'''Lao''' (??????? ''phaa-s?a lao'') is the main language of Laos, also spoken to some degree in the northeastern Isaan region of Thailand. Thai is also closely related to Lao.

Pronunciation guide

  • The letter "r" must be eliminated.
  • * At the beginning of a word, "r" turns into "l": ''roi'' → ''loi'' "hundred"
  • * Within a word, "r" turns into "l": ''karunaa'' → ''kalunaa'' "please"
  • * In a cluster, "r" disappears completely: ''prathet'' → ''pathet'' "country"
  • All "ch" turn into "x" (pronounced "s"). ''chang'' → ''xang'' "elephant"
  • Say ''baw'' instead of ''mai'' when you want to say "no" or ask a question.
  • Lao is a '''tonal''' language with six tones in the Vientiane dialect: low, mid, high, rising, high falling, and low falling. Meanings are dependent on the tone, so try not to inflect your sentences; in particular, questions should be pronounced as flat statements, without the rising intonation ("...yes?") typical to English questions.

    The '''script''' used to write Lao has the same Brahmic base as Thai and Khmer, and Thai readers will be able to figure out most of it. The Lao written language is essentially alphabetic and, thanks to extensive post-revolutionary meddling, now considerably more phonetic than Thai or Khmer. Still, there are 30 consonants, 15 vowel symbols plus 4 tone marks to learn, and the Lao also share the Thai aversion to spaces between words. Lao remains a bit of challenge to pick up, even though it is usually considered easier to learn than Thai.

    Lao '''romanization''' is bedeviled by the incompatibility between French and English pronunciation. Most older transliterations are French-based, while newer ones are English-based. The French-style "Vientiane", for example, is more accurately spelled "Wiang Chan" in English. Wikitravel uses a modern English-based orthography modeled on the Thai system, but the French transliterations have been noted below when appropriate.

    Vowels

    Lao has a complicated set of vowels that distinguishes between vowel length (short and long) and vowel position (front and back). Vowel signs are always written around consonants.

    French transliterations use "ou" for "u" (eg. "Louang Prabang") and often tag a seemingly superfluous unpronounced "e" at the end of words to stop the consonant from being swallowed (eg. "Kaysone Phomvihane").

    ; i : like in the 'i' in 'Nit' ; ii : like in the 'ee' in 'Beer' or 'Feet' ; a : like in the 'u' in 'Bum' ; aa : like in the 'a' in 'Father' ; ae : like in the 'a' in 'Fat' ; e : like in the 'e' in 'Fence' ; eh : like in the 'a' in 'Bait' ; u : like in the 'u' for 'Fruit' ; ou : like in the 'oo' in 'Mood' ; aw : like in the 'aw' in 'Saw' ; am : like in the 'um' in 'Drum' ; oe : like in the 'uh' in 'Huh' ; eu : similar to the 'i' in 'Sir' or the 'eux' from the French 'Deux'

    Consonants

    Lao distinguishes between '''aspirated''' ("with a puff of air") and '''unaspirated''' ("without a puff of air") consonants. Unaspirated consonants exist in English too, but never alone: compare the sound of 'p' in "pot" (aspirated) and "spot" (unaspirated). Many English speakers find it helpful to pronounce an imperceptible little "m" in front to 'stop' the puff.

    In romanized Lao, the distinction is usually represented by writing aspirated consonants with "h" and unaspirated ones without it. In particular, "ph" represents a hard aspirated 'p' and ''not'' a soft 'f', and ''Phongsali'' is thus pronounced "Pongsalee". Likewise, "th" is a hard aspirated 't' and hence ''That Luang'' is pronounced "Tat Luang".

