Online Lao Keyboard – Type in Lao Instantly
All Keyboards is a free online Lao keyboard that lets you type in Lao (Lao script) directly in your browser – no software or fonts to install. Type with your own keyboard or click the on-screen keys using the standard Lao – Standard layout, or simply speak and let voice typing write Lao for you. Copy the text into WhatsApp, email, Word or social media, download it as a file, print it, or translate it into English and other Indian languages in one click.
How to Use the Lao Keyboard
- Choose the layout. Keep Keyboard Type on Lao – Standard to type in Lao, or switch