View source for Lao language

{{Short description|Kra–Dai language of Southeast Asia}}
{{Infobox language
| name             = Lao
| nativename       = '''{{lang|lo|ພາສາລາວ}}''', ''Phasa Lao''
| pronunciation    = {{IPA|lo|pʰáː.sǎː láːw|}}
| states           = [[Laos]]<br />[[Thailand]] ([[Isan]])<br />[[Cambodia]] ([[Stung Treng Province|Stung Treng]], [[Preah Vihear Province|Preah Vihear]] and [[Ratanakiri Province|Ratanakiri]])<br />[[Vietnam]] ([[Điện Biên province|Điện Biên]], [[Lai Châu province|Lai Châu]] and [[Sơn La province|Sơn La]])<br />[[China]] ([[Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture|Xishuangbanna]])
| speakers         = [[first language|L1]]: {{sigfig|3.685170|2}} million
| date             = 2015
| ref              = e27
| speakers2        = [[second language|L2]]: {{sigfig|803,000|2}} (no date)<ref>{{e27|lao}}</ref>
| speakers_label   = Speakers 
| ethnicity        = [[Lao people|Lao]]<br/>[[Isan people|Isan]]
| familycolor      = Kradai
| fam2             = [[Tai languages|Tai]]
| fam3             = [[Southwestern Tai languages|Southwestern]]
| fam4             = [[Southwestern Tai languages|Lao–Phutai]]
| script           = [[Lao script]] in Laos<br/>[[Thai script]] in Thailand<br/>[[Thai and Lao Braille]]
| nation           = {{flag|Laos}}
| agency           = Educational Science Research Institute, Ministry of Education and Sports <br> ''and'' <br> Institute of Social Sciences, Faculty of Arts, [[National University of Laos]]
| iso1             = lo
| iso2             = lao
| lc1              = lao
| ld1              = PDR Lao
| lc2              = tts
| ld2              = [[Isan language|Isan (Thailand Lao)]]
| lingua           = 47-AAA-c
| image            = Lao_Language_(in_Lao).svg
| notice           = IPA
| glotto           = laoo1244
| glottoname       = Lao
| glotto2          = nort2741
| minority         = {{flag|Thailand}}<br/>{{flag|Cambodia}}<br/>
{{flag|Vietnam}}
| glottoname2      = Northeastern Thai
| dia1             = Northern Lao (Louang Phrabang Lao)
| dia2             = Northeastern Lao (Phuan)
| dia3             = Central Lao
| dia4             = Southern Lao
| dia5             = Western Lao (Isan)
| map              = Idioma lao.png
}}

{{Contains special characters|Lao}}

[[File:WIKITONGUES- La speaking Lao.webm|thumb|A Lao speaker]]

'''Lao''' (Lao: {{lang|lo|ພາສາລາວ}}, {{IPA|lo|pʰáː.sǎː láːw|}}), sometimes referred to as '''Laotian''', is the official language of [[Laos]] and a significant language in the [[Isan]] region of northeastern Thailand, where it is usually referred to as the [[Isan language]]. Spoken by over 3 million people in Laos and 3.7 million in all countries, it serves as a vital link in the cultural and social fabric of these areas. It is written in the [[Lao script]], an [[abugida]] that evolved from ancient [[Tai languages|Tai]] scripts.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://aboutworldlanguages.com/lao |title=Lao |publisher=About World Languages |access-date=2016-05-25 |archive-date=2017-12-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171227145536/http://aboutworldlanguages.com/Lao |url-status=live }}</ref>

Lao is a [[Tone (linguistics)|tonal language]], where the pitch or tone of a word can alter its meaning, and is [[Analytic language|analytic]], forming sentences through the combination of individual words without inflection. These features, common in [[Kra–Dai languages|Kra-Dai languages]], also bear similarities to [[Sino-Tibetan languages|Sino-Tibetan]] languages like [[Chinese language|Chinese]] or [[Austroasiatic languages|Austroasiatic]] languages like [[Vietnamese language|Vietnamese]]. Lao's [[mutual intelligibility]] with [[Thai language|Thai]] and [[Isan language|Isan]], fellow [[Southwestern Tai languages|Southwestern Tai]] languages, allows for effective intercommunication among their speakers, despite differences in script and regional variations.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/~haroldfs/messeas/node3.html |title=Ausbau and Abstand languages |publisher=Ccat.sas.upenn.edu |date=1995-01-20 |access-date=2012-07-08 |archive-date=2013-01-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130119060222/http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/~haroldfs/messeas/node3.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

In Laos, Lao is not only the official language but also a [[lingua franca]], bridging the linguistic diversity of a population that speaks many other languages. Its cultural significance is reflected in Laotian literature, media, and traditional arts. The [[Vientiane]] dialect has emerged as the de facto standard, though no official standard has been established. Internationally, Lao is spoken among [[Laotian diaspora|diaspora communities]], especially in countries like the United States, France, and Australia, reflecting its global diasporic presence.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Hays|first=Jeffrey|title=LAO LANGUAGE: DIALECTS, GRAMMAR, NAMES, WRITING, PROVERBS AND INSULTS {{!}} Facts and Details|url=http://factsanddetails.com/southeast-asia/Laos/sub5_3b/entry-2945.html|access-date=2020-12-19|website=factsanddetails.com|language=en|archive-date=2021-03-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210302041719/http://factsanddetails.com/southeast-asia/Laos/sub5_3b/entry-2945.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Classification==
{{Further|Tai–Kadai languages}}

{{tree list}}
* [[Kra-Dai languages|Kra-Dai]]
** [[Hlai languages]]
** [[Kam-Sui languages]]
** [[Kra languages]]
** [[Be language]]
** [[Tai languages]]
*** [[Northern Tai languages]]
*** [[Central Tai languages]]
*** [[Southwestern Tai languages]]
**** Northwestern Tai languages
***** [[Khamti language]]
***** [[Tai Lue language]]
***** [[Shan language]]
***** others
**** Chiang Saen languages
***** [[Northern Thai language]]
***** Sukhothai language
****** [[Thai language]]
****** [[Southern Thai language]]
**** Lao-Phuthai languages
***** [[Tai Yo language]]
***** [[Phu Thai language|Phuthai language]]
***** '''Lao language''' ('''PDR Lao''', [[Isan language]])
{{tree list/end}}

The Lao language falls within the Lao-Phuthai group of languages, including its closest relatives, [[Phu Thai language|Phuthai]] (BGN/PCGN ''Phouthai'', RTGS ''Phu Thai'') and [[Tai Yo language|Tai Yo]]. Together with Northwestern Tai—which includes [[Shan language|Shan]], [[Ahom language|Ahom]] and most [[Dai people|Dai]] languages of China, the Chiang Saen languages—which include Standard Thai, Khorat Thai, and [[Northern Thai language|Tai Lanna]]—and Southern Tai form the [[Southwestern Tai languages|Southwestern]] branch of Tai languages. Lao (including Isan) and Thai, although they occupy separate groups, are mutually intelligible and were pushed closer through contact and Khmer influence, but all Southwestern Tai languages are mutually intelligible to some degree. The Tai languages also include the languages of the [[Zhuang people|Zhuang]], which are split into the [[Northern Tai languages|Northern]] and [[Central Tai languages|Central]] branches of the Tai languages. The Tai languages form a major division within the [[Kra-Dai languages|Kra-Dai language family]], distantly related to other languages of southern China, such as the [[Hlai language|Hlai]] and [[Be language|Be]] languages of [[Hainan]] and the [[Kra languages|Kra]] and [[Kam-Sui]] languages on the Chinese Mainland and in neighbouring regions of northern Vietnam.<ref name="ethny"/>

==History==
{{Further|Tai languages|Tai peoples}}

=== Tai migration (8th–12th century) ===
[[File:Tai Migration.svg|thumb|right|upright=1.5|Map showing the general migration patterns and diversification of the Tai peoples and languages from the original Tai ''[[Urheimat]]'' of southeastern China]]
The ancestors of the Lao people were speakers of Southwestern Tai dialects that migrated from what is now southeastern China, specifically what is now [[Guangxi]] and northern [[Vietnam]] where the diversity of various Tai languages suggests an ''[[linguistic homeland|Urheimat]]''. The Southwestern Tai languages began to diverge from the Northern and Central branches of the Tai languages, covered mainly by various [[Zhuang languages]], sometime around 112 CE, but likely completed by the [[sixth century]].<ref name="migration">{{cite journal |doi=10.1111/j.1749-818X.2007.00033.x |title=The Languages of Vietnam: Mosaics and Expansions |year=2007 |last1=Edmondson |first1=Jerold A. |last2=Gregerson |first2=Kenneth J. |journal=Language and Linguistics Compass |volume=1 |issue=6 |pages=727–749 }}</ref> Due to the influx of [[Han Chinese]] soldiers and settlers, the end of the [[Third Chinese domination of Vietnam|Chinese occupation]] of Vietnam, the fall of [[Jiaozhi]] and turbulence associated with the decline and fall of the [[Tang dynasty]] led some of the Tai peoples speaking Southwestern Tai to flee into Southeast Asia, with the small-scale migration mainly taking place between the [[eighth century|eighth]] and [[twelfth century|twelfth]] centuries. The Tais split and followed the major river courses, with the ancestral Lao originating in the Tai migrants that followed the [[Mekong River]].<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Pittayaporn |first1=Pittayawat |title=Layers of Chinese Loanwords in Protosouthwestern Tai as Evidence for the Dating of the Spread of Southwestern Tai |journal=Manusya: Journal of Humanities |date=1 January 2014 |volume=17 |issue=3 |pages=47–68 |doi=10.1163/26659077-01703004 |doi-access=free }}</ref>

===Divergence and convergence===
As the Southwestern Tai-speaking peoples diverged, following paths down waterways, their dialects began to diverge into the various languages today, such as the Lao-Phuthai languages that developed along the Mekong River and includes Lao and its Isan sub-variety and the Chiang Saen languages which includes the Central Thai dialect that is the basis of Standard Thai. Despite their close relationship, there were several phonological divergences that drifted the languages apart with time such as the following examples:<ref name="Pittay">{{cite journal |last1=Pittayaporn |first1=Pittayawat |title=Proto-Southwestern-Tai revised: A new reconstruction |journal=Journal of the Southeast Asian Linguistics Society |volume=2 |issue= |date=2009 |pages=119–143 |url=http://jseals.org/JSEALS-2.pdf#page=125 |hdl=1885/113003 }}</ref><ref name="PWST1">{{cite journal |last1=Greenhill |first1=Simon J. |last2=Blust |first2=Robert |last3=Gray |first3=Russell D. |title=The Austronesian Basic Vocabulary Database: From Bioinformatics to Lexomics |journal=Evolutionary Bioinformatics Online |date=3 November 2008 |volume=4 |pages=271–283 |id={{ProQuest|1038141425}} |doi=10.4137/ebo.s893 |pmid=19204825 |pmc=2614200 }}</ref><ref name="PWST2">Jonsson, Nanna L. (1991) Proto Southwestern Tai. Ph.D dissertation, available from UMI.</ref>

; PSWT *''ml'' > Lao /m/, > Thai /l/
{{fs interlinear|indent=3
| {} {} {{lang|lo|ມື່ນ}} {} {{lang|th|ลื่น}}
| {} {} muen {} luen
| *mlɯn <math>\rightarrow</math> /mɯ̄ːn/ <math>\rightarrow</math> /lɯ̂ːn/
| 'slippery' {} {} {} {}
|}}
; PSWT *''r'' (initial) > Lao /h/, > Thai /r/
{{fs interlinear|indent=3
| {} {} {{lang|lo|ຮາກ}} {} {{lang|th|ราก}}
| {} {} hak {} rak
| *raːk <math>\rightarrow</math> /hâːk/ <math>\rightarrow</math> /râːk/
| {'to vomit'} {} {} {} {}
|}}
; PSWT *''ɲ'' > Lao /ɲ/, > Thai /j/
{{fs interlinear|indent=3
| {} {} {{lang|lo|ຍູງ}} {} {{lang|th|ยุง}}
| {} {} nyung {} yung
| *ɲuŋ <math>\rightarrow</math> /ɲúːŋ/ <math>\rightarrow</math> /jūŋ/
| 'mosquito' {} {} {} {}
|}}

Similar influences and proximity allowed for both languages to converge in many aspects as well. Thai and Lao, although separated, passively influenced each other through centuries of proximity. For instance, the Proto-Southwestern Tai *''mlɛːŋ'' has produced the expected Lao /m/ outcome ''maeng'' ({{lang|lo|ແມງ}} ''mèng'', {{IPA|/mɛ́ːŋ/}}) and the expected Thai /l/ outcome ''laeng'' ({{lang|th|แลง}} {{IPA|/lɛ̄ːŋ/}}), although this is only used in Royal Thai or restricted academic usage, with the common form ''malaeng'' ({{lang|th|แมลง}} {{IPA|/máʔ.lɛ̄ːŋ/}}), actually an archaic variant. In slang and relaxed speech, Thai also has ''maeng'' ({{lang|th|แมง}} {{IPA|/mɛ̄ːŋ/}}), likely due to influence of Lao.<ref name="Pittay"/>

Thai and Lao also share similar sources of loan words. Aside from many of the deeply embedded Sinitic loan words adopted at various points in the evolution of Southwestern Tai at the periphery of Chinese influence, the Tais in Southeast Asia encountered the Khmer. Khmer loan words dominate all areas and registers of both languages and many are shared between them. Khmer loan words include body parts, urban living, tools, administration and local plants. The Thai, and likely the Lao, were able to make Khmer-style coinages that were later exported back to Khmer.<ref name="Huffy">{{cite journal |last1=Huffman |first1=Franklin E. |title=Thai and Cambodian – A Case of Syntactic Borrowing? |journal=Journal of the American Oriental Society |date=1973 |volume=93 |issue=4 |pages=488–509 |doi=10.2307/600168 |jstor=600168 }}</ref> The heavy imprint of Khmer is shown in the genetics of Tai speakers, with samples from Thai and Isan people of Lao descent showing proof of both the Tai migration but also intermarriage and assimilation of local populations. Scholars such as Khanittanan propose that the deep genetic and linguistic impact of the autochthonous Khmer and their language indicates that the earliest days of [[Ayutthaya Kingdom|Ayutthaya]] had a largely bilingual population.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Khanittanan |first1=W. |year=2001 |title=Khmero-Thai: The great change in the history of Thai |journal=ภาษาและภาษาศาสตร์ |volume=19 |issue=2 |pages=35–50 }}</ref> Although evidence and research in Lao is lacking, major Lao cities were known to have been built atop existing Khmer settlements, suggesting assimilation of the locals. Isan and Lao commonly use a Khmer loan not found in Thai, ''khanong'' ({{lang|lo|ຂະໜົງ/ຂນົງ}} ''khanông'', {{IPA|/kʰáʔ.nŏŋ/}}), 'doorframe', from Khmer ''khnâng'' ({{lang|km|ខ្នង}}, {{IPA|/knɑːŋ/}}), which means 'building', 'foundation' or 'dorsal ridge'.<ref name="Huffy"/><ref>Gunn, G. C. (2004). 'Laotinization' in ''Southeast Asia: A Historical Encyclopedia, from Angkor Wat to East Timor''. Ooi, K. G. (ed.). Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO, Inc.</ref>

Indic languages also pushed Thai and Lao closer together, particularly Sanskrit and Pali loan words that they share. Many Sanskrit words were adopted via the Khmer language, particularly concerning Indian concepts of astrology, astronomy, ritual, science, kingship, art, music, dance and mythology. New words were historically coined from Sanskrit roots just as European languages, including English, share Greek and Latin roots used for these purposes, such as 'telephone' from Greek roots {{lang|el|τῆλε}} ''tēle'', 'distant' and {{lang|el|φωνή}} ''phōnē'' which was introduced in Thai as ''thorasap'' ({{lang|th|โทรศัพท์}}, {{IPA|/tʰōː.ráʔ.sàp/}}) and spread to Isan as ''thorasap'' ({{lang|lo|ໂທຣະສັບ/ໂທລະສັບ}} ''thôrasap'', {{IPA|/tʰóː.lāʔ.sáp/}}) from Sanskrit ''dura'' ({{lang|sa|दूर}}, {{IPA|/d̪ura/}}), 'distant', and ''śabda'' ({{lang|sa|शब्द}}, {{IPA|/ʃabd̪a/}}), 'sound'. Indic influences also came via [[Pali]], the [[liturgical language]] of [[Theravada Buddhism]].