    ; b : like 'b' in "bed" ; c : not used in Wikitravel, but in other romanizations may represent 's' ; d : like 'd' in "dog" ; f : like 'f' in "fan" ; g : not used in Wikitravel, but in other romanizations may represent unaspirated 'k' ; h : like 'h' in "help" ; j : like 'dg' in "edge" ; k : like 'k' in "skate" (unaspirated) ; kh : like 'c' in "cat" (aspirated) ; l : like 'l' in "love" ; m : like 'm' in "mother" ; n : like 'n' in "nice" ; ny : like 'ni' in "onion", can also be used at the beginning of words ; ng : like 'ng' in "sing", can also be used at the beginning of words ; p : like 'p' in "spit" (unaspirated) ; ph : like 'p' in "pig" (aspirated) ; r : not used the modern orthography, should be pronounced as 'l', 'h' or ignored ; s : like 'ss' in "hiss", ; t : like 't' sound in "stab" ; th : like 't' in "top" ; v : not used in Wikitravel, but in other romanizations may represent 'w' ; w : like 'w' in "weight" ; y : like 'y' in "yes" ; x : like 'ss' in "hiss", completely identical to 's'

    Phrases

    Basics

    ; Hello. : (''Sa-bai-Dee.'') ; What's Up? : (''Pen Jung Dai?'') ; How are you? : (''Sa-bai-Dee Baw?'') ; Fine, thank you. : (''Sa-bai-Dee.'') ; What is your name? : (''Seuh Jao Maen/Bpen Nyung?'') ; My name is ______ . : (''Seuh Khawy Maen/Bpen _____.'') ; Please. : (''Kalunaa'') ; Thank you. : (''Khawp Jai'') ; It's nothing. : (''Baw Pen Nyung.'') ; Yes. : (''Maen Laeow/Doy/Eur'') ; No. : (''Baw'') ; Excuse me/I'm Sorry. (''Begging Pardon'') : (''Kh?w Thoht'') ; Goodbye and Take Care : (''Sohk Dee Der'') ; Do you speak English? : (''Jao Wao Phaa-S?a Ung-Kit Dai Baw?'') ; I can't speak English very well. : (''Khawy Baw Wao Phaa-S?a Ung-Kit Dai Dee'') ; I can't speak ____. : (''Khawy Wao Phaa-S?a ____ Baw Dai.'') ; Please speak slowly. : (''Kalunaa, Wao Sah-Saah'') ; Do you understand? : (''Jao Khao Jai Baw?'') ; --Yes. I understand. : (''Maen Laeow. Khawy Khao Jai) ; --No. I don't understand. : (''Baw. Khawy Baw Khao Jai'') ; Go to sleep : (''Pai Nawn'') ; Where is the toilet? : (''Hawng Nam Yuu S?i?'') ; (Ethnicity)I am ____. : (Khoy Pen Khon ____.)

    Problems

    ; Leave me alone. : Leave me alone. ('Ya kouan khoy') ; Don't touch me! : ('Ya jup khoy'') ; I'll call the police. : ('Khoy si toh jang dtum louat.'') ; Police! : Police! (''Dtum louat!'') ; Stop! Thief! : Stop! Thief! (''Yud! Kee Luck'') ; I need your help. : I need your help. ('Suay khoy dai boh') ; It's an emergency. : It's an emergency. (''souk sern'') ; I'm lost. : (''Khoy lohng taang'') ; I lost my wallet. : (''Khoy seeuh gkapow'') ; I lost my bag. : (''Khoy seeuh tong'') ; I'm sick. : (''Khoy pben kai/Khoy boh sabai'') ; I've been injured. : (''Khoy jep/Khoy Theug baad jep.'') ; I need a doctor. : I need a doctor. (''Khoy tong kan Maw') ; Can I use your phone? : (''Khoy sai tolasup dai boh?'') ; May I talk to _______? (''Khoy ko lom num _______?"") ; I dont understand : boh. koi boh dai kow jai

    Numbers

    Lao numbers are effectively identical to Thai, the two quirks worth nothing being that 20 is ''sao'' (not ''yii-sip'') and 100 is ''loi''. Speakers of Cantonese will find many quite familiar.

    Lao has its own set of numerals, but these are used quite rarely.

