ภาษาลาว
paa-sǎa-laaoMeaning
1NounA2
Lao language
The Lao language, spoken in Laos and by Lao communities; in Thailand, also used colloquially to refer to the closely related Isan/Lao varieties.
Examples
เพื่อนpʉ̂ʉanเพื่อนpʉ̂ʉan1friend2classmate; colleague (peer)3companion; fellowฉันchǎnฉันchǎn1I; me2[to] eat (of Buddhist monks and novices)3like; as (in the manner of)พูดpûutพูดpûut1[to] speak; talk2[to] say; speak3[to] tell; talk aboutภาษาลาวpaa-sǎa-laaoภาษาลาวpaa-sǎa-laaoLao language
My friend speaks Lao.
3 more examplesShow less
I want to learn Lao because I like listening to Lao music.
คนอีสานkon-ii-sǎanกับgàpคนkonลาวlaaoคุยกันkui-ganรู้เรื่องrúu-rʉ̂ʉangเพราะprɔ́ภาษาpaa-sǎaคล้ายกันkláai-gan
People from Isan and people from Laos can understand each other because their languages are similar.
ถึงแม้ว่าtʉ̌ng-mɛ́ɛ-wâaภาษาไทยpaa-sǎa-taiกับgàpภาษาลาวpaa-sǎa-laaoจะมีjà-miiคำศัพท์kam-sàpที่tîiเหมือนกันmʉ̌ʉan-ganเยอะyə́แต่dtɛ̀ɛการออกเสียงgaan-ɔ̀ɔk-sǐiangและlɛ́บางคำbaang-kamก็gɔ̂ไม่เหมือนกันmâi-mʉ̌ʉan-ganเลยləəi
Even though Thai and Lao have many similar words, the pronunciation and some words are not the same at all.
Tones
See how the spelling sets each syllable's tone, step by step.
Why is ภาษาลาว said พา-สา-ลาว?
paa-sǎa-laao
The tone rules below use the spoken syllables.
3 syllables · pick one to see its rule
How the tone is decided
- Consonant classLow class
- Tone markNo tone mark
- Syllable endingLive syllableA long vowel with no final consonant, so it is live.
Low class consonants
คฅฆงชซฌญฑฒณทธนพฟภมยรลวฬฮ
Result
Mid tone
paa
Level, in your normal speaking voice.
Low class + No tone mark + Live syllable → Mid
Tone chart
Every class and spelling pattern, with this syllable outlined.
| Mid class | High class | Low class | |
|---|---|---|---|
| No mark + live | Mid | Rising | Mid |
| No mark + dead short | Low | Low | High |
| No mark + dead long | Low | Low | Falling |
| Mai ek | Low | Low | Falling |
| Mai tho | Falling | Falling | High |
| Mai tri | High | — | — |
| Mai chattawa | Rising | — | — |
Word Breakdown
ภาษาpaa-sǎaภาษาpaa-sǎa1language; tongue2register; jargon; specialized languagelanguage; tonguePart 1
+
ลาวlaaoลาวlaao1Laos; Lao (relating to Laos)2Lao person; Laotian3Lao language4rustic; unsophisticated (slang, can be derogatory)Laos; Lao (relating to Laos)Part 2
ภาษาลาวpaa-sǎa-laaoภาษาลาวpaa-sǎa-laaoLao languageLao languageWord