The effects of Khmer and Indic vocabulary did not affect all the Tai languages of Southeast Asia equally. The [[Tai Dam people|Tai Dam]] of northern Vietnam were shielded from the influence of the Khmer language and the Indic cultural influences that came with them and remain traditionally a non-Buddhist people. Although the Tai Dam language is a Chiang Saen language, albeit with a lexicon and phonology closer to Lao, the lack of Khmer, Sanskrit and Pali loan words makes the language unintelligible to Thai and Lao speakers.<ref name="Diller">Diller, A. V. N., Edmondson, J. A. & Luo, Y. (2004) ''Tai-Kadai languages.'' (pp. 49–56). New York, NYC: Routledge.</ref>

=== Lan Xang (1354–1707) ===
[[File:Pha_Tat_Phanom_Nakhon_Phanom.JPG|thumb|right|[[Wat Phra That Phanom]] in Nakhon Phanom. Built in the 16th century over earlier Khmer ruins when Isan was part of Lan Xang, the temple is an important place of pilgrimage, attracting Lao from Laos as well as Isan to its temple festivals.]]
Taking advantage of rapid decline in the Khmer Empire, Phra Chao [[Fa Ngum|Fa Ngoum]] ({{lang|lo|ຟ້າງູ່ມ}} {{IPA|/fâː ŋūːm/}}) defeated the Khmer and united the Tai ''mueang'' of what is now Laos and Isan into the [[mandala (Southeast Asian political model)|mandala kingdom]] of [[Lan Xang]] in 1354. Fa Ngoum was a grandson of the ruler of [[Muang Sua|Muang Xoua]] (RTGS ''Mueang Sawa''), modern-day Louang Phrabang. Lan Xang was powerful enough to thwart Siamese designs from their base at [[Sukhothai Kingdom|Sukhothai]] and later [[Ayutthaya Kingdom|Ayutthaya]].<ref>Stuart-Fox, M. (1998). ''The Lao Kingdom of Lan Xang: Rise and Decline''. (pp. 40–60). Banglamung, Thailand: White Lotus Press.</ref>

Khmer, and Sanskrit via Khmer, continued to influence the Lao language. Since Fa Ngoum was raised in the Khmer court, married to a Khmer princess and had numerous Khmer officials in his court, a now-extinct speech register known as ''rasa sap'' ({{lang|lo|ຣາຊາສັບ}} {{IPA|/láː.sáː sáp/}}) was developed to address or discuss the king and high-ranking clergy. Khmer and Sanskrit also contributed many belles-lettres as well as numerous technical, academic and cultural vocabulary, thus differentiating the Lao language from the tribal Tai peoples, but pushing the language closer to Thai, which underwent a similar process. The end of the Lao monarchy in 1975 made the Lao ''raxasap'' obsolete, but as Thailand retains its monarchy, Thai ''[[rachasap]]'' is still active.<ref name="Diller"/>

The 16th century would see the establishment of many of the hallmarks of the contemporary Lao language. Scribes abandoned the use of written Khmer or Lao written in the Khmer alphabet, adopting a simplified, cursive form of the script known as ''[[Tai Noi script|Tai Noi]]'' that with a few modifications survives as the [[Lao script]].<ref name="Toad">Phra Ariyuwat. (1996). ''Phya Khankhaak, the Toad King: A Translation of an Isan Fertility Myth in Verse.'' Wajuppa Tossa (translator). (pp. 27–34). Lewisburg, PA: Bucknell University Press.</ref> Lao literature was also given a major boost with the brief union of Lan Xang with Lan Na during the reign of [[Setthathirath|Xay Xétthathirat]] ({{lang|lo|ໄຊເສດຖາທິຣາດ}} {{IPA|/sáj sȅːt.tʰăː.tʰīʔ.lȃːt/}}) (1546–1551). The libraries of [[Chiang Mai]] were copied, introducing the ''[[Tai Tham script|tua tham]]'' (BGN/PCGN ''toua tham'', RTGS ''tua tham'') or 'dharma letters' which was essentially the [[Mon script|Mon]]-influenced script of Lan Na but was used in Lao specifically for religious literature.<ref name="Toad"/> The influence of the related Tai Lan Na language was strengthened after the capitulation of Lan Na to the Burmese, leading many courtiers and people to flee to safety to Lan Xang.

==== Theravada Buddhism ====
Lan Xang was religiously diverse, with most of the people practicing [[Tai folk religion]] albeit somewhat influenced by local Austroasiatic [[animism]], as well as the [[historical Vedic religion|Brahmanism]] and [[Mahayana Buddhism]] introduced via the Khmer and Theravada Buddhism which had been adopted and spread by the [[Mon people]]. Although Lao belief is that the era of Lan Xang began the period of Theravada Buddhism for the Lao people, it was not until the mid-[[sixteenth century]] that the religion had become the dominant religion.<ref>Holt, J. C. (2009). ''Spirits of the Place: Buddhism and Lao Religious Culture''. Honolulu, HI: University of Hawai{{okina}}i Press. p. 14.</ref>

With Theravada Buddhism came its liturgical language, Pali, an Indic language derived from the [[Prakrit]]. Many Pali terms existed alongside earlier Sanskrit borrowings or were Sanskritized, leading to doublets such as Sanskrit ''maitri'' ({{lang|lo|ໄມຕີ/ໄມຕຣີ}} {{IPA|/máj.tìː/}}) and Pali ''metta'' ({{lang|lo|ເມດຕາ/ເມຕຕາ}} {{IPA|/mȇːt.tàː/}}), both of which signify 'loving kindness' although the Sanskrit term is more generally used for 'friendship'. The spread of Theravada Buddhism spread literacy, as monks served as teachers, teaching reading and writing as well other basic skills to village boys, and the [[Tai Noi script]] was used for personal letters, record-keeping, and signage, as well as to record short stories and the ''[[klon (poetry)|klon]]'' ({{lang|lo|ກອນ}} {{IPA|/kɔ̀ːn/}}) poetry that were often incorporated into traditional folksongs.<ref name="Toad"/>
{| class="wikitable" 
|+ Shared Pali loan words from Theravada Buddhism
! Pali
! Isan
! Thai
! Lao
! Gloss
|-
| {{lang|pi|पुञ्ञ}}<br>{{transliteration|pi|puñña}}<br>{{IPA|/puɲɲa/}}
| {{lang|tts|บุญ}}<br>{{transliteration|tts|bun}}<br>{{IPA|[būn]}}
| {{lang|th|บุญ}}<br>{{transliteration|th|bun}}<br>{{IPA|[būn]}}
| {{lang|lo|ບຸນ}}<br>{{transliteration|lo|bun}}<br>{{IPA|[bùn]}}
| 'merit'<br>'virtue'
|-
| {{lang|pi|दुक्ख}}<br>{{transliteration|pi|dukkha}}<br>{{IPA|/d̪ukkʰa/}}
| {{lang|tts|ทุกข์}}<br>{{transliteration|tts|thuk}}<br>{{IPA|[tʰùk]}}
| {{lang|th|ทุกข์}}<br>{{transliteration|th|thuk}}<br>{{IPA|[tʰúk]}}
| {{lang|lo|ທຸກ}}<br>{{transliteration|lo|thuk}}<br>{{IPA|[tʰūk]}}
| 'suffering'<br>'misery'
|-
| {{lang|pi|पापकम्म}}<br>{{transliteration|pi|pāpakamma}}<br>{{IPA|/paːpakamma/}}
| {{lang|tts|บาปกรรม}}<br>{{transliteration|tts|bap kam}}<br>{{IPA|[bàːp kām]}}
| {{lang|th|บาปกรรม}}<br>{{transliteration|th|bap kam}}<br>{{IPA|[bàːp kām]}}
| {{lang|lo|ບາບກຳ/ບາບກັມ}}<br>{{transliteration|lo|bap kam}}<br>{{IPA|[bȁːp kàm]}}
| 'sin'<br>'transgression'
|-
| {{lang|pi|अनुमोदना}}<br>{{transliteration|pi|anumōdanā}}<br>{{IPA|/ʔanumoːd̪anaː/}}
| {{lang|tts|อนุโมทนา}}<br>{{transliteration|tts|anumo thana}}<br>{{IPA|[ʔā.nù(ʔ).mo᷇ː tʰā.na᷇ː]}}
| {{lang|th|อนุโมทนา}}<br>{{transliteration|th|anumo thana}}<br>{{IPA|[ʔā.nú(ʔ).mōː tʰā.nāː]}}
| {{lang|lo|ອະນຸໂມທະນາ}}<br>{{transliteration|lo|anoumo thana}}<br>{{IPA|[ʔā.nū(ʔ).móː tʰā.náː]}}
| 'to share rejoicing'
|-
| {{lang|pi|सुख}}<br>{{transliteration|pi|sukha}}<br>{{IPA|/sukʰa/}}
| {{lang|tts|สุข}}<br>{{transliteration|tts|suk}}<br>{{IPA|[súk]}}
| {{lang|th|สุข}}<br>{{transliteration|th|suk}}<br>{{IPA|[sùk]}}
| {{lang|lo|ສຸກ}}<br>{{transliteration|lo|suk}}<br>{{IPA|[súk]}}
| 'health'<br>'happiness'
|-
| {{lang|pi|विज्जा}}<br>{{transliteration|pi|vijja}}<br>{{IPA|/ʋiɟdʒaː/}}
| {{lang|tts|วิชชา}}<br>{{transliteration|tts|witcha}}<br>{{IPA|[wìt.sa᷇ː]<br>[wì(ʔ).sa᷇ː]}}
| {{lang|th|วิชชา}}<br>{{transliteration|th|witcha}}<br>{{IPA|[wít.tɕʰāː]}}
| {{lang|lo|ວິຊາ}}<br>{{transliteration|lo|wisa}}<br>{{IPA|[wī(ʔ).sáː]}}
| 'knowledge'<br>'wisdom'
|-
| {{lang|pi|च‍क्कयुग}}<br>{{transliteration|pi|cakkayuga}}<br>{{IPA|/tʃakkajuga/}}
| {{lang|tts|จักรยาน}}<br>{{transliteration|tts|chakkrayan}}<br>{{IPA|[tɕǎk.kā.ɲa᷇ːn]}}
| {{lang|th|จักรยาน}}<br>{{transliteration|th|chakkrayan}}<br>{{IPA|[tɕàk.krā.jāːn]}}
| {{lang|lo|ຈັກກະຍານ}}<br>{{transliteration|lo|chakkanyan}}<br>{{IPA|[tɕák.kā.ɲáːn]}}
| 'bicycle'
|-
| {{lang|pi|धम्म}}<br>{{transliteration|pi|ḍhamma}}<br>{{IPA|/ɖʱamma/}}
| {{lang|tts|ธรรม}}<br>{{transliteration|tts|tham}}<br>{{IPA|[tʰa᷇m]}}
| {{lang|th|ธรรม}}<br>{{transliteration|th|tham}}<br>{{IPA|[tʰām]}}
| {{lang|lo|ທຳ/ທັມ}}<br>{{transliteration|lo|tham}}<br>{{IPA|[tʰám]}}
| 'dharma'<br>'morals'
|}

=== Lao Three Kingdoms period (1713–1893) ===
[[File:Wat Photaram mural detail - Vedsuvan has brought Koumphan back to life, but Koumphan still yearns for Soumountha.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5|Temple mural of [[Wat Photharam, Maha Sarakham|Wat Photaram]] in [[Maha Sarakham Province]]. Dating to the reign of Siamese Ruler Rama III (1788–1851), the writing is in the Tai Noi script, an old form of the Lao alphabet.]]