    ; 0 : (''soon'') ; 1 : (''neung'') ; 2 : (''song'') ; 3 : (''saam'') ; 4 : (''sii'') ; 5 : (''haa'') ; 6 : (''hok'') ; 7 : (''jet'') ; 8 : (''paet'') ; 9 : (''kao'') ; 10 : (''sip'') ; 11 : (''sip-et'') ; 12 : (''sip-song'') ; 13 : (''sip-saam'') ; 14 : (''sip-sii'') ; 15 : (''sip-haa'') ; 16 : (''sip-hok'') ; 17 : (''sip-jet'') ; 18 : (''sip-paet'') ; 19 : (''sip-kao'') ; 20 : (''sao'') ; 21 : (''sao-et'') ; 22 : (''sao-song'') ; 23 : (''sao-saam'') ; 30 : (''saam-sip'') ; 40 : (''sii-sip'') ; 50 : (''haa-sip'') ; 60 : (''hok-sip'') ; 70 : (''jet-sip'') ; 80 : (''paet-sip'') ; 90 : (''kao-sip'') ; 100 : (''hawy'') ; 200 : (''song hawy'') ; 300 : (''saam hawy'') ; 1000 : (''phan'') ; 2000 : (''song phan'') ; 10,000 : (''meun, sip phan'') ; 100,000 : (''saen, hawy phan'') ; 1,000,000 : (''laan'') ; 1,000,000,000 : (''teu, phan laan'') ; 1,000,000,000,000 : (''laan laan'') ; number (''train, bus, etc.'') : (''nam-boe (lehk)'') ; half : (''kheung'') ; less : (''nawy-kwaa'') ; more : (''iik'')

    Time

    ; now : now (''diow nee'') ; later : la gon ; before : before (''deh gawn'') ; morning : morning (''dthawn sao'') ; afternoon : afternoon (''tiang/ton suwai'') ; evening : evening (''ton lang'') ; night : night (''kaang keun'')

    Clock time

    Duration

    ; _____ minute(s) : _____ minute(s) (''na-thii'') ; _____ hour(s) : _____ hour(s) (''suua mohng'') ; _____ day(s) : _____ day(s) (''meuh'') ; _____ week(s) : _____ week(s) (''aathit'') ; _____ month(s) : _____ month(s) (''duean'') ; _____ year(s) : _____ year(s) (''bpii'')

    Days

    ; Today : (''meuh nii'') ; Yesterday : (''Meuh wan nii'') ; Tomorrow : (''Meuh euhn'') ; This Week : (''aa-thit'') ; Last Week : (''Thit laeow'') ; Next Week : (''Thit naa'') ; Weekend : (''S?o aa-thit'')

    ; Sunday : (''wan aa-thit'') ; Monday : (''wan jan'') ; Tuesday : (''wan ang-khaan'') ; Wednesday : (''wan phuut'') ; Thursday : (''wan pha-hat'') ; Friday : (''wan suk'') ; Saturday : (''wan s?o'')

    Months

    ; January : ''Deuan Mang-Kawn'' ; February : ''Deuan Kum-Phaa'' ; March : ''Deuan Mi-Naa'' ; April : ''Deuan Meh-S?a'' ; May : ''Deuan Pheut-Sa-Phaa'' ; June : ''Deuan Mi-Thu-Naa'' ; July : ''Deuan Kaw-La-Kot'' ; August : ''Deuan S?ng-H?a'' ; September : ''Deuan Kan-Yaa'' ; October : ''Deuan Tu-Laa'' ; November : ''Deuan Pha-Jik'' ; December : ''Deuan Than-Waa''

    Colors

    ; red : (''sii daeng'') ; orange : (''sii som'') ; yellow : (''sii lueang'') ; green : (''sii khiao'') ; blue : (''sii faa'') ; purple : (''sii muang'') ; brown : (''sii nam taan'') ; gray : (''sii thao'') ; black : (''sii dam'') ; white : (''sii khao'') ; Pink : (''sii bua'')

    Transportation

    Bus and train

    ; How much is a ticket to _____? : How much is a ticket to _____? (''...'') ; One ticket to _____, please. : One ticket to _____, please. (''...'') ; Where does this train/bus go? : Where does this train/bus go? (''...'') ; Where is the train/bus to _____? : Where is the train/bus to _____? (''...'') ; Does this train/bus stop in _____? : Does this train/bus stop in _____? (''...'') ; When does the train/bus for _____ leave? : When does the train/bus for _____ leave? (''...'') ; When will this train/bus arrive in _____? : When will this bus arrive in _____? (''...'')

