The Lao word ເຂົ້າ /khao/ can mean “to enter” as a verb or “rice” as a noun.⠀
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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”⠀
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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.⠀
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There are a variety of Lao food/dishes with rice ເຂົ້າ /Khao/ as a prefix. These are some well-known ones.
ຂົ້າ /khao/ = Rice (general)
ເຂົ້າຈ້າວ /khao jao/ = Steamed white rice
ເຂົ້າຫນຽວ /khao niao/ = Sticky rice (glutinous)
ເຂົ້າດຳ, ເຂົ້າກ່ຳ /khao dam/, /khao gam/ = Black rice⠀
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ເຂົ້າປຽກ /khao bpiak/ = Rice noodle
Note: ຕົ້ມເຂົ້າປຽກ /dtom khao bpiak/ is rice porridge
ເຂົ້າຊອຍ /khao soi/ = Wide rice noodle
ເຂົ້າປຸ້ນ /khao poon/= Rice vermicelli soup
ເຂົ້າຈີ່ /khao jee/ = Grilled sticky rice (w/ egg)⠀
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ເຂົ້າຕົ້ມ /khao tom/ = Steamed sticky rice (wrapped in banana leaves)⠀