Despite the long presence of Lan Xang and Lao settlements along the riverbanks, the [[Khorat Plateau]] remained depopulated since the [[Post-Angkor Period]] and a long series of droughts during the 13th–15th centuries. The Lao settlements were found only along the banks of the Mekong River and in the wetter northern areas such as [[Nong Bua Lamphu Province|Nong Bua Lamphu]], [[Loei Province|Loei]], [[Nong Khai Province|Nong Khai]], with most of the population inhabiting the wetter left banks. This began to change when the golden age of Lao prosperity and cultural achievements under King [[Sourigna Vongsa|Sourignavôngsa]] ({{lang|lo|ສຸຣິຍະວົງສາ}} {{IPA|/súʔ.līʔ.ɲāʔ wóŋ.sǎː/}}) (1637–1694) ended with a successional dispute, with his grandsons, with Siamese intervention, carving out their separate kingdoms in 1707. From its ashes arose the kingdoms of [[Kingdom of Luang Phrabang|Louang Phrabang]], [[Kingdom of Vientiane|Vientiane]] and later in 1713, the [[Kingdom of Champasak|Champasak]]. The arid hinterlands, deforested and depopulated after a series of droughts, likely led to the collapse of the Khmer Empire, was only occupied by small groups of Austroasiatic peoples and scattered outposts of Lao ''mueang'' in the far north. In 1718, Mueang Suwannaphum ({{lang|lo|ສຸວັນນະພູມ}} ''Muang Souvannaphoum'', {{IPA|/súʔ.wán.nāʔ.pʰúːm/}}) in 1718 in what is now [[Roi Et Province]], was founded as an outpost of Champasak, establishing the first major Lao presence and the beginning of the expansion of Lao settlement along the [[Chi River|Si]] ({{lang|lo|ຊີ}} {{IPA|/síː/}}) and [[Mun River|Mun]] ({{lang|lo|ມູນ}}) rivers.{{citation needed|date=September 2021}}

The bulk of the Lao, however, settled after 1778 when King [[Taksin]], Siamese king during the [[Thonburi Kingdom|Thonburi Period]] (1767–1782) conquered Champasak and Vientiane and raided [[Muang Phuan|Phuan areas]] for slaves, seizing the [[Emerald Buddha]] and [[Phra Bang]] (although the latter was eventually returned) and forcing some of the Lao across the river to settle in Isan. Louang Phrabang was spared most of the destruction by submitting to Siamese overlordship.<ref>Burusphat, S., Deepadung, S., & Suraratdecha, S. ''et al''. (2011). [https://www.laostudies.org/system/files/subscription/JLS-v2-i2-Nov2011-somsonge.pdf "Language vitality and the ethnic tourism development of the Lao ethnic groups in the western region of Thailand"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131202222318/https://www.laostudies.org/system/files/subscription/JLS-v2-i2-Nov2011-somsonge.pdf |date=2013-12-02 }}. ''Journal of Lao Studies'', 2(2), 23–46.</ref> Although the kingdoms remained nominally autonomous, the Siamese demanded tribute and taxes, kept members of the respective royal houses as hostages to ensure loyalty and required the three Lao kings to come to the capital several times a year to hold an audience with the Siamese king. When the kingdoms revolted, the Siamese armies retaliated by rounding up entire villages, tattooing them to mark them as slaves and forced to settle what is now Isan, forced to serve as soldiers or manpower in [[corvée]] projects to build roads, to grow food, build canals, or serve as domestics. The greatest population transfer occurred after the [[Laotian Rebellion]] by Chao [[Anouvong|Anouvông]] ({{lang|lo|ອານຸວົງ/ອານຸວົງສ໌}}, {{IPA|/ʔàː.nūʔ.wóŋ/}}) in 1828 which led to the death of Anouvông and most of his family. The Siamese abducted nearly the entire population of Vientiane and its surrounding area and forced them to the right bank. Continued raids of people continued until the end of the nineteenth century.<ref>Stuart-Fox, M. (1997). ''A History of Laos''. Cambridge, U.K.: Cambridge University Press. (pp. 1–20).</ref>

In addition to forced transfers, many Lao were encouraged to settle in Isan, with some disillusioned princes granted lofty titles in exchange for loyalty and taxation, robbing the Lao kings of taxation and wealth as well as what little nominal authority they had left. This greatly expanded the Lao population of Isan and caused assimilation of the local peoples into the mix, a process that is occurring on a smaller scale even now. Siamese intervention paradoxically strengthened the Lao character of the region as the Siamese left the Lao areas alone as long as they continued to produce rice and continued to pay tribute. Direct Siamese rule did not extend past [[Nakhon Ratchasima]], and the Lao ''mueang'', whether paying their tribute directly to Bangkok or the remaining Lao kings and princes, were still nominally part of the separate kingdoms. Temples built in what is now Isan still featured the Tai Noi script on its murals and although Siam would intervene in some matters, daily administration was still left to the remaining kings and various Lao princes that served as governors of the larger ''mueang''. The result of the population movements re-centered the Lao world to the right bank, as today, if Isan and Lao speakers are counted together, Isan speakers form 80 percent of the Lao-speaking population.{{citation needed|date=September 2021}}

===French Laos (1893–1953)===
{{Main|French protectorate of Laos}}
During French rule, missing words for new technologies and political realities were borrowed from French or Vietnamese, repurposed from old Lao vocabulary as well as coined from Sanskrit. These Sanskrit-derived neologisms were generally the same, although not always, as those that developed in Thai.<ref name="Vacha">Keyes, Charles (2013), Finding Their Voice: Northeastern Villagers and the Thai State, Silkworm Books.</ref><ref name="Platt">Platt, M. B. (2013). ''Isan Writers, Thai Literature Writing and Regionalism in Modern Thailand.'' (pp. 145–149). Singapore: NUS Press.</ref>

Whilst previously written in a mixture of etymological and phonetical spellings, depending on audience or author, Lao underwent several reforms that moved the language towards a purely phonetical spelling. During the restoration of the king of Louang Phabang as King of Laos under the last years of French rule in Laos, the government standardized the spelling of the Lao language, with movement towards a phonetical spelling with preservation of a semi-etymological spelling for Pali, Sanskrit and French loan words and the addition of archaic letters for words of Pali and Sanskrit origin concerning Indic culture and Buddhism.

===Independence and Communist rule (1953–present)===
{{Main|History of Laos since 1945}}
Spelling reforms under the communist rule of Laos in 1975 were more radical, with the complete abolition of semi-etymological spelling in favor of phonetical spelling, with the removal of silent letters, removal of special letters for Indic loan words, all vowels being written out explicitly and even the elimination or replacement of the letter '<big>ຣ</big>' {{IPA|/r/}} (but usually pronounced /l/) in official publications, although older people and many in the Lao diaspora continue to use some of the older spelling conventions.<ref>Ivarson, S. (2008). ''Creating Laos: The Making of a Lao Space Between Indochina and Siam, 1860–1945.'' (pp. 127–135, 190–197) Copenhagen, Denmark: Nordic Institute of Asian Studies.</ref>

==Dialects==
The standard written Lao based on the speech of Vientiane has leveled many lexical differences between dialects found in Laos, and although spoken regional variations remain strong, speakers will adjust to it in formal situations and in dealings with outsiders.<ref>Compton, C. J. (2009) ''Contemporary Lao Studies: Research on Development, Language and Culture, and Traditional Medicine''. Compton, C. J., Hartmann, J. F. Sysamouth, V. (eds.). (pp. 160–188). San Francisco, CA: Center for Lao Cultural Studies.</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|-----bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|+ Lao Dialects
||'''Dialect'''||'''Lao Provinces'''||'''Thai Provinces'''
|----- bgcolor="#ffffff"
| Vientiane Lao
| [[Vientiane]], [[Vientiane Prefecture]], [[Bolikhamsai Province|Bolikhamxay]] and southern [[Xaisomboun Province|Xaisômboun]]
| [[Nong Khai Province|Nong Khai]], [[Nong Bua Lamphu Province|Nong Bua Lamphu]], [[Chaiyaphum Province|Chaiyaphum]], [[Udon Thani Province|Udon Thani]], portions of [[Yasothorn Province|Yasothon]], [[Bueng Kan Province|Bueng Kan]], [[Loei Province|Loei]] and [[Khon Kaen Province|Khon Kaen]] (Khon Chaen)
|----- bgcolor="#ffffff"
| Northern Lao<br>Louang Phrabang Lao
| [[Luang Prabang Province|Louang Phrabang]], [[Sainyabuli Province|Xaignbouli]], [[Oudomxay Province|Oudômxay]], [[Phongsaly Province|Phôngsali]], [[Bokeo Province|Bokèo]], and [[Luang Namtha Province|Louang Namtha]], portions of [[Houaphanh Province|Houaphan]]
| [[Loei Province|Loei]], portions of [[Udon Thani Province|Udon Thani]], [[Khon Kaen]](Khon Chaen), also [[Phitsanulok Province|Phitsanulok]], [[Phetchabun Province|Phetchabun]] (Phetsabun) and [[Uttaradit Province|Uttaradit]] (outside Isan)
|----- bgcolor="#ffffff"
| Northeastern Lao<br>Phuan (Phouan) Lao
| [[Xiangkhouang Province|Xiangkhouang]], portions of [[Houaphanh Province|Houaphan]] and [[Xaisomboun Province|Xaisômboun]]
| Scattered in isolated villages of [[Chaiyaphum Province|Chaiyaphum]], [[Sakon Nakhon Province|Sakon Nakhon]], [[Udon Thani Province|Udon Thani]], [[Bueng Kan Province|Bueng Kan]], [[Nong Khai Province|Nong Khai]] and [[Loei Province|Loei]]{{efn|Northeastern Lao is sometimes considered a separate language, as it is traditionally spoken by Phuan tribal members, a closely related but distinct [[Tai peoples|Tai]] group. Also spoken in a few small and scattered Tai Phuan villages in [[Sukhothai Province|Sukhothai]], [[Uttaradit Province|Uttaradit]], and [[Phrae Province|Phrae]].}}
|----- bgcolor="#ffffff"
|Central Lao ({{lang|lo|ລາວກາງ}})
| [[Khammouane Province|Khammouan]] and portions of [[Bolikhamsai Province|Bolikhamxay]] and [[Savannakhet Province|Savannakhét]]
| [[Mukdahan Province|Mukdahan]], [[Sakon Nakhon Province|Sakon Nakhon]], [[Nakhon Phanom Province|Nakhon Phanom]], [[Mukdahan Province|Mukdahan]]; portions of [[Nong Khai Province|Nong Khai]] and [[Bueng Kan Province|Bueng Kan]]
|----- bgcolor="#ffffff"
| Southern Lao
|[[Champasak Province|Champasak]], [[Salavan Province|Saravan]], [[Sekong Province|Xékong]], [[Attapeu Province|Attapeu]], portions of [[Savannakhet Province|Savannakhét]]
| [[Ubon Ratchathani Province|Ubon Ratchathani]] (Ubon Ratsathani), [[Amnat Charoen Province|Amnat Charoen]], portions of [[Si Sa Ket Province|Si Sa Ket]], [[Surin Province|Surin]], [[Nakhon Ratchasima Province|Nakhon Ratchasima]] (Nakhon Ratsasima), and [[Yasothorn Province|Yasothon]]{{efn|Southern Lao gives way to [[Northern Khmer dialect|Northern Khmer]] in Sisaket, Surin, and Buriram, and to [[Khorat Thai]] and, to some extent, Northern Khmer in Nakhon Ratchasima.}}
|----- bgcolor="#ffffff"
| Western Lao (Standard Isan)
| * Not found in Laos
| [[Kalasin Province|Kalasin]], [[Roi Et Province|Roi Et]] (Hoi Et), [[Maha Sarakham Province|Maha Sarakham]], portions of [[Khon Kaen]] (Khon Chaen), [[Chaiyaphum]] (Sainyaphum), and [[Nakhon Ratchasima]] (Nakhon Ratsasima)
|----- bgcolor="#ffffff"
|}

===Vientiane Lao dialect===
In Laos, the written language has been mainly based on Vientiane Lao for centuries after the capital of Lan Xang was moved in 1560. The speech of the old élite families was cultivated into Standard Lao as emulated by television and radio broadcasts from the capital as well as taught to foreign students of Lao. The speech of the Isan city of Nong Khai, which sits on the opposite bank of the Mekong, is almost indistinguishable in tone and accent from the speech of Vientiane. Vientiane Lao predominates in Vientiane City, the surrounding [[Vientiane Province]] and portions of [[Bolikhamxai Province|Bolikhamxai]] and some areas of [[Xaisomboun Province|Xaisômboun]].

In Isan, Vientiane Lao is the primary form of Isan spoken in the northern third of the region which was long settled since the days of Lan Xang and was ruled as part of the Kingdom of Vientiane, including most of [[Nong Khai Province|Nong Khai]], [[Nong Bua Lamphu Province|Nong Bua Lamphu]], eastern [[Loei Province|Loei]] and portions of [[Chaiyaphum Province|Saiyaphum]] and [[Bueng Kan Province|Bueng Kan]]. As a result of the Lao rebellion of 1826 the ''Tai Wiang'' ({{lang|lo|ໄທວຽງ}}), {{IPA|/tʰáj wíaŋ/}}), 'Vientiane people' of the city and surrounding parts of the kingdom, were rounded up by Siamese armies and forced to the right bank, greatly boosting the Lao population of what is now Isan. The Tai Wiang strengthened numbers in the northern third, where Vientiane Lao was traditionally spoken, but were scattered across the Isan region overall, with heavier concentrations in [[Yasothorn Province|Yasothon]], [[Khon Kaen Province|Khon Kaen]], and [[Roi Et Province|Hoi Et]] provinces. This likely had a leveling effect on the Lao language as spoken in Isan, as most Isan speakers regardless of speech variety are prone to using /ʋ/ as opposed to /w/ and the informal conversion of syllable-initial /k/ to /tɕ/ in relaxed, informal speech, which in Laos, is particularly characteristic of Vientiane speech. For example, the word ''kaem'' ({{lang|lo|ແກ້ມ}} ''kèm'', {{IPA|/kɛ̂ːm/}}), 'cheek', is often pronounced *''chaem'' (*{{lang|lo|ແຈ້ມ}} ''chèm'', *{{IPA|/tɕɛ̂ːm/}}).