    Directions

    ; How do I get to _____ ? : How do I get to _____ ? (''khoy bpay _____ baep dai?'') ; ...the bus station? : ...the bus station? (''....'') ; ...the airport? : ...the airport? (''....deun bin'') ; ...downtown? : ...downtown? (''...nai meuang'') ; ...the youth hostel? : ...the youth hostel? (''...'') ; ...the _____ hotel? : ...the _____ hotel? (''...'') ; ...the American/Canadian/Australian/British consulate? : ...the American/Canadian/Australian/British consulate? (''...'') ; Where are there a lot of... : Where are there a lot of... (''___ lai yuu sai?'') ; ...hotels? : ...hotels? (''...hong ham'') ; ...restaurants? : ...restaurants? (''....haan aahan?'') ; ...bars? : ...bars? (''...'') ; ...sites to see? : ...sites to see? (''...'') ; Can you show me on the map? : Can you show me on the map? (''...'') ; street : street (''thanon'') ; alley : (''hom'') ; Turn left. : (''Liao saai.'') ; Turn right. : (''Liao kwaa.'') ; left : (''saai'') ; right : (''kwaa'') ; straight ahead : (''thaang naa'') ; towards the _____ : towards the _____ (''...'') ; past the _____ : past the _____ (''...'') ; before the _____ : before the _____ (''...'') ; Watch for the _____. : Watch for the _____. (''...la wung ____'') ; intersection : intersection (''sii nyak'') ; north : north (''neua'') ; south : south (''tai'') ; east : east (''ta wen ock'') ; west : west (''ta wen tok'') ; uphill : uphill (''keun koy'') ; downhill : downhill (''long koy'')

    Taxi

    ; Taxi! : ???????! (''Taak See'') ; Take me to _____, please. : (''Phaa Khoy Bpay____,Naeh.'') ; How much does it cost to get to _____? : (''Bpay ___ Thao Dai?'') ; Take me there, please. : Take me there, please. (''Kalunaa, Phaa Khoy Bpay Yuu Phoon.'') ; Stop here.: (''Jawt Yuu Nee'')

    Lodging

    ; Do you have any rooms available? : Do you have any rooms available? (''Jao mee hawng baw?'') ; How much is a room for one person/two people? : How much is a room for one person/two people? (''Hawng tao dai hai khon neung(1 person)/song khon(2 people)?'') ; Does the room come with... : Does the room come with... (''Hawng maa gap _____, baw?'') ; ...bedsheets? : ...bedsheets? (''paa home'') ; ...a bathroom? : (''...hawng naam?'') ; ...a telephone? : (''...tohlasup?'') ; ...a TV? : (''...thiiwii/tohlathut?'') ; May I see the room first? : May I see the room first? (''Khoy berng hawng gawn dai bor?'') ; Do you have anything quieter? : Do you have anything quieter? (''Jao mee mit gwaa nee baw?'') ; ...bigger? : ...bigger? (''ngai gwaa?'') ; ...cleaner? : (''...kiang gwaa?'') ; ...cheaper? : ...cheaper? (''...'') ; Okay, I'll take it. : Okay, I'll take it. (''Doy,Khoy see aow.'') ; I will stay for _____ night(s). : I will stay for _____ night(s). (''Koi see oue ____ keun.'') ; Can you suggest another hotel? : Can you suggest another hotel? (''...'') ; Do you have a safe? : Do you have a safe? (''...'') ; ...lockers? : ...lockers? (''...'') ; Is breakfast/supper included? : Is breakfast/supper included? (''...'') ; What time is breakfast/supper? : What time is breakfast/supper? (''...'') ; Please clean my room. : Please clean my room. (''Mien hong koi nah.'') ; Can you wake me at _____? | Can you wake me at _____? (''Dthuen Khoy ____ moeng nah'') ; I want to check out. : I want to check out. (''...'')

    Money

    ; Do you accept American/Australian/Canadian dollars? : Do you accept American/Australian/Canadian dollars? (''...'') ; Do you accept British pounds? : Do you accept British pounds? (''...'') ; Do you accept credit cards? : Do you accept credit cards? (''...'') ; Can you change money for me? : Can you change money for me? (''Jao bian nguen hay koy dai bor?'') ; Where can I get money changed? : Where can I get money changed? (''...'') ; Can you change a traveler's check for me? : Can you change a traveler's check for me? (''...'') ; Where can I get a traveler's check changed? : Where can I get a traveler's check changed? (''...'') ; What is the exchange rate? : What is the exchange rate? (''at-taa laek pian thao dai'') ; Where is an automatic teller machine (ATM)? : Where is an automatic teller machine (ATM)? (''...'')

