated into Lao as ຫຍັງ (nyang).
Meaning: what? (interrogative pronoun) (pron)
How does it change in a sentence?
The word ຫຍັງ functions as an interrogative pronoun and can be placed after a noun to specify which one of a category is being asked about.
How do you pronounce it?
nyang
Did you know?
- In many dialects of Isan, the spoken version of ຫຍັງ sounds nearly identical to the Lao pronunciation, making the two languages sound like sister dialects to the untrained ear.
- While ຫຍັງ asks 'what', the Lao language often uses a different word for 'what' when it functions as a relative pronoun, such as 'the thing that'.
- In Lao, you can express disbelief or a 'what on earth!' sentiment by repeating ຫຍັງ or adding emotive particles, rather than changing the word itself.
Examples in context
- ອາຈານຊື່ຫຍັງ?What’s the teacher’s name?This sentence is useful for asking for a teacher's name using ຫຍັງ.Tatoeba #8975827 by Analu_Kalaka, translation #8975828 by Analu_Kalaka
- ອັນນີ້ແມ່ນຫຍັງ?What is this?This sentence is useful for asking what an object is using ຫຍັງ.Tatoeba #8977019 by Analu_Kalaka, translation #392210 by sysko
- ອັນນີ້ແມ່ນໝາກໄມ້ຫຍັງ?What fruit is this?This sentence is useful for specifying a category of fruit with ຫຍັງ.Tatoeba #8980185 by Analu_Kalaka, translation #8980186 by Analu_Kalaka
- ກິນຫຍັງ?Eat what?
Example conversation
A person is looking at a mysterious gift on the table.
- Aອັນນີ້ແມ່ນຫຍັງ?an ni maen nyang?What is this?
- Bມັນແມ່ນຂອງຂວັນສຳລັບເຈົ້າ.man maen khong khwan sam lap chao.It is a gift for you.
- Aເຈົ້າຊື້ຫຍັງມາ?chao seu nyang ma?What did you buy?
- Bຂ້ອຍຊື້ກ້ອງຖ່າຍຮູບໃໝ່.khoy seu kong thai rup mai.I bought a new camera.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “what” translations and entries ຫຍັງ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
