ເຈົ້າ

See also: ເຈົ່າ

Lao

Etymology

From Middle Chinese 主 (MC tsyuX, “master; owner”). Cognate with Thai เจ้า (jâao), Lü ᦈᧁᧉ (ṫsaw²), Tai Dam ꪹꪊ꫁ꪱ, Shan ၸဝ်ႈ (tsāo), Ahom 𑜋𑜈𑜫 (chaw) or 𑜋𑜨𑜧 (chow).

Pronunciation

• (Vientiane) IPA^(key): [t͡ɕaw˥˨]
• (Luang Prabang) IPA^(key): [t͡ɕaw˧˦]
• Hyphenation: ເຈົ້າ
• Rhymes: -aw

Noun

ເຈົ້າ • (chao)

1. prince, ruler
2. chief, boss, master
3. aristocracy, nobility

Derived terms

• ສານເຈົ້າ (sān chao)

See also

• ອາດຍາ (ʼāt nyā)

Pronoun

ເຈົ້າ • (chao)

1. you (talking to an equal, or to a younger person)

Derived terms

• ສູເຈົ້າ (sū chao)

See also

Lao personal pronouns
	Singular			Plural
	1st person	2nd person	3rd person	1st person	2nd person	3rd person
Formal	ຂ້ານ້ອຍ (khān ʼa nya), ຜູ້ຂ້າ (phū khā)	ທ່ານ (thān)	ເພິ່ນ (phœn), ຂ້າເຈົ້າ (khā chao)	ພວກຂ້ານ້ອຍ (phūakkhān ʼa nya)	ພວກທ່ານ (phūakthān)	ພວກເພິ່ນ (phūakphœn), ຂ້າເຈົ້າ (khā chao)
Common	ເຮົາ (hao) ຂ້ອຍ (khǭi)	ເຈົ້າ (chao)	ເຂົາ (khao)	ເຮົາ (hao), ພວກເຮົາ (phūak hao) ພວກຂ້ອຍ (phūakkhǭi)	ພວກເຈົ້າ (phūakchao)	ພວກເຂົາ (phūakkhao) ພວກລາວ (phūaklāo)
Informal		ໂຕ (tō)	ລາວ (lāo)
Vulgar	ກູ (kū)	ມຶງ (mưng)	ມັນ (man)	N/A

Interjection

ເຈົ້າ • (chao)

1. used as a polite expression of affirmation or agreement.

See also

• ເຈົ້າຂ້ານ້ອຍ (chao khān ʼa nya)

Particle

ເຈົ້າ • (chao)

1. a particle used for politeness.
2. yes, (that's) right

See also

• ເຈົ້າຂ້ານ້ອຍ (chao khān ʼa nya)