{| class="wikitable"
|-----bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|+ Vientiane Dialect Six-Tone Distribution<ref>Hartmann, J. (2002). [http://www.seasite.niu.edu/lao/LaoLanguage/LaoTones/Vientianetones.htm Vientiane Tones.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200811163156/http://www.seasite.niu.edu/lao/LaoLanguage/LaoTones/Vientianetones.htm |date=2020-08-11 }} Center for Southeast Asian Studies. DeKalb: University of Northern Illinois. Based on Crisfield-Hartmann 2002/Enfield 2000, Brown 1965, and Chittavoravong (1980) (unpublished).</ref>
! style="font-weight:bold; background-color:rgb(238, 238, 238); color:rgb(32, 33, 34);" | Tone Class
! style="font-weight:bold; background-color:rgb(238, 238, 238); color:rgb(32, 33, 34);" | Inherent Tone
! style="font-weight:bold; background-color:rgb(238, 238, 238); color:rgb(32, 33, 34);" | Mai ek ({{lang|lo|◌່}})
! style="font-weight:bold; background-color:rgb(238, 238, 238); color:rgb(32, 33, 34);" | Mai tho ({{lang|lo|◌້}})
! style="font-weight:bold; background-color:rgb(238, 238, 238); color:rgb(32, 33, 34);" | Long Vowel
! style="font-weight:bold; background-color:rgb(238, 238, 238); color:rgb(32, 33, 34);" | Short Vowel
|-
! High
| style="background-color:#c1a2e1;" | Low-Rising
| style="background-color:#f8ff00;" | Middle
| style="background-color:#3dbaaf;" | Low-Falling (glottalized)
| style="background-color:#3dbaaf;" | Low-Falling
| style="background-color:#ffcb2f;" | Mid-Rising
|-
! Middle
| style="background-color:#c1a2e1;" | Low-Rising
| style="background-color:#f8ff00;" | Middle
| style="background-color:#6200c9;" | High-Falling (glottalized)
| style="background-color:#6200c9;" | High-Falling
| style="background-color:#ffcb2f;" | Mid-Rising
|-
! Low
| style="background-color:#7432b9;" | High-Rising
| style="background-color:#f8ff00;" | Middle
| style="background-color:#6200c9;" | High-Falling
| style="background-color:#6200c9;" | High-Falling
| style="background-color:#f8ff00;" | Middle (high)
|}

===Northern Lao (Louang Phrabang) dialect===
Northern Lao is a very distinct dialect, exhibiting several features and lexical differences quite apart from other Lao dialects except Northeastern Lao (Phuan). Even though it borders the Vientiane Lao dialect region, there is a sharp boundary that divides them. The dialect shares many similarities with [[Northern Thai language|Tai Lanna]] and is classified accordingly as a Chiang Saen language by Ethnologue.<ref name="ethny">Paul, L. M., Simons, G. F. and Fennig, C. D. (eds.). 2013. Ethnologue: Languages of the World, Seventeenth edition. Dallas, Texas: SIL International. Retrieved from http://www.ethnologue.com {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071227170852/http://www.ethnologue.com/ |date=2007-12-27 }}</ref> The dialect is not common in Isan, restricted to western portions of [[Loei Province|Loei]] and pockets of villages spread throughout [[Udon Thani Province|Udon Thani]] provinces. The Isan people of [[Phitsanulok Province|Phitsanulok]] and [[Uttaradit Province|Uttaradit]] provinces, particularly the narrow strip hugging the shore of the Mekong and bordering Loei, outside of Isan are generally speakers of Northern Lao. In Laos, it is the primary dialect spoken in [[Luang Prabang Province|Louang Phrabang]] and [[Sainyabuli Province|Xaignabouli]] provinces. In the other northern Laotian provinces of [[Oudomxai Province|Oudômxai]], [[Houaphanh Province|Houaphan]], [[Luang Namtha Province|Louang Namtha]] and [[Phongsaly Province|Phôngsali]], native Lao speakers are a small minority in the major market towns but Northern Lao, highly influenced by the local languages, is spoken as the ''lingua franca'' across ethnic groups of the area.<ref name="dialectal">เรืองเดช ปันเขื่อนขัติย์. ภาษาถิ่นตระกูลไทย. กทม. สถาบันวิจัยภาษาและวัฒนธรรมเพื่อการพัฒนาชนบทมหาวิทยาลัยมหิดล. 2531.</ref>

Northern Lao, specifically the speech of the city of [[Luang Prabang|Louang Phrabang]] was originally the prestigious variety of the language with the city serving as the capital of Lan Xang for the first half of its existence, with the kings of the city made kings of all of Laos by the French. Although the language lost its prestige to Vientiane Lao, Northern Lao is important for its history, as many of the earliest Lao literary works were composed in the dialect, and it served, in a refined form, as the royal speech of the Laotian kings until 1975 when the monarchy was abolished. Louang Phrabang remains the largest city in the northern region of Laos, serving as an important center of trade and communication with the surrounding areas.

Despite the proximity to speakers of Vientiane Lao, Northern Lao is quite distinct. Unlike other Lao dialects with six tones, Northern Lao speakers use only five. Due to the distinctive high-pitch, high-falling tone on words with live syllables starting with low-class consonants, the dialect is said to sound softer, sweeter and more effeminate than other Lao dialects, likely aided by the slower speed of speaking.<ref name="LaoDialects"/> Similar in tonal structure and quality to Tai Lanna, likely facilitated by the immigration of Lanna people to Louang Phrabang after Chiang Mai's fall to the Burmese in 1551, the dialect is classified apart from other Lao dialects as Chiang Saen language by Ethnologue.<ref name="ethny"/> Northern Lao also resisted the merger of Proto-Tai *{{IPA|/aɰ/}} and *{{IPA|/aj/}} that occurred in all other Lao dialects, except Northeastern Lao. This affects the twenty or so words represented by Thai '{{lang|th|ใ◌}}' and Lao '{{lang|lo|ໃ◌}}', which preserve /aɰ/ in Northern Lao. This vowel has become /aj/, similar to Thai '{{lang|th|ไ◌}}' and Lao '{{lang|lo|ໄ◌}}' which is also /aj/. Northern Lao also contains numerous terms not familiar to other Lao speakers.<ref name="Loei">Osantanda, V. (2015). "Lao Khrang and Luang Phrabang Lao: A Comparison of Tonal Systems and Foreign-Accent Rating by Luang Phrabang Judges." ''The Journal of Lao Studies''. pp. 110–143. Special Issue 2(2015).</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Lack of /aj/-/aɯ/ merger in Northern (Louang Phrabang) Lao
! Source
! Thai
! Isan
! Vientiane Lao
! Northern Lao
! Gloss
|-
| */ʰmɤːl/
| {{lang|th|ใหม่}}<br />{{transliteration|th|mai}}<br />{{IPA|[màj]}}
| {{lang|tts|ใหม่}}<br />{{transliteration|tts|mai}}<br />{{IPA|[māj]}}
| {{lang|lo|ໃຫມ່}}<br />{{transliteration|lo|mai}}<br />{{IPA|[māj]}}
| {{lang|lo|ໃຫມ່}}<br />{{transliteration|lo|*maue}}<br />{{IPA|[māɯ]}}
| 'new'
|-
| */haɰ/
| {{lang|th|ให้}}<br />{{transliteration|th|hai}}<br />{{IPA|[hâj]}}
| {{lang|tts|ให้}}<br />{{transliteration|tts|hai}}<br />{{IPA|[hàj]}}
| {{lang|lo|ໃຫ້}}<br />{{transliteration|lo|hai}}<br />{{IPA|[hȁj]}}
| {{lang|lo|ໃຫ້}}<br />{{transliteration|lo|*haue}}<br />{{IPA|[hȁɯ]}}
| 'to give'
|-
| */cɤɰ/
| {{lang|th|ใจ}}<br />{{transliteration|th|chai}}<br />{{IPA|[tɕāj]}}
| {{lang|tts|ใจ}}<br />{{transliteration|tts|chai}}<br />{{IPA|[tɕāj]}}
| {{lang|lo|ໃຈ}}<br />{{transliteration|lo|chai}}<br />{{IPA|[tɕàj]}}
| {{lang|lo|ໃຈ}}<br />{{transliteration|lo|*chaue}}<br />{{IPA|[tɕǎɯ]}}
| 'heart'
|-
| */C̥.daɰ/
| {{lang|th|ใน}}<br />{{transliteration|th|nai}}<br />{{IPA|[nāj]}}
| {{lang|tts|ใน}}<br />{{transliteration|tts|nai}}<br />{{IPA|[na᷇j]}}
| {{lang|lo|ໃນ}}<br />{{transliteration|lo|nai}}<br />{{IPA|[náj]}}
| {{lang|lo|ໃນ}}<br />{{transliteration|lo|*naue}}<br />{{IPA|[na᷇ɯ]}}
| 'inside'
|-
| */mwaj/
| {{lang|th|ไม้}}<br />{{transliteration|th|mai}}<br />{{IPA|[máːj]}}
| {{lang|tts|ไม้}}<br />{{transliteration|tts|mai}}<br />{{IPA|[mâj]}}
| {{lang|lo|ໄມ້}}<br />{{transliteration|lo|mai}}<br />{{IPA|[mâj]}}
| {{lang|lo|ໄມ້}}<br />{{transliteration|lo|mai}}<br />{{IPA|[ma᷇j]}}
| 'wood'. 'tree'
|-
| */wɤj/
| {{lang|th|ไฟ}}<br />{{transliteration|th|fai}}<br />{{IPA|[fāj]}}
| {{lang|tts|ไฟ}}<br />{{transliteration|tts|fai}}<br />{{IPA|[fa᷇j]}}
| {{lang|lo|ໄຟ}}<br />{{transliteration|lo|fai}}<br />{{IPA|[fáj]}}
| {{lang|lo|ໄຟ}}<br />{{transliteration|lo|fai}}<br />{{IPA|[fa᷇j]}}
| 'fire'
|}

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Northern Lao dialectal words
! Thai
! Isan
! Vientiane Lao
! Northern Lao
! Gloss
|-
| {{lang|th|เล่น}}<br>{{transliteration|th|len}}<br>{{IPA|[lên]}}
| {{lang|tts|หลิ้น}}<br>{{transliteration|tts|lin}}<br>{{IPA|[lìn]}}
| {{lang|lo|ຫລິ້ນ/ຫຼິ້ນ}}<br>{{transliteration|lo|lin}}<br>{{IPA|[lȉn]}}
| {{lang|lo|ເອວ (เอว)}}<br>{{transliteration|lo|eo}}<br>{{IPA|[ʔêːw]}}
| 'to joke', 'to play'
|-
| {{lang|th|ลิง}}<br>{{transliteration|th|ling}}<br>{{IPA|[līŋ]}}
| {{lang|tts|ลีง}}<br>{{transliteration|tts|ling}}<br>{{IPA|[li᷇ːŋ]}}
| {{lang|lo|ລີງ}}<br>{{transliteration|lo|ling}}<br>{{IPA|[líːŋ]}}
| {{lang|lo|ລິງ (ลิง)}}<br>{{transliteration|lo|ling}}<br>{{IPA|[lîŋ]}}
| 'monkey'
|-
| {{lang|th|ขนมปัง}}<br>{{transliteration|th|khanom pang}}<br>{{IPA|[kʰā.nǒm pāŋ]}}
| {{lang|tts|ข้าวจี่ ขนมปัง}}<br>{{transliteration|tts|khao chi}}<br>{{transliteration|tts|khanom pang}}<br>{{IPA|[kʰà(ː)w tɕíː]<br>[kʰā.nǒm pāŋ]}}
| {{lang|lo|ເຂົ້າຈີ່}}<br>{{transliteration|lo|khao chi}}<br>{{IPA|[kʰȁw tɕīː]}}
| {{lang|lo|ຂມົນປັງ (ขนมปัง)}}<br>{{transliteration|lo|khanom pang}}<br>{{IPA|[kʰā.nǒm pâŋ]}}
| 'bread'
|-
| {{lang|th|ห่อ}}<br>{{transliteration|th|ho}}<br>{{IPA|[hɔ̀ː]}}
| {{lang|tts|ห่อ}}<br>{{transliteration|tts|ho}}<br>{{IPA|[hɔ̄ː]}}
| {{lang|lo|ຫໍ່}}<br>{{transliteration|lo|ho}}<br>{{IPA|[hɔ̄ː]}}
| {{lang|lo|ຄູ່ (คู่)}}<br>{{transliteration|lo|khu}}<br>{{IPA|[kʰu᷇ː]}}
| 'parcel', 'package'
|}

{| class="wikitable"
|-----bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|+ Northern Lao (Louang Phrabang) Dialect Tone Distribution<ref>Hartmann, J. (2002). [http://www.seasite.niu.edu/lao/LaoLanguage/LaoTones/luangphrabangtones.htm Louang Phrabang Tones.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220126213008/http://www.seasite.niu.edu/lao/LaoLanguage/LaoTones/luangphrabangtones.htm |date=2022-01-26 }} Based Brown (1965).</ref>
! style="color:rgb(32, 33, 34);" | Tone Class
! style="color:rgb(32, 33, 34);" | Inherent Tone
! style="color:rgb(32, 33, 34);" | Mai ek ({{lang|lo|◌່}})
! style="color:rgb(32, 33, 34);" | Mai tho ({{lang|lo|◌້}})
! style="color:rgb(32, 33, 34);" | Long Vowel
! style="color:rgb(32, 33, 34);" | Short Vowel
|-
| style="background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255); color:rgb(32, 33, 34);" | High
| style="background-color:#38fff8;" color:rgb(32, 33, 34);" | Mid-Falling Rising
| style="background-color:#f8ff00;" | Middle
| style="background-color:#6200c9;" | High-Falling (glottalized)
| style="background-color:#6200c9;" | High-Falling
| style="background-color:#ffcb2f;" | Mid-Rising
|-
| style="background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255); color:rgb(32, 33, 34);" | Middle
| style="background-color:#c1a2e1;" | Low-Rising
| style="background-color:#f8ff00;" | Middle
| style="background-color:#ffcb2f;" | Mid-Rising (glottalized)
| style="background-color:#6200c9;" | High-Falling
| style="background-color:#ffcb2f;" | Mid-Rising
|-
| style="background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255); color:rgb(32, 33, 34);" | Low
| style="background-color:#c1a2e1;" | Low-Rising
| style="background-color:#f8ff00;" | Middle
| style="background-color:#ffcb2f;" | Mid-Rising
| style="background-color:#ffcb2f;" | Mid-Rising
| style="background-color:#f8ff00;" | Middle
|}

===Northeastern Lao dialect (Tai Phouan)===
{{main|Phuan language}}
The [[Phuan language]] is a [[Chiang Saen languages|Chiang Saen (Thai) language]] rather than part of the [[Lao–Phutai languages]], but it is considered a Lao dialect in Laos. As a Tai language of northern Southeast Asia, it shares many similarities with Tai Dam and Tai Lan Na. In contrast to other minority languages of Isan, it is not losing ground to the Thai or Isan language in Isan.<ref name="ethny"/>

===Central Lao===
Central Lao represents a transitional variety, with northern varieties closer to Vientiane Lao and southern varieties, roughly south of the confluence of the Xé Noi river with the Mekong, the speech varieties begin to approach Southern Lao. Some linguists, such as Hartmann, place Vientiane Lao and Central Lao together as a singular dialect region.<ref>Hartmann, J. (2002). 'Spoken Lao—A regional approach.' SEASITE Laos. DeKalb, IL: Northern Illinois University.</ref> More Vientiane-like speech predominates in the Isan provinces of [[Bueng Kan Province|Bueng Kan]], [[Sakon Nakhon Province|Sakon Nakhon]], most of [[Nakhon Phanom Province|Nakhon Phanom]] and some areas of [[Nong Khai Province|Nong Khai]] provinces and on the Laotian side, portions of eastern and southern [[Bolikhamxai Province|Bolikhamxai]] and [[Khammouane Province|Khammouan]] provinces. More Southern Lao features are found in the speech of [[Mukdahan Province|Mukdahan]] and southern [[Nakhon Phanom Province|Nakhon Phanom]] provinces of Thailand and [[Savannakhet Province|Savannakhét Province]] of Laos.

Nevertheless, the tones of the southern Central varieties, such as spoken in Mukdahan, Thailand and Savannakhét, Laos have a tonal structure more akin to Vientiane Lao, sharing certain splits and contours. These areas do, however, exhibit some Southern features of their lexicon, such as the common use of ''se'' ({{lang|lo|ເຊ}} ''xé'', {{IPA|/sêː/}}), 'river', which is typical of Southern Lao as opposed to ''nam'' ({{lang|lo|ນ້ຳ}}, {{IPA|/nȃːm/}}), which is the more common word and also signifies 'water' in general. Mukdahan-Savannakhét area speakers also understand ''mae thao'' ({{lang|lo|ແມ່ເຖົ້າ}}, {{IPA|/mɛ́ː tʰȁw/}}) as a respectful term for an 'old lady' (as opposed to Vientiane 'mother-in-law') and use ''pen sang'' ({{lang|lo|ເປັນສັງ}}, {{IPA|/pȅn sȁŋ/}}) instead of Vientiane ''pen yang'' ({{lang|lo|ເປັນຫຍັງ}}, {{IPA|/pèn ɲăŋ/}}), 'what's wrong?', as is typical of Southern Lao.

