Lao Pride Forum - How to pronounce "I" in Pasa Lao

JSEA

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How to pronounce "I" in Pasa Lao
24^th Mar, 2011 at 6:36pm

Kind of an amusing first post, but here it goes because nobody can explain this to me.

Basically, koy (or koi, or however you want to write it in English) means "I"...it also happens to mean "dick" if you say it the wrong way (not sure if it's the tone or what).

So, question is, how the hell do you pronounce koy correctly? High tone? Rising? Falling?

Is it kuh-oy, kwoy? or what. I said kwai once, meaning buffalo, and someone thought I said koy, meaning thingy. So that confused me even more since the words sounds completely different regardless of tone.

Anyway, it makes it kinda hard to learn a language when you're worried about saying "thingy" every time you mean to say "I". I usually end up just saying Phom, since I know more Thai than Lao, and people understand what I'm saying, but I'd love any help using the right word Tongue

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Re: How to pronounce "I" in Pasa Lao
Reply #1 - 25^th Mar, 2011 at 3:02am

"Koy" is the right spelling for "I".

You probably need to hear someone say it, to understand the right tone.

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Re: How to pronounce "I" in Pasa Lao
Reply #2 - 25^th Mar, 2011 at 5:33am

JSEA wrote on 24^th Mar, 2011 at 6:36pm:

Kind of an amusing first post, but here it goes because nobody can explain this to me.

Basically, koy (or koi, or however you want to write it in English) means "I"...it also happens to mean "thingy" if you say it the wrong way (not sure if it's the tone or what).

So, question is, how the hell do you pronounce koy correctly? High tone? Rising? Falling?

Is it kuh-oy, kwoy? or what. I said kwai once, meaning buffalo, and someone thought I said koy, meaning thingy. So that confused me even more since the words sounds completely different regardless of tone.

Anyway, it makes it kinda hard to learn a language when you're worried about saying "thingy" every time you mean to say "I". I usually end up just saying Phom, since I know more Thai than Lao, and people understand what I'm saying, but I'd love any help using the right word Tongue

The word for 'thingy' is sounds EXACTLY the same in Lao and Siamese! Obviously the OTHER tone would mean 'I', wouldn't it?

Here's a tip: just say 'GOO!'. Say it with authority! Wink

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JSEA Full Member Offline I Love Laos! Posts: 141 Bangkok Gender:	Re: How to pronounce "I" in Pasa Lao Reply #3 - 25^th Mar, 2011 at 7:33am That's the problem though, I can't hear the difference, and from what I've been told it's not just the tone that is different.
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Larb Dip God Member Offline Lao Pride, and No. 1 Lao Pride Admin' fan from NZ! Posts: 1383 Hadxaifong, Vientiane Gender: Age: 37 Awards: 1	Re: How to pronounce "I" in Pasa Lao Reply #4 - 25^th Mar, 2011 at 7:39am JSEA wrote on 25^th Mar, 2011 at 7:33am: That's the problem though, I can't hear the difference, and from what I've been told it's not just the tone that is different. If you can't hear the difference, then you're in a tight spot. I think you really do need to say 'GOO!', Don't forget, say it with authority!
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JSEA Full Member Offline I Love Laos! Posts: 141 Bangkok Gender:	Re: How to pronounce "I" in Pasa Lao Reply #5 - 25^th Mar, 2011 at 7:46am What does goo mean? Is that like the royal version of I?
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Larb Dip God Member Offline Lao Pride, and No. 1 Lao Pride Admin' fan from NZ! Posts: 1383 Hadxaifong, Vientiane Gender: Age: 37 Awards: 1	Re: How to pronounce "I" in Pasa Lao Reply #6 - 25^th Mar, 2011 at 7:47am JSEA wrote on 25^th Mar, 2011 at 7:46am: What does goo mean? Is that like the royal version of I? Not quite. It's the 'version' you use when speaking to subordinates.
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JSEA Full Member Offline I Love Laos! Posts: 141 Bangkok Gender:	Re: How to pronounce "I" in Pasa Lao Reply #7 - 25^th Mar, 2011 at 8:35am Hahaha, I think I might end up face first in the Mekong if I do that
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Larb Dip God Member Offline Lao Pride, and No. 1 Lao Pride Admin' fan from NZ! Posts: 1383 Hadxaifong, Vientiane Gender: Age: 37 Awards: 1	Re: How to pronounce "I" in Pasa Lao Reply #8 - 25^th Mar, 2011 at 8:44am I thought you knew a bit of Siamese. Use that.
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PEACE God Member Offline Posts: 719 DIN FAR Gender: Age: 53	Re: How to pronounce "I" in Pasa Lao Reply #9 - 25^th Mar, 2011 at 4:04pm What is the problem with the pronunciaiton of 'Koy'?
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Re: How to pronounce "I" in Pasa Lao
Reply #10 - 25^th Mar, 2011 at 5:22pm

I'm not sure, that's why I'm asking Cheesy

It's like bor/baw, if you say it with a rising tone at the end of a sentence it makes it a question, if you say it with a low (or falling, can't remember which) it means no/not (like baw aow, don't want).

I can't really tell the difference, sometimes I say it right, sometimes I don't...when I don't people give me a funny look (which makes sense if they think I'm talking about my wang, and they've just met me).

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Re: How to pronounce "I" in Pasa Lao
Reply #11 - 25^th Mar, 2011 at 5:58pm

OK I see what you all tallking about - Koy = thingy Roll Eyes

. Sorry I have to read all comments to get it - not really good with pha sa Lao anymore Cry

.

JSEA wrote on 25^th Mar, 2011 at 5:22pm:

I'm not sure, that's why I'm asking Cheesy

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Re: How to pronounce "I" in Pasa Lao
Reply #12 - 25^th Mar, 2011 at 6:02pm

OK I type the 'P' word for a manly part but the 'P' word automatically changed to 'Thingy'. What other words can you not spell out in this forum?

PEACE wrote on 25^th Mar, 2011 at 5:58pm:

OK I see what you all tallking about - Koy = thingy Roll Eyes

. Sorry I have to read all comments to get it - not really good with pha sa Lao anymore Cry

.

JSEA wrote on 25^th Mar, 2011 at 5:22pm:

I'm not sure, that's why I'm asking Cheesy

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Re: How to pronounce "I" in Pasa Lao
Reply #13 - 25^th Mar, 2011 at 6:14pm

Hahaha, I wondered why everyone was saying thingy. But yeah, I'm basically worried about saying wang/schlong/one-eyed serpent/pants snake/etc on accident. Since someone way back in the day decided it would be a good idea to make the words for I and schlong in Lao pretty much the same.

Kinda like if lose = I, and loose = schlong in English. Different words, but sound very similar (and hard for non-native speakers to tell the difference).

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Re: How to pronounce "I" in Pasa Lao
Reply #14 - 25^th Mar, 2011 at 6:21pm

'Monkey' is a gook word to use-very simple Cheesy

JSEA wrote on 25^th Mar, 2011 at 6:14pm:

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