    Eating

    ; A table for one person/two people, please. : A table for one person/two people, please. (''Dtho hai kon neung/song kon, nah.'') ; Can I look at the menu, please? : Can I look at the menu, please? (''...'') ; Can I look in the kitchen? : Can I look in the kitchen? (''Khoy berng yuu nai heuan khua dai baw?'') ; Is there a house specialty? : Is there a house specialty? (''...'') ; Is there a local specialty? : Is there a local specialty? (''...'') ; I'm a vegetarian. : (''Khoy bpen khon jay/Khoy gin jay.'') ; I don't eat pork. : I don't eat pork. (''Khoy baw gin sein moo.'') ; I don't eat beef. : I don't eat beef. (''Khoy baw gin sein nua.'') ; I only eat kosher food. : I only eat kosher food. (''...'') ; Can you make it "lite", please? (''less oil/butter/lard'') : Can you make it "lite", please? (''Jao baw sai nam-manh lai dai baw?'') ; fixed-price meal : fixed-price meal (''...'') ; a la carte : a la carte (''...'') ; breakfast : (''khao dtawn saow'') ; lunch : (''khao dtawn suay'') ; tea (''meal'') : tea (''Saa'') ; supper : supper (''khao dtawn laeng'') ; I want _____. : I want _____. (''khoi yak_____.'') ; I want a dish containing _____. : I want a dish containing _____. (''...'') ; chicken : (''gai'') ; beef : (''neua'') ; fish : (''bpaa'') ; shrimp : (''goong'') ; crab : (''bpoo'') ; eggs : (''khai'') ; salad : salad (''phak salat'') ; (fresh) vegetables : (fresh) vegetables (''phaak'') ; (fresh) fruit : (fresh) fruit (''Maak Mai'') ; bread : bread (''khao jii'') ; rice noodles : ?????????? (''phu'') ; wheat noodles : ?????? (''ba mii'') ; rice : ???? (''khao'') ; beans : beans (''...'') ; May I have a glass of _____? : May I have a glass of _____? (''...'') ; May I have a cup of _____? : May I have a cup of _____? (''...'') ; May I have a bottle of _____? : May I have a bottle of _____? (''...'') ; coffee : ???? (''khaafeh'') ; hot tea : ?????? (''saa hawn'') ; iced tea with milk : ?????? (''saa nohm yen'') ; juice : juice (''nam mak mai'') ; water : ???????? (''naam'') ; beer : ???? (''bia'') ; alcohol: ???? (''lao'') ; red/white wine : red/white wine (''...'') ; May I have some _____? : May I have some _____? (''...'') ; salt : salt (''gkua'') ; black pepper : black pepper (''pik tai '') ; fish sauce : ?????? (''naam bpaa'') ; Excuse me, waiter? (''getting attention of server''): Excuse me, waiter? (''...'') ; I'm finished. : I'm finished. (''Khoy Laew'') ; It was delicious. : It was delicious. (''Mun saep. / Saep lai lai.'') ; Please clear the plates. : Please clear the plates. (''...'') ; The check, please. : The check, please. (''...'')

    Bars

    ; Do you serve alcohol? : Do you serve alcohol? (''Jao khaiy laoh baw?'') ; Is there table service? : Is there table service? (''...'') ; A beer/two beers, please. : A beer/two beers, please. (''...'') ; A glass of red/white wine, please. : A glass of red/white wine, please. (''...'') ; A pint, please. : A pint, please. (''...'') ; A bottle, please. : A bottle, please. (''...'') ; _____ (''hard liquor'') and _____ (''mixer''), please. : _____ and _____, please. (''...'') ; whiskey : whiskey (''...'') ; vodka : vodka (''...'') ; rum : rum (''...'') ; water : (''naam'') ; club soda : club soda (''...'') ; tonic water : tonic water (''...'') ; orange juice : orange juice (''naam maak gieng'') ; Coke (''soda'') : Coke (''naam coke'') ; Do you have any bar snacks? : Do you have any bar snacks? (''...'') ; One more, please. : One more, please. (''aow eek nae'') ; Another round, please. : Another round, please. (''...'') ; When is closing time? : When is closing time? (''Si bpit jak mohng?'')