{| class="wikitable"
|-----bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|+ Central Dialect Tone Distribution (Savannakhét)<ref>Hmong Research Group (2009). [http://hmongrp.wisc.edu/IPPL%20Lao/inetpub/wwwroot/ipa/lao/orthography_Savtone.html Central Lao Tones (Savannakhét).] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100614174348/http://hmongrp.wisc.edu/IPPL%20Lao/inetpub/wwwroot/ipa/lao/orthography_Savtone.html |date=2010-06-14 }} Madison: University of Wisconsin.</ref>
||'''Tone Class'''||'''Inherent Tone'''||'''Mai ek ({{lang|lo|◌່}})'''||'''Mai tho ({{lang|lo|◌້}})'''||'''Long Vowel'''||'''Short Vowel'''
|----- bgcolor="#ffffff"
! High
| style="background-color:#34ff34;" | Rising
| style="background-color:#f8ff00;" | Middle
| style="background-color:#3dbaaf;" | Low-Falling
| style="background-color:#34ff34;" | Rising
| style="background-color:#3dbaaf;" | Low-Falling
|----- bgcolor="#ffffff"
! Middle
| style="background-color:#6200c9;" | High-Falling
| style="background-color:#f8ff00;" | Middle
| style="background-color:#10f9c6;" | Rising-Falling
| style="background-color:#34ff34;" | Rising
| style="background-color:#3dbaaf;" | Low-Falling
|----- bgcolor="#ffffff"
! Low
| style="background-color:#6200c9;" | High-Falling
| style="background-color:#f8ff00;" | Middle
| style="background-color:#10f9c6;" | Rising-Falling
| style="background-color:#6200c9;" | High-Falling
| style="background-color:#f8ff00;" | Middle
|}

===Southern Lao===
Southern Lao is spoken along the southern third of Isan and Laos. This region covers the Thai provinces of [[Surin Province|Surin]], [[Buriram Province|Buriram]] and [[Sisaket Province|Sisaket]], where a large minority of speakers are [[Khmer people|Khmer]] people speaking the archaic [[Northern Khmer dialect|northern]] variety of Khmer and another Austroasiatic people, the [[Kuy people]], use Southern Lao as a second language to engage with their Isan neighbors. It is also spoken in [[Ubon Ratchathani Province|Ubon Ratsathani]], [[Amnat Charoen Province|Amnat Charoen]] and portions of [[Yasothorn Province|Yasothon]] and [[Nakhon Ratchasima Province|Nakhon Ratsasima]]. In Laos, it is the primary dialect of [[Champasak Province|Champasak]], [[Saravane Province|Salavan]], [[Attapeu Province|Attapeu]] and [[Sekong Province|Xékong]] provinces. There are also small pockets of speakers located in [[Steung Treng Province]], Cambodia or ''Siang Taeng'' ({{lang|lo|ຊຽງແຕງ}}, {{IPA|/síaŋ tɛːŋ/}}), particularly near the Mekong River close to the Laotian border. Many of the areas where Southern Lao is spoken were formerly part of the [[Kingdom of Champasak]], one of the three successor states to the Kingdom of Lan Xang, prior to the division of the Lao-speaking world between France and Siam.

Compared to other Isan and Lao dialects, Southern Lao has low tones in syllables that begin with high- or middle-class consonants and have long vowels. High- and middle-class consonants marked with the ''mai tho'' tone mark are low and low-falling, respectively, but in these cases are pronounced with very strong [[glottalization]], which can be described as 'creaky'. Combined with the somewhat faster manner of speaking and reduced tendency to soften consonants at the end of words, Southern Lao sounds very rough and harsh to speakers of other dialects. Many of these features, such as the faster speaking pace and glottalization may be influences from Austroasiatic languages as most of the region was inhabited by the Khmer, Kuy and various other Austroasiatic peoples until the eighteenth century when the Lao began to settle and even now, Khmer speakers comprise half the population of Surin and roughly a quarter each of the populations of Sisaket and Buriram provinces.<ref name="LaoDialects">Enfield, N. J. (1966). A Grammar of Lao. Mouton de Gruyter: New York, NY. 2007 reprint. p. 19.</ref>

Specific dialectal words include ''don'' ({{lang|lo|ດອນ}}, {{IPA|/dɔːn/}}), 'riparian island', ''se'' ({{lang|lo|ເຊ}} xé, /sȅː/)) and many of the words used in Savannakhét that are more typical of Southern Lao such as ''mae thao'' ({{lang|lo|ແມ່ເຖົ້າ}}, {{IPA|/mɛ́ː tʰȁw/}}) as a respectful term for an 'old lady' (as opposed to Vientiane 'mother-in-law') and use ''pen sang'' ({{lang|lo|ເປັນສັງ}}, {{IPA|/pȅn sȁŋ/}}) instead of Vientiane ''pen yang'' ({{lang|lo|ເປັນຫຍັງ}} ''pén gnang'', {{IPA|/pen ɲăŋ/}}), 'what's wrong?'. Possibly as a result of historical Khmer influence and current influences from Thai, Southern dialects tend to pronounce some words with initial Proto-Southwestern Tai *{{IPA|/r/}} as either the rhotic tap {{IPA|/ɾ/}} or a strongly velarized {{IPA|/ɬ/}} which is confused with {{IPA|/d/}} by speakers of other Lao dialects which have /h/. For example, Vientiane Lao ''hap'' ({{lang|lo|ຮັບ}}, {{IPA|/hāp/}}), 'to receive', and ''hong haem'' ({{lang|lo|ໂຮງແຮມ}} ''hônghèm'', {{IPA|/hóːŋ hɛ́ːm/}}) are pronounced as ''lap'' ({{lang|lo|ລັບ}}, {{IPA|/ɾàp/}}) and ''honglaem'' ({{lang|lo|ໂຮງແລມ}} ''hônglèm'', {{IPA|/hɔ̏ːŋ ɾɛ̏ːm/}}), respectively but may sound like *''dap'' and *''hongdaem'' (''hông dèm'') to other Lao, but are really a strongly velarized /ɬ/ or a rhotic tap /ɾ/.<ref>Davis, G. W. (2015). [http://www.laostudies.org/system/files/subscription/Davis.pdf The Story of Lao r: Filling in the Gaps] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210305221711/http://www.laostudies.org/system/files/subscription/Davis.pdf |date=2021-03-05 }}. ''The Journal of Lao Studies'', Special 2(2015), pps 97–109.</ref> Southerners also tend to use ''chak'' ({{lang|lo|ຈັກ}}, {{IPA|/tɕa᷇k/}}) to mean 'to know someone' as opposed to ''hu chak'' ({{lang|lo|ຮູ້ຈັກ}} ''hou chak'', {{IPA|/hȗː tɕák/}}) used in all other dialects.

{| class="wikitable"
|-----bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|+ Southern Dialect Tone (Pakxé) Distribution<ref>Hartmann, J. (2002). [http://www.seasite.niu.edu/lao/LaoLanguage/LaoTones/pakse_tones.htm Southern Lao Tones (Pakxé).] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200713001818/http://www.seasite.niu.edu/lao/LaoLanguage/LaoTones/pakse_tones.htm |date=2020-07-13 }} Based on Yuphaphann Hoonchamlong (1981).</ref>
||'''Tone Class'''||'''Inherent Tone'''||'''Mai ek ({{lang|lo|◌່}})'''||'''Mai tho ({{lang|lo|◌້}})'''||'''Long Vowel'''||'''Short Vowel'''
|----- bgcolor="#ffffff"
! High
| style="background-color:#7432b9;" | High-Rising
| style="background-color:#cc9e15;" | Lower-Middle 
| style="background-color:#fd6864;" | Low (glottalized)
| style="background-color:#fd6864;" | Low
| style="background-color:#7432b9;" | High-Rising
|----- bgcolor="#ffffff"
! Middle
| style="background-color:#f8ff00;" | Middle
| style="background-color:#cc9e15;" | Lower-Middle 
| style="background-color:#3dbaaf;" | Low-Falling (glottalized)	
| style="background-color:#fd6864;" | Low
| style="background-color:#7432b9;" | High-Rising
|----- bgcolor="#ffffff"
! Low
| style="background-color:#c94f19;" | Mid-Falling
| style="background-color:#cc9e15;" | Lower-Middle 
| style="background-color:#3dbaaf;" | Low-Falling
| style="background-color:#3dbaaf;" | Low-Falling
| style="background-color:#cc9e15;" | Lower-Middle (short)
|}

===Western Lao===
Western Lao (Standard Isan) does not occur in Laos but is the primary dialect of [[Khon Kaen Province|Khon Kaen]], [[Kalasin Province|Kalasin]], [[Roi Et Province|Roi Et]], and [[Maha Sarakham Province|Maha Sarakham]] in Isan, Thailand. It is also spoken in much of [[Chaiyaphum Province|Chaiyaphum]] and portions of [[Nakhon Ratchasima Province|Nakhon Ratsasima]].

{| class="wikitable"
|-----bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|+ Western Lao Dialect Tone Distribution (Roi Et)<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Hartmann |first1=J. |year=1971 |url=http://www.siamese-heritage.org/jsspdf/1971/JSS_068_1g_Hartmann_AlignmentOfDialectsInSouthwesternTai.pdf |title=A model for the alignment of dialects in southwestern Tai |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210418090250/http://www.siamese-heritage.org/jsspdf/1971/JSS_068_1g_Hartmann_AlignmentOfDialectsInSouthwesternTai.pdf |archive-date=2021-04-18 |journal=Journal of the Siam Society |volume=65 |issue=2 |pages=72–87 }}</ref>
||'''Tone Class'''||'''Inherent Tone'''||'''Mai ek ({{lang|lo|◌່}})'''||'''Mai tho ({{lang|lo|◌້}})'''||'''Long Vowel'''||'''Short Vowel'''
|----- bgcolor="#ffffff"
! High
| style="background-color:#c1a2e1;" | Low-Rising
| style="background-color:#f8ff00;" | Middle
| style="background-color:#fd6864;" | Low
| style="background-color:#fd6864;" | Low
| style="background-color:#fd6864;" | Low
|----- bgcolor="#ffffff"
! Middle
| style="background-color:#ea8538:" | Rising-Mid-Falling
| style="background-color:#f8ff00;" | Middle
| style="background-color:#c94f19;" | Mid-Falling
| style="background-color:#fd6864;" | Low
| style="background-color:#fd6864;" | Low
|----- bgcolor="#ffffff"
! Low
| style="background-color:#38eada;" | Rising-High-Falling
| style="background-color:#fd6864;" | Low
| style="background-color:#6200c9;" | High-Falling
| style="background-color:#f8ff00;" | Middle
| style="background-color:#f8ff00;" | Middle
|}

==Vocabulary==
{{See also| Indosphere | Greater India | Sanskrit#usage | label 3 = Sanskrit global usage}}
The Lao language consists primarily of native Lao words. Because of [[Buddhism]], however, [[Pali]] has contributed numerous terms, especially relating to religion and in conversation with members of the [[sangha]]. Due to their proximity, Lao has influenced the Khmer and Thai languages and vice versa.

Formal writing has a larger number of [[loanword]]s, especially [[Pali]] and [[Sanskrit]], much as Latin and Greek have influenced European languages. For politeness, pronouns (and more formal pronouns) are used, plus ending statements with {{lang|lo|ແດ່}} (dae {{IPA|/dɛ̄ː/}}) or {{lang|lo|ເດີ້}} (doe {{IPA|/dɤ̂ː/}}). Negative statements are made more polite by ending with {{lang|lo|ດອກ}} (dok {{IPA|/dɔ̏ːk/}}). The following are formal register examples.
* {{lang|lo|ຂອບໃຈຫຼາຍ ໆ ເດີ້}} (khop chai lai lai doe, {{IPA|/kʰɔ᷆ːp tɕàj lǎːj lǎːj dɤ̂ː/}}) ''Thank you very much''.
* {{lang|lo|ຂ້ານ້ອຍເຮັດບໍ່ໄດ້ດອກ}} (kha noi het bo lai dok, {{IPA|/kʰa᷆ː nɔ̂ːj hēt bɔ̄ː dâj dɔ᷆ːk/}}) ''I cannot''.
* {{lang|lo|ໄຂປະຕູໃຫ້ແດ່}} (khai patu hai dae, {{IPA|/kʰǎj páʔ.tùː ha᷆j dɛ̄ː/}}) ''Open the door, please''.

=== French loanwords ===
{{Further|French language in Laos}}
[[File:Francois Ngin street corner Vientiane.jpg|thumb|A bilingual Lao-French street sign in Vientiane. Although the influence of French on the Lao language has waned considerably, hundreds of words of French origin are used in Laos.]]
After the division of the Lao-speaking world in 1893, French would serve as the administrative language of the French Protectorate of Laos, carved from the Lao lands of the left bank, for sixty years until 1953 when Laos achieved full independence.<ref name="Francophone">L'Organisation internationale de la Francophonie (OIF). Laos. (2013). Retrieved from http://www.francophonie.org/Laos.html {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170610201238/https://www.francophonie.org/Laos.html |date=2017-06-10 }}</ref> The close relationship of the Lao monarchy with France continued the promotion and spread of French until the end of the [[Laotian Civil War]] when the monarchy was removed and the privileged position of French began its decline. Many of the initial borrowings for terms from Western culture were imported via French. For instance, Lao uses ''sangtimet'' ({{lang|lo|ຊັງຕີແມດ}} {{IPA|/sáŋ.tìː.mɛ́ːt/}}) in an approximation of French ''centimètre'' ({{IPA|/sɑ̃timɛtʁ/}}). Lao people also tend to use French forms of geographic place names, thus the Republic of [[Guinea]] is ''kine'' ({{lang|lo|/ກີເນ/}} {{IPA|/kìː.néː/}}) from French ''Guinée'' ({{IPA|/gi ne/}}).

