The Lao word ເຂົ້າ /khao/ can mean “to enter” as a verb or “rice” as a noun.⠀ ⠀ The Lao word for “hungry” is ຫິວ /hio/. The phrase “I’m hungry” in Lao is ຂ້ອຍຫິວເຂົ້າ /khawi hio khao/ which literally translates to “I + hungry + rice”⠀ ⠀ The fact that rice is often use with the word ‘hungry’ indicates that it is a meal staple in Lao culture. Being hungry is synonymous with wanting to eat rice.⠀ ⠀ There are a variety of Lao food/dishes with rice ເຂົ້າ /Khao/ as a prefix. These are some well-known ones.