    Shopping

    ; Do you have this in my size? : Do you have this in my size? (''...'') ; How much is this? : How much is this? (''anee tor dai?'') ; That's too expensive. : That's too expensive. (''anun phaeng phawt'') ; Would you take _____? : Would you take _____? (''____ dai baw?'') ; expensive : expensive (''phaeng'') ; cheap : cheap (''tuke'') ; I can't afford it. : I can't afford it. (''Khoi seu baw dai'') ; I don't want it. : I don't want it. (''Khoy baw yak ow'') ; You're cheating me. : You're cheating me. (''Jao Phit Khoy'') ; I'm not interested. : I'm not interested. (''Khoi baw mhuk'') ; Okay, I'll take it. : Okay, I'll take it. (''Khoy si ow.'') ; Can I have a bag? : Can I have a bag? (''khoy ow thohng dai bor?'') ; Do you ship (overseas)? : Do you ship (overseas)? (''...'') ; I need... : I need... (''khoy dtong gaan...'') ; ...toothpaste. : ...toothpaste. (''bang phan'') ; ...a toothbrush. :???? (''ya si phan'') ; ...tampons. : ...tampons. (''...'') ; ...soap. :(''fep/saabuu'') ; ...shampoo. : ...shampoo. (''saapom'') ; ...pain reliever. (''e.g., aspirin or ibuprofen'') : ...pain reliever. (''yaa kae puat'') ; ...cold medicine. : ...cold medicine. (''yaa vhut'') ; ...stomach medicine. : ...stomach medicine. (''yaa dee tawng'') ; ...a razor. : ...a razor. (''bai-miit thae'') ; ...an umbrella. : ...an umbrella. (''khanyu'') ; ...sunblock lotion. : ...sunblock lotion. (''...'') ; ...a postcard. : ...a postcard. (''bat pai-sa-nii'') ; ...postage stamps. : ...postage stamps. (''sa-taem'') ; ...batteries. : ... (''taan'') ; ...writing paper. : ...writing paper. (''jiia'') ; ...a pen. : ...a pen. (''bik'') ; ...English-language books. : (''bpuem phaasaa ung-kit'') ; ...English-language magazines. : ...English-language magazines. (''...'') ; ...an English-language newspaper. : ...an English-language newspaper. (''...'') ; ...an English-English dictionary. : ...an English-English dictionary. (''...'')

    Driving

    ; I want to rent a car. : I want to rent a car. (''koy yuk soow lout'') ; Can I get insurance? : Can I get insurance? (''Koi suh in-so-laing dy bow'') ; stop (''on a street sign'') : stop (''yout/sow'') ; one way : one way (''mai laew'') ; yield : yield (''...'') ; no parking : no parking (''jawt u nee bow dy'') ; speed limit : speed limit (''...'') ; gas (''petrol'') station : gas station (''paum na mun'') ; petrol : petrol (''num-mun'') ; diesel : diesel (''num-mun ka suay'')

    Authority

    ; I haven't done anything wrong. : I haven't done anything wrong. (''kow buh da het ee sung peete'') ; It was a misunderstanding. : It was a misunderstanding. (''...'') ; Where are you taking me? : Where are you taking me? (''jow ow khoy bai sai'') ; Am I under arrest? : Am I under arrest? (''khoy teuk jop boa'') ; I am an American/Australian/British/Canadian citizen. : I am an American/Australian/British/Canadian citizen. (''English: khawy maa ta angkit'') ; I want to talk to the American/Australian/British/Canadian embassy/consulate. : I need to talk to the American/Australian/British/Canadian embassy/consulate. (''...'') ; I want to talk to a lawyer. : I want to talk to a lawyer. (''...'') ; Can I just pay a fine now? : Can I just pay a fine now? (''...'')

    pa saa engkit bor? koa coup jai lai lai khon chop lout