Although English has mostly surpassed French as the preferred foreign language of international diplomacy and higher education since the country began opening up to foreign investment in the 1990s, the position of French is stronger in Laos than in [[Cambodia]] and [[Vietnam]]. Since 1972, Laos has been associated with [[La Francophonie]], achieving full-member status in 1992. Many of the royalists and high-ranking families of Laos left Laos in the wake of the end of the Laotian Civil War for France, but as of 2010, it was estimated that 173,800 people, or three percent of the population, were fluent in French and French is studied by 35% of the population as a second language as a required subject and many courses in engineering, medicine, law, administration and other advanced studies are only available in French.<ref name="Francophone"/>

Laos maintains the French-language weekly ''[[Le Rénovateur]]'', but French-language content is sometimes seen alongside English in publications in older issues of ''Khaosane Phathét Lao News'' and sporadically on television ad radio.<ref>Panthamaly, P. (2008). Lao PDR. In B. Indrachit & S. Logan (eds.), ''Asian communication handbook 2008'' (pp. 280–292). Singapore: Asian Media Information and Communication Centre.</ref> French still appears on signage, is the language of major civil engineering projects and is the language of the élite, especially the older generations that received secondary and tertiary education in French-medium schools or studied in France. France maintains a large Lao diaspora and some of the very well-to-do still send their children to France for study. The result of this long-standing French influence is the use of hundreds of loan words of French origin in the Lao language of Laos—although many are old-fashioned and somewhat obsolete or co-exist alongside more predominant native usages. They may be contrasted with the neighbouring languages in Thailand, which borrowed from English instead of French.

{| class="wikitable" 
|+ French loanwords in Lao
! Isan
! Thai
! Lao
! French
! Lao<br>alternate
! Gloss
|-
| {{lang|tts|เนกไท}} <br> {{transliteration|tts|nek thai}} <br> {{IPA|[nê(ː)k tʰa᷇j]}}
| {{lang|th|เนกไท}} <br> {{transliteration|th|nek thai}} <br> {{IPA|[nê(ː)k tʰāj, -tʰáj]}}
| {{lang|lo|ກາລະວັດ/ກາຣະວັດ (*การะวัด)}} <br> {{transliteration|lo|karawat}} <br> {{IPA|[kàː.lā.wāt]}}
| {{lang|fr|cravate}} <br> {{IPA|/kʁa.vat/}}
|
| 'necktie'
|-
| {{lang|tts|โฮงภาพยนตร์}} <br> {{transliteration|tts|hong phapphayon}} <br> {{IPA|[ho᷇ːŋ pʰȃːp.pʰā.ɲo᷇n]}}
| {{lang|th|โรงภาพยนตร์}} <br> {{transliteration|th|rong phapphayon}} <br> {{IPA|[rōːŋ pʰȃːp.pʰā.jōn]}}
| {{lang|lo|ໂຮງຊີເນມາ (*โฮงซิเนมา)}} <br> {{transliteration|lo|hong sinema}} <br> {{IPA|[hóːŋ sī(ː).néː.máː]}}
| {{lang|fr|cinéma}} <br> {{IPA|/si.ne.ma/}}
| {{lang|lo|ໂຮງຫນັງ}} <br> {{transliteration|lo|hong nang}} <br> {{IPA|[hóːŋ nǎŋ]}}
| 'cinema', 'movie theater' (US)
|-
| {{lang|tts|พจนานุกรม}} <br> {{transliteration|tts|photchananukrom}} <br> {{IPA|[pʰòt.tɕā.na᷇ː.nù(ʔ).kōm]}}
| {{lang|th|พจนานุกรม}} <br> {{transliteration|th|photchananukrom}} <br> {{IPA|[pʰót.tɕā.nāː.nú(ʔ).krōm]}}
| {{lang|lo|ດີຊອນແນ/ດີຊອນແນຣ໌ (*ดิซอนแนร์)}} <br> {{transliteration|lo|disonnae}} <br> {{IPA|[dì(ː).sɔ́ːn.nɛ́ː]}}
| {{lang|fr|dictionnaire}} <br> {{IPA|/dik.sjɔnɛʁ/}}
| {{lang|lo|ພົດຈະນານຸກົມ}} <br> {{transliteration|lo|photchananukom}} <br> {{IPA|[pʰòt.tɕā.náː.nū(ʔ).kòm]}}
| 'dictionary'
|-
| {{lang|tts|แอฟริกา}} <br> {{transliteration|tts|aepfrika}} <br> {{IPA|[ʔɛ̀(ː)p.fì(ʔ).kāː]}}
| {{lang|th|แอฟริกา}} <br> {{transliteration|th|aepfrika}} <br> {{IPA|[ʔɛ́(ː)p.frí(ʔ).kāː]}}
| {{lang|lo|ອາຟິກ/ອາຟຣິກ (*อาฟรีก)}} <br> {{transliteration|lo|afik/afrik}} <br> {{IPA|[ʔàː.fīk, -frīk]}}
| {{lang|fr|Afrique}} <br> {{IPA|/afʁik/}}
| {{lang|lo|ອາຟິກາ/ອາຟຣິກາ}} <br> {{transliteration|lo|afika/afrika}} <br> {{IPA|[ʔàː.fī(ʔ).kàː]}}
| 'Africa'
|-
| {{lang|tts|บักแอปเปิล}} <br> {{transliteration|tts|bak aeppoen}} <br> {{IPA|[bǎk ʔɛ́p.pɤ̂n]}}
| {{lang|th|ผลแอปเปิล}} <br> {{transliteration|th|phon aeppoen}} <br> {{IPA|[pʰǒn ʔɛ́p.pɤ̂n]}}
| {{lang|lo|ຫມາກປົ່ມ/ໝາກປົ່ມ (*หมากป่ม)}} <br> {{transliteration|lo|mak pom}} <br> {{IPA|[mȁːk.pōm]}}
| {{lang|fr|pomme}} <br> {{IPA|/pɔm/}}
|
| 'apple'
|-
| {{lang|tts|เนย}} <br> {{transliteration|tts|noei}} <br> {{IPA|[nɤ᷇ːj]}}
| {{lang|th|เนย}} <br> {{transliteration|th|noei}} <br> {{IPA|[nɤ̄ːj]}}
| {{lang|lo|ເບີ/ເບີຣ໌ (*เบอร์)}} <br> {{transliteration|lo|boe}} <br> {{IPA|[bɤ̀ː]}}
| {{lang|fr|beurre}} <br> {{IPA|/bœʁ/}}
| {{lang|lo|ເນີຍ}} <br> {{transliteration|lo|noei}} <br> {{IPA|[nɤ́ːj]}}
| 'butter'
|-
| {{lang|tts|ไวน์}} <br> {{transliteration|tts|wai}} <br> {{IPA|[wa᷇ːj]}}
| {{lang|th|ไวน์}} <br> {{transliteration|th|wai}} <br> {{IPA|[wāːj]}}
| {{lang|lo|ແວງ (*แวง)}} <br> {{transliteration|lo|waeng}} <br> {{IPA|[wɛ́ːŋ]}}
| {{lang|fr|vin}} <br> {{IPA|/vɛ̃/}}
|
| 'wine'
|-
| {{lang|tts|คนส่งไปรษณีย์}} <br> {{transliteration|tts|khon song praisani}} <br> {{IPA|[kʰo᷇n sōŋ pāj.sā.ni᷇ː]}}
| {{lang|th|คนส่งไปรษณีย์}} <br> {{transliteration|th|khon song praisani}} <br> {{IPA|[kʰōn sòŋ prāj.sā.nīː]}}
| {{lang|lo|ຟັກເຕີ/ຟັກເຕີຣ໌ (*ฟักเตอร์)}} <br> {{transliteration|lo|faktoe}} <br> {{IPA|[fāk.tɤ̀ː]}}
| {{lang|fr|facteur}} <br> {{IPA|/faktœʁ/}}
| {{lang|lo|ຄົນສົ່ງໜັງສື (*คนส่งหนังสือ)}} <br> {{transliteration|lo|khon song nangsue}} <br> {{IPA|[kʰón sōŋ nǎŋ.sɯ̌ː]}}
| 'postman', 'mailman' (US)
|-
| {{lang|tts|ปลาวาฬ}} <br> {{transliteration|tts|pla wan}} <br> {{IPA|[pāː wa᷇ːn]}}
| {{lang|th|ปลาวาฬ}} <br> {{transliteration|th|pla wan}} <br> {{IPA|[plāː wāːn]}}
| {{lang|lo|ປາບາແລນ (*ปลาบาแลน)}} <br> {{transliteration|lo|pa balaen}} <br> {{IPA|[pàː bàː.lɛ́ːn]}}
| {{lang|fr|baleine}} <br> {{IPA|/ba lɛn/}}
| {{lang|lo|ປາວານ}} <br> {{transliteration|lo|pa wan}} <br> {{IPA|[pàː wáːn]}}
| 'whale'
|-
| {{lang|tts|เคมี}} <br> {{transliteration|tts|khemi}} <br> {{IPA|[kʰe᷇ː.mi᷇ː]}}
| {{lang|th|เคมี}} <br> {{transliteration|th|khemi}} <br> {{IPA|[kʰēː.mīː]}}
| {{lang|lo|ຊີມີ (*ซิมี)}} <br> {{transliteration|lo|simi}} <br> {{IPA|[síː.míː]}}
| {{lang|fr|chimie}} <br> {{IPA|/ʃi.mi/}}
| {{lang|lo|ເຄມີ}} <br> {{transliteration|lo|khémi}} <br> {{IPA|[kʰéː.míː]}}
| 'chemistry'
|-
| {{lang|tts|บิลเลียด}} <br> {{transliteration|tts|binliat}} <br> {{IPA|[bīn.lîat]}}
| {{lang|th|บิลเลียด}} <br> {{transliteration|th|binliat}} <br> {{IPA|[bīn.lîat]}}
| {{lang|lo|ບີຢາ (*บียา)}} <br> {{transliteration|lo|biya}} <br> {{IPA|[bìː.jàː]}}
| {{lang|fr|billard}} <br> {{IPA|/bi.jaʁ/}}
| {{lang|lo|ບິລລຽດ}} <br> {{transliteration|lo|binliat}} <br> {{IPA|[bìn.lîat]}}
| 'billiards'
|-
| {{lang|tts|ธนาณัติ}} <br> {{transliteration|tts|thananat}} <br> {{IPA|[tʰā.na᷇ː.nàt]}}
| {{lang|th|ธนาณัติ}} <br> {{transliteration|th|thananat}} <br> {{IPA|[tʰā.nāː.nát]}}
| {{lang|lo|ມັງດາ (*มังดา)}} <br> {{transliteration|lo|mangda}} <br> {{IPA|[máŋ.dàː]}}
| {{lang|fr|mandat}} <br> {{IPA|/mɑ̃.da/}}
| {{lang|lo|ທະນານັດ}} <br> {{transliteration|lo|thananat}} <br> {{IPA|[tʰā.náː.nāt]}}
| 'money order'
|-
| {{lang|tts|กรัม}} <br> {{transliteration|tts|kram}} <br> {{IPA|[kām]}}
| {{lang|th|กรัม}} <br> {{transliteration|th|kram}} <br> {{IPA|[krām]}}
| {{lang|lo|ກາມ/ກຣາມ (*กราม)}} <br> {{transliteration|lo|kam/kram}} <br> {{IPA|[kàːm, -ràːm]}}
| {{lang|fr|gramme}} <br> {{IPA|/ɡʁam/}}
|
| 'gramme', 'gram'
|}

=== Vietnamese loanwords ===
Because of the depopulation of the left bank to Siam prior to French colonization, the French who were already active in [[Vietnam]] brought Vietnamese to boost the population of the cities and help administer the region. Many Lao that received a French-language education during the period of French Indochina were educated in French-language schools in Vietnam, exposing them to French and Vietnamese languages and cultures. As the Vietnamese communists supported the ''Pathét Lao'' forces, supplying Lao communist militia with weaponry and training during the two-decade-long Laotian Civil War, large numbers of Vietnamese troops have been stationed at various times in Laos' post-independence history, although the Vietnamese military presence began to wane in the late 1980s as Laos pursued closer relations with its other neighbors and entered the market economy. Since market reforms in Vietnam, market liberalization has been the main focus between the two countries now.

{| class="wikitable"
|-----bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|+ Vietnamese loanwords into Lao and differences with Thai and Isan
! Isan
! Thai
! Lao
! Vietnamese
! Lao alternate
! Gloss
|-
| {{lang|tts|ก๋วยเตี๋ยว}}<br>{{transliteration|tts|kuaitiao}}<br>{{IPA|[kǔaj.tǐaw]}}
| {{lang|th|ก๋วยเตี๋ยว}}<br>{{transliteration|th|kuaitiao}}<br>{{IPA|[kǔaj.tǐaw]}}
| {{lang|lo|ເຝີ}}<br>{{transliteration|lo|foe}}<br>{{IPA|[fɤ̌ː]}}
| {{lang|vi|phở}}<br>{{IPA|/fə̌ː/}}
| {{lang|lo|ກ໋ວຍຕ໋ຽວ}}<br>{{transliteration|lo|kuaitiao}}<br>{{IPA|[kǔaj.tǐaw]}}
| 'rice noodles with soup'
|-
| {{lang|tts|เยื้อน}}<br>{{transliteration|tts|yuean}}<br>{{IPA|[ɲɯ̂an]}}
| {{lang|th|งดเว้น}}<br>{{transliteration|th|ngotwen}}<br>{{IPA|[ŋót.wén]}}
| {{lang|lo|ກຽງ}}<br>{{transliteration|lo|kiang}}<br>{{IPA|[kìaŋ] }}
| {{lang|vi|kiêng}}<br>{{IPA|/kiə̯ŋ/}}
| {{lang|lo|ເຍຶ້ອນ}}<br>{{transliteration|lo|nyuean}}<br>{{IPA|[ɲɯ̂an]}}
| 'to abstain',<br>'to refrain'
|-
| {{lang|tts|ฉาก}}<br>{{transliteration|tts|chak}}<br>{{IPA|[sàːk]}}
| {{lang|th|ฉาก}}<br>{{transliteration|th|chak}}<br>{{IPA|[tɕʰàːk]}}
| {{lang|lo|ອີແກ້}}<br>{{transliteration|lo|i kae}}<br>{{IPA|[ʔìː kɛ̂ː]}}
| {{lang|vi|ê-ke}}{{efn|Itself a loan word from French {{lang|fr|équerre}}}}<br>{{IPA|/ekɛ/}}
| {{lang|lo|ສາກ}}<br>{{transliteration|lo|sak}}<br>{{IPA|[sȁːk]}}
| 'carpenter's square',<br>'T-square'
|-
| {{lang|tts|เฮ็ดงาน}}<br>{{transliteration|tts|het ngan}}<br>{{IPA|[hèt ŋa᷇ːn]}}
| {{lang|th|ทำงาน}}<br>{{transliteration|th|tham ngan}}<br>{{IPA|[tʰām ŋāːn]}}
| {{lang|lo|ເຮັດວຽກ}}<br>{{transliteration|lo|het wiak}}<br>{{IPA|[hēt wîak]}}
| {{lang|vi|việc}}<br>{{IPA|/viə̯&#803;k/}}
| {{lang|lo|ເຮັດງານ}}<br>{{transliteration|lo|het ngan}}<br>{{IPA|[hēt ŋáːn]}}
| 'to work',<br>'to labour'
|}

==Phonology==

===Consonants===
Many consonants in Lao have a [[Labialization|labialized]] and plain form, thus creating a [[phonemic contrast]]. The complete inventory of Lao consonants is as shown in the table below:<ref name=Erickson>Blaine Erickson, 2001. [http://sealang.net/sala/archives/pdf4/erickson2001origins.pdf "On the Origins of Labialized Consonants in Lao"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171011133024/http://sealang.net/sala/archives/pdf4/erickson2001origins.pdf |date=2017-10-11 }}. Analysis based on L.&nbsp;N. Morev, A.&nbsp;A. Moskalyov and Y.&nbsp;Y. Plam, (1979). ''The Lao Language''. Moscow: USSR Academy of Sciences, Institute of Oriental Studies. Accessed 2009-12-19.</ref><ref name=":0" />

==== Initial consonants ====
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="2" rowspan="2" |
! rowspan="2" | [[Labial consonant|Labial]]
! colspan="2" | [[Alveolar consonant|Alveolar]]
! colspan="2" | [[Palatal consonant|Palatal]]
! colspan="2" | [[Velar consonant|Velar]]
! colspan="2" | [[Glottal consonant|Glottal]]
|- class=small
! plain
! [[Labialization|lab.]]
! plain
! lab.
! plain
! lab.
! plain
! lab.
|-
! colspan="2"| [[Nasal stop|Nasal]]
| {{IPA link|m}} || {{IPA link|n}} || || {{IPA link|ɲ}} || || {{IPA link|ŋ}} || {{IPA link|ŋʷ}} || ||
|-
! rowspan="3" | [[Stop consonant|Plosive]]
! <small>[[Voice (phonetics)|voiced]]</small>
| {{IPA link|b}} || {{IPA link|d}} || || || || || || ||
|-
! <small>[[voicelessness|voiceless]]</small>
| {{IPA link|p}} || {{IPA link|t}} || || {{IPA link|tɕ}} || {{IPA link|tɕʷ}} || {{IPA link|k}} || {{IPA link|kʷ}} || {{IPA link|ʔ}} || {{IPA link|ʔʷ}}
|-
! <small>[[Aspiration (phonetics)|aspirated]]</small>
| {{IPA link|pʰ}} || {{IPA link|tʰ}} || {{IPA link|tʷʰ}} || || || {{IPA link|kʰ}} || {{IPA link|kʷʰ}} || ||
|-
! colspan="2"| [[Fricative consonant|Fricative]]
| {{IPA link|f}} || {{IPA link|s}} || {{IPA link|sʷ}} || || || || || {{IPA link|h}} ||
|-
! colspan="2"| [[Approximant consonant|Approximant]]
|{{IPA link|ʋ}}~{{IPA link|w}}
| {{IPA link|l}} || {{IPA link|lʷ}} || {{IPA link|j}} || || || || ||
|}

==== Final consonants ====
All [[plosive consonant|plosive sounds]] (besides the [[glottal stop]] {{IPA|/ʔ/}}) are [[Unreleased stop|unreleased]] in final position. Hence, final {{IPAslink|p}}, {{IPAslink|t}}, and {{IPAslink|k}} sounds are pronounced as {{IPA|[p̚]}}, {{IPA|[t̚]}}, and {{IPA|[k̚]}} respectively.
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
!
![[Labial consonant|Labial]]
![[Alveolar consonant|Alveolar]]
![[Palatal consonant|Palatal]]
![[Velar consonant|Velar]]
![[Glottal consonant|Glottal]]
|-
![[Nasal consonant|Nasal]]
|{{IPA link|m}}
|{{IPA link|n}}
|
|{{IPA link|ŋ}}
|
|-
![[Plosive consonant|Plosive]]
|{{IPA link|p}}
|{{IPA link|t}}
|
|{{IPA link|k}}
|{{IPA link|ʔ}}<sup>*</sup>
|-
![[Approximant consonant|Approximant]]
|{{IPA link|w}}
|
|{{IPA link|j}}
|
|
|}
:* The glottal stop appears at the end when no final follows a short vowel.

===Vowels===
All vowels make a phonemic [[vowel length|length]] distinction. Diphthongs are all [[centering diphthong]]s with [[falling diphthong|falling sonority]].<ref name=Erickson/> The monophthongs and diphthongs are as shown in the following table:<ref name=Erickson/><ref name=":0">{{Cite book|last=Enfield |first=N. J.|title=A Grammar of Lao|publisher=Mouton de Gruyter|year=2007|location=Berlin and New York}}</ref>

{{Col-begin}}
{{Col-2}}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+Short vowel phonemes
! colspan=2 rowspan=2 |
! rowspan=2 | [[Front vowel|Front]]
! rowspan=2 | [[Central vowel|Central]]
! colspan=2 | [[Back vowel|Back]]
|-
! [[Unrounded vowel|unr.]]
! [[Rounded vowel|rnd.]]
|-
! colspan=2 | [[Diphthong]]s
| {{IPA link|iaˀ}}
| colspan="2" | {{IPA link|ɯaˀ}}
| {{IPA link|uaˀ}}
|-
! rowspan=4 {{vert header|va=middle|[[Monophthong]]s}}
! [[Close vowel|Close]]
| {{IPA link|i}}
| colspan="2" | {{IPA link|ɯ}}
| {{IPA link|u}}
|-
! [[Close-mid vowel|Close-mid]]
| {{IPA link|e}}
| colspan="2" | {{IPA link|ɤ}}
| {{IPA link|o}}
|-
! [[Open-mid vowel|Open-mid]]
| {{IPA link|ɛ}}
|
|
| {{IPA link|ɔ}}
|-
! [[Open vowel|Open]]
|
| {{IPA link|ä|a}}
|
|
|}
{{Col-2}}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+Long vowel phonemes
! colspan=2 rowspan=2 |
! rowspan=2 | [[Front vowel|Front]]
! rowspan=2 | [[Central vowel|Central]]
! colspan=2 | [[Back vowel|Back]]
|-
! [[Unrounded vowel|unr.]]
! [[Rounded vowel|rnd.]]
|-
! colspan=2 | [[Diphthong]]s
| {{IPA|ia}}
| colspan="2" | {{IPA|ɯa}}
| {{IPA|ua}}
|-
! rowspan=4 {{vert header|va=middle|[[Monophthong]]s}}
! [[Close vowel|Close]]
| {{IPA link|iː}}
| colspan="2" | {{IPA link|ɯː}}
| {{IPA link|uː}}
|-
! [[Close-mid vowel|Close-mid]]
| {{IPA link|eː}}
| colspan="2" | {{IPA link|ɤː}}
| {{IPA link|oː}}
|-
! [[Open-mid vowel|Open-mid]]
| {{IPA link|ɛː}}
|
|
| {{IPA link|ɔː}}
|-
! [[Open vowel|Open]]
|
| {{IPA link|ä|aː}}
|
|
|}
{{Col-end}}

===Tones===
Lao has six lexical tones.<ref>Blaine Erickson, 2001. [http://sealang.net/sala/archives/pdf4/erickson2001origins.pdf "On the Origins of Labialized Consonants in Lao"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171011133024/http://sealang.net/sala/archives/pdf4/erickson2001origins.pdf |date=2017-10-11 }}. Analysis based on T. Hoshino and R. Marcus (1981). ''Lao for Beginners: An Introduction to the Spoken and Written Language of Laos''. Rutland/Tokyo: Tuttle. Accessed 2009-12-19.</ref> However, the Vientiane and the Luang Prabang dialects have five tones (see below) (Brown 1965; Osatananda, 1997, 2015).<ref>Brown, J. Marvin. 1965. ''From Ancient Thai to Modern Dialects.'' Bangkok: Social Science Association Press.</ref><ref name=Osatananda1997>{{cite thesis |id={{ProQuest|304347191}} |last1=Osatananda |first1=Varisa |title=Tone in Vientiane Lao |year=1997 }}</ref><ref name=Osatananda2015>{{cite journal |last1=Osatananda |first1=Varisa |date=August 2015 |title=Lao Khrang and Luang Phrabang Lao: A comparison of tonal systems and foreign-accent rating by Luang Phrabang judges |journal=The Journal of Lao Studies |volume=Special Issue 2 |pages=110–143 |url=https://www.laostudies.org/system/files/subscription/Varisa.pdf }}</ref>

==== Smooth syllables ====
There are six tones in smooth syllables, that is, in syllables ending in a vowel or other [[Sonorant|sonorant sound]] ({{IPA|[m], [n], [ŋ], [w],}} and {{IPAblink|j}}).

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! Name
! Lao
! Phonemic ([[International Phonetic Alphabet|IPA]])
! Phonetic ([[International Phonetic Alphabet|IPA]])
! Gloss
|-
| Rising
| ຂາ
| {{IPA|/kʰǎː/}}
| {{IPA|[kʰäː˨˦]}} or {{IPA|[kʰäː˨˩˦]}}
| leg
|-
| High
| ຄາ
| {{IPA|/kʰáː/}}
| {{IPA|[kʰäː˥]}} or {{IPA|[kʰäː˦˥]}}
| stuck
|-
| Falling
| ຄ້າ
| {{IPA|/kʰâː/}}
| {{IPA|[kʰäː˦˩]}} or {{IPA|[kʰäː˥˨]}}
| trade
|-
| Mid
| ຂ່າ, ຄ່າ
| {{IPA|/kʰāː/}}
| {{IPA|[kʰäː˧]}}
| [[galangal]], value resp.
|-
| Low
| ກາ
| {{IPA|/kàː/}}
| {{IPA|[käː˩]}} or {{IPA|[käː˨˩]}}
| crow
|-
| Mid-low falling
| ຂ້າ
| {{IPA|/kʰa᷆ː/}} or {{IPA|/kʰȁː/}}
| {{IPA|[kʰäː˧˩]}}
| kill, servant
|}

{| class="wikitable"
|+ The tones in the Vientiane and Luang Prabang dialects in smooth syllables
|-
! colspan="3" | Vientiane<br>(Osatananda, 1997, p.&nbsp;40)<ref name=Osatananda1997/> !! colspan="3" | Luang Prabang<br>(Osatananda, 2015, p.&nbsp;122)<ref name=Osatananda2015/>
|-
! Name !! Tone letters !! Example(s) !! Name !! Tone letters !! Example(s)
|-
| low || 1(3) or ˩(˧){{efn|The tone letters are 13 (˩˧) in citation form or before a pause and 11 (˩˩) elsewhere, e.g., /haː˩˧ paː˩˧/ ຫາປາ "look for fish" becomes [haː˩˩ paː˩˧] (Osatananda, 1997, p. 119).<ref name=Osatananda1997/>}} || /kʰaː˩(˧)/ ຂາ "leg"<br>/kaː˩(˧)/ ກາ "crow" || high-falling-to-mid-level || 533 or ˥˧˧ || /kʰaː˥˧˧/ ຂາ "leg"
|-
| high || 35 or ˧˥ || /kʰaː˧˥/ ຄາ "stuck" || low rising || 12 or ˩˨ || /kʰaː˩˨/ ຄາ "stuck"<br>/kaː˩˨/ ກາ "crow"
|-
| mid level || 33 or ˧˧ || /kʰaː˧˧/ ຂ່າ "galangal"<br>/kʰaː˧˧/ ຄ່າ "value" || mid-falling{{efn|This tone is realized as a low level tone (22 or ˨˨) in a checked syllable with a short vowel (e.g., [kʰap˨˨] ຄັບ "tight") (Osatananda, 2015, p. 122).<ref name=Osatananda2015/>}} || 32 or ˧˨ || /kʰaː˧˨/ ຂ່າ "galangal"<br>/kʰaː˧˨/ ຄ່າ "trade"
|-
| mid-fall || 31 or ˧˩ || /kʰaː˧˩/ ຂ້າ "kill" || high level-falling{{efn|This tone is realized as a mid level-falling tone (332 or ˧˧˨) in a checked syllable with a long vowel (e.g., [kʰaːp˧˧˨] ຂາບ "prostrate") (Osatananda, 2015, p. 122).<ref name=Osatananda2015/>}} || 552 or ˥˥˨ || /kʰaː˥˥˨/ ຂ້າ "kill"
|-
| high-fall || 52 or ˥˨ || /kʰaː˥˨/ ຄ້າ "trade" || mid-rising{{efn|This tone is realized as a low rising tone (23 or ˨˧) in a checked syllable with a long vowel (e.g., [kʰaːp˨˧] ຄາບ "dead skin of a reptile") (Osatananda, 2015, p. 122).<ref name=Osatananda2015/>}} || 34 or ˧˦ || /kʰaː˧˦/ ຄ້າ "trade"
|}
{{Notelist}}

==== Checked syllables ====
The number of contrastive tones is reduced to four in checked syllables, that is, in syllables ending in an [[Obstruent|obstruent sound]] ({{IPA|[p], [t], [k],}} or the 
[[glottal stop]] {{IPAblink|ʔ}}).

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! Tone !! Lao !! Phonemic !! Phonetic !! Gloss
|-
| High || ຫັກ || {{IPA|/hák/}} || {{IPA|[häk̚˦˥]}} || break
|-
| Mid || ຮັກ || {{IPA|/hāk/}} || {{IPA|[häk̚˨]}} || love
|-
| Mid-low falling || ຫາກ || {{IPA|/hȁːk/}} || {{IPA|[häːk̚˧˩]}} || if, inevitably
|-
| Falling || ຮາກ || {{IPA|/hâːk/}} || {{IPA|[häːk̚˥˨]}} || vomit, root
|}

===Syllables===
Lao syllables are of the form (C)V(C), i.e., they consist of a vowel in the [[syllable nucleus]], optionally preceded by a single consonant in the [[syllable onset]] and optionally followed by a single consonant in the [[syllable coda]]. The only consonant clusters allowed are syllable initial clusters {{IPA|/kw/ or /kʰw/}}. Any consonant may appear in the onset, but the labialized consonants do not occur before [[rounded vowel]]s.<ref name=Erickson/>

One difference between Thai and Lao is that in Lao initial clusters are simplified. For example, the official name of Laos is Romanized as ''Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao'' or ''Sathalanalat Pasathipatai Pasason Lao'', with the Thai analog being ''Satharanarat Prachathipatai Prachachon Lao'' ({{lang|th|สาธารณรัฐประชาธิปไตยประชาชนลาว}}), indicating the simplification of Thai ''pr'' to Lao ''p''.

Only {{IPA|/p t k ʔ m n ŋ w j/}} may appear in the coda. If the vowel in the nucleus is short, it must be followed by a consonant in the coda; {{IPAslink|ʔ}} in the coda can be preceded only by a short vowel. Open syllables (i.e., those with no coda consonant) and syllables ending in one of the [[sonorant]]s {{IPA|/m n ŋ w j/}} take one of the six tones, syllables ending in {{IPA|/p t k/}} take one of four tones, and syllables ending in {{IPAslink|ʔ}} take one of only two tones.<ref name=Erickson/>

==Grammar==
{{main|Lao grammar}}
The majority of Lao words are [[syllable|monosyllabic]], and are not inflected to reflect declension or verbal tense, making Lao an [[analytic language]]. Special particle words serve the purpose of prepositions and verb tenses in lieu of conjugations and declensions. Lao is a [[subject–verb–object]] (SVO) language, although the subject is often dropped. In contrast to Thai, Lao uses pronouns more frequently.

===Numbers===
{| class="wikitable" 
|-
! colspan="2" | Number
! Gloss
! colspan="2" | Number
! Gloss
|-
| ໐<br>ສູນ/ສູນຍ໌<br>''sun'' 
| /sǔːn/
| 0<br>'zero'<br>''nulla''
| ໒໑<br>ຊາວເອັດ<br/>''sao et'' 
| /sáːw ʔét/
| 21<br>'twenty-one'<br>XXI
|-
| ໑<br>ໜຶ່ງ<br>''nueng''
| /nɯ̄ŋ/
| 1<br>'one'<br>I
| ໒໒<br>ຊາວສອງ<br>''sao song''
| /sáːw sɔ̆ːŋ/
| 22<br>'twenty-two'<br>XXII
|-
| ໒<br>ສອງ<br>''song''
| /sɔ̌ːŋ/
| 2<br>'two'<br>II
| ໒໓<br>ຊາວສາມ<br>''sao sam''
| /sáːw săːm/
| 23<br>'twenty-three'<br>XXII 
|-
| ໓<br>ສາມ<br>''sam''
| /sǎːm/
| 3<br>'three'<br>III
| ໓໐<br>ສາມສິບ<br>''sam sip''
| /săːm síp/
| 30<br>thirty<br>XXX
|-
| ໔<br>ສີ່<br>''si''
| /sīː/
| 4<br>four<br>IV
| ໓໑<br>ສາມສິບເອັດ<br>''sam sip ét''
| /săːm síp ʔét/
| 31<br>'thirty-one'<br>XXXI
|-
| ໕<br>ຫ້າ<br>''ha''
| /hȁː/
| 5<br>'five'<br>V
| ໓໒<br>ສາມສິບສອງ<br>''sam sip song''
| /săːm síp sɔ̌ːŋ/
| 32<br>'thirty-two'<br>XXXII
|-
| ໖<br>ຫົກ<br>''hok''
| /hók/
| 6<br>six<br>VI
| ໔໐<br>ສີ່ສິບ<br>''si sip''
| /sīː síp/
| 40<br>'forty'<br>VL
|-
| ໗<br>ເຈັດ<br>''chet''
| /tɕét/
| 7<br>'seven'<br>VII
| ໕໐<br>ຫ້າສິບ<br>''ha sip''
| /hȁː síp/
| 50<br>'fifty'<br>L
|-
| ໘<br>ແປດ<br>''paet''
| /pɛ̏ːt/
| 8<br>'eight'<br>VIII
| ໖໐<br>ຫົກສິບ<br>''hok sip''
| /hók síp/
| 60<br>sixty<br>LX
|-
| ໙<br>ເກົ້າ<br>''kao''
| /kȃw/
| 9<br>nine<br>IX
| ໗໐<br>ເຈັດສິບ<br>''chet sip''
| /tɕét síp/
| 70<br>'seventy'<br>LXX
|-
| ໑໐<br>ສິບ<br>''sip''
| /síp/
| 10<br>ten<br>X
| ໘໐<br>ແປດສິບ<br>''paet sip''
| /pɛ̏ːt sìp/
| 80<br>'eighty'<br>LXXX
|-
| ໑໑<br>ສິບເອັດ<br>''sip et''
| /síp ʔét/
| 11<br>'eleven'<br>XI
| ໙໐<br>ເກົ້າສິບ
| /kȃw síp/
| 90<br>'ninety'<br>XC
|-
| ໑໒<br>ສິບສອງ
| /síp sɔ̌ːŋ/
| 12<br>'twelve'<br>XII
| ໑໐໐<br>(ໜຶ່ງ)ຮ້ອຍ
| /(nɯ̄ŋ) hɔ̂ːj/
| 100<br>'one hundred'<br>C
|-
| ໑໓<br>ສິບສາມ
| /síp săːm/
| 13<br>'thirteen'<br>XIII
| ໑໐໑<br>(ນຶ່ງ)ຮ້ອຍເອັດ
| /(nɯ̄ŋ) hɔ̂ːj ʔét/
| 101<br>'one hundred one'<br>CI
|-
| ໑໔<br>ສິບສີ່
| /síp sīː/
| 14<br>'fourteen'<br>XIV
| ໑໐໐໐<br>(ໜຶ່ງ)ພັນ
| /(nɯ̄ŋ) pʰán/
| 1,000<br>'one thousand'<br>M
|-
| ໑໕<br>ສິບຫ້າ
| /síp hȁːː/
| 15<br>'fifteen'<br>XV
| ໑໐໐໐໐<br>(ໜຶ່ງ)ໝື່ນ/(ໜຶ່ງ)ຫມື່ນ 
| /(nɯ̄ŋ) mɯ̄ːn/
| 10,000<br>ten thousand<br><span style="text-decoration:overline">X</span>.
|-
| ໑໖<br>ສິບຫົກ
| /síp hók/
| 16<br>'sixteen'<br>XVI
| ໑໐໐໐໐໐<br>(ໜຶ່ງ)ແສນ
| /(nɯ̄ŋ) sɛ̆ːn/
| 100,000<br>'one hundred thousand'<br><span style="text-decoration:overline">C</span>.
|-
| ໑໗<br>ສິບເຈັດ
| /síp tɕét/
| 17<br>seventeen<br>XVII
| ໑໐໐໐໐໐໐<br>(ນຶ່ງ)ລ້ານ
| /(nɯ̄ŋ) lâːn/
| 1,000,000<br>'one million'
|-
| ໑໘<br>ສິບແປດ
| /síp pɛ́ːt/
| 18<br>'eighteen'<br>XVIII
| ໑໐໐໐໐໐໐໐໐໐<br>(ນຶ່ງ)ພັນລ້ານ
| /(nɯ̄ŋ) pʰán lâːn/
| 1,000,000,000<br>'one billion'
|-
| ໑໙<br>ສິບເກົ້າ
| /síp kȃw/
| 19<br>'nineteen'<br>XIX
| ໑໐໐໐໐໐໐໐໐໐໐໐໐໐<br>(ນຶ່ງ)ລ້ານລ້ານ
| /(nɯ̄ŋ) lâːn lâːn/
| 1,000,000,000,000<br>'one trillion'
|-
| ໒໐<br>ຊາວ(ນຶ່ງ)<br>''sao''(''nueng'')
| /sáːw (nɯ̄ŋ)/
| 20<br>'twenty'<br>XX 
| ໑໐໐໐໐໐໐໐໐໐໐໐໐໐໐໐໐໐໐<br>(ນຶ່ງ)ພັນລ້ານລ້ານ
| /(nɯ̄ŋ) pʰán lâːn lâːn/
| 1,000,000,000,000,000<br>'one quadrillion'
|}

==Writing system==
===Lao script===
{{main|Lao script}}
[[File:WatThatLuang Sign.JPG|thumb|Lao script on a sign at Wat That Luang, Vientiane.]]
The Lao script, derived from the [[Khmer alphabet]] of the [[Khmer Empire]] in the 14th century,<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Benedict |first1=Paul K. |title=Languages and Literatures of Indochina |journal=The Far Eastern Quarterly |date=August 1947 |volume=6 |issue=4 |pages=379–389 |id={{ProQuest|1290485784}} |doi=10.2307/2049433 |jstor=2049433 |s2cid=162902327 }}</ref> is ultimately rooted in the [[Pallava script]] of [[South India|Southern India]], one of the [[Brahmi script]]s.<ref name="UCLA"/> Although the Lao script bears resemblance to Thai, the former contains fewer letters than Thai because by 1960 it was simplified to be fairly ''phonemic'', whereas Thai maintains many etymological spellings that are pronounced the same.<ref name="Unicode">Unicode. (2019). Lao. In ''The Unicode Standard Version 12.0'' (pp. 635–637). Mountain View, CA: Unicode Consortium.</ref>

The script is traditionally classified as an [[abugida]], but Lao consonant letters are conceived of as simply representing the consonant sound, rather than a syllable with an inherent vowel.<ref name="Unicode" /> Vowels are written as [[diacritic]] marks and can be placed above, below, in front of, or behind consonants. The script also contains distinct symbols for numerals, although Arabic numerals are more commonly used.

Lao is written in the [[Tai Tham script]] for [[Sacred language|liturgical]] purposes<ref name=UCLA>UCLA International Institute, (n.d.). [http://www.lmp.ucla.edu/Profile.aspx?menu=004&LangID=77 "Lao"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101230070620/http://www.lmp.ucla.edu/Profile.aspx?menu=004&LangID=77 |date=2010-12-30 }}. Accessed 2010-07-27.</ref> and is still used in temples in Laos and [[Isan]].

====Indication of tones====
Experts disagree on the number and nature of tones in the various dialects of Lao. According to some, most dialects of Lao and Isan have six tones, those of [[Luang Prabang]] have five. Tones are determined as follows:

{| class="wikitable"
! Tones
! Long vowel, or vowel plus voiced consonant
! Long vowel plus unvoiced consonant
! Short vowel, or short vowel plus unvoiced consonant
! Mai ek ({{lang|lo|◌່}})
! Mai tho ({{lang|lo|◌້}})
|-
! High consonants
| rising
| low falling
| high
| mid
| low falling
|-
! Mid consonants
| low rising
| low falling
| high
| mid
| high falling
|-
! Low consonants
| high
| high falling
| mid
| mid
| high falling
|}

A silent {{lang|lo|ຫ}} ({{IPA|/h/}}) placed before certain consonants will place the proceeding consonant in the high class tone. This can occur before the letters {{lang|lo|ງ}} {{IPA|/ŋ/}}, {{lang|lo|ຍ}} {{IPA|/ɲ/}}, {{lang|lo|ຣ}} {{IPA|/r/}}, and {{lang|lo|ວ}} {{IPA|/w/}} and combined in special ligatures (considered separate letters) such as {{lang|lo|ຫຼ}} {{IPA|/l/}}, {{lang|lo|ໜ}} {{IPA|/n/}}, and {{lang|lo|ໝ}} {{IPA|/m/}}. In addition to {{lang|lo|ອ່}} (low tone) and {{lang|lo|ອ້}} (falling tone), there also exists the rare {{lang|lo|ອ໊}} (high) {{lang|lo|ອ໋}} (rising) tone marks.

===Tai Tham script===
{{main|Tai Tham script}}
[[File:Sign of Wat Sri Ubon Rattanaram, Ubon Ratchathani.jpg|thumb|left|An example of the [[Tai Tham alphabet]] formerly used in Laos for religious literature]]
Traditionally, only secular literature was written with the Lao alphabet. Religious literature was often written in ''[[Tai Tham script|Tai Tham]]'', a Mon-based script that is still used for the [[Khün language|Tai Khün]], [[Tai Lue language|Tai Lü]], and formerly for [[Northern Thai language|Kham Mueang]].<ref>[[Michael Everson|Everson, Michael]], Hosken, Martin, & Constable, Peter. (2007). [http://www.unicode.org/L2/L2007/07007r-n3207r-lanna.pdf ''Revised proposal for encoding the Lanna script in the BMP of the UCS''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190614234315/http://www.unicode.org/L2/L2007/07007r-n3207r-lanna.pdf |date=2019-06-14 }}.</ref> The Lao style of this script is known as ''Lao Tham''.<ref>Kourilsky, Grégory & Berment, Vincent. (2005). [http://www.laosoftware.com/download/dekalb_gk-vb.pdf Towards a Computerization of the Lao Tham System of Writing] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070802025701/http://www.laosoftware.com/download/dekalb_gk-vb.pdf |date=2007-08-02 }}. In ''First International Conference on Lao Studies''.</ref>

===Khom script===
{{main|Khom Thai script}}
[[File:Bhuddha Sutra in Thai-Khmer Font.JPG|thumb|right|A [[sutra]] in the Khom script. This Khmer script was used to write Buddhist, Brahmanic, and ritual texts.]] 
Mystical, magical, and some religious literature was written in ''Khom script'' (Aksar Khom), a modified version of the [[Khmer script]].<ref>Igunma, Jana. (2013). Aksoon Khoom: Khmer Heritage in Thai and Lao Manuscript Cultures. ''Tai Culture, 23: Route of the Roots: Tai-Asiatic Cultural Interaction''.</ref>
{{clear}}

==See also==
*[[Comparison of Lao and Isan]]
*[[Comparison of Lao and Thai]]
*[[Literature of Laos]]
*[[Romanization of Lao]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* Lew, Sigrid. 2013. [https://www.academia.edu/12997666/A_linguistic_analysis_of_the_Lao_writing_system_and_its_suitability_for_minority_language_orthographies "A linguistic analysis of the Lao writing system and its suitability for minority language orthographies".]
* ANSI Z39.35-1979, ''System for the Romanization of Lao, Khmer, and Pali'', {{ISBN|0-88738-968-6}}.
* Hoshino, Tatsuo and Marcus, Russel. (1989). ''Lao for Beginners: An Introduction to the Spoken and Written Language of Laos''. Tuttle Publishing. {{ISBN|0-8048-1629-8}}.
* Enfield, N. J. (2007). [http://nickenfield.org/files/Enfield_Lao_Grammar_published_AUTHOR_OFFPRINT.pdf ''A Grammar of Lao'']. Berlin and New York: Mouton de Gruyter. {{ISBN|3-11-018588-1}}.
* Cummings, Joe. (2002). ''Lao Phrasebook: A Language Survival Kit''. Lonely Planet. {{ISBN|1-74059-168-2}}.
* Mollerup, Asger. ''Thai–Isan–Lao Phrasebook''. White Lotus, Bangkok, 2001. {{ISBN|974-7534-88-6}}.
* Kerr, Allen. (1994). ''Lao–English Dictionary''. White Lotus. {{ISBN|974-8495-69-8}}.
* Simmala, Buasawan and Benjawan Poomsan Becker (2003), ''Lao for Beginners''. Paiboon Publishing. {{ISBN|1-887521-28-3}}

==External links==
{{InterWiki|code=lo}}
{{Wikivoyage|Lao phrasebook|Lao|a phrasebook}}
{{Commons category}}
*[http://www.seasite.niu.edu/lao/lao3.htm Lao Language and Culture website]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20141204014809/http://asiansouls.com/laofonts/ Lao True Type Fonts]

{{Languages of Laos}}
{{Languages of Cambodia}}
{{Languages of Thailand}}
{{Laos topics}}
{{Tai-Kadai languages}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Lao language| ]]
[[Category:Languages of Laos]]
[[Category:Languages of Thailand]]
[[Category:Isolating languages]]
[[Category:Subject–verb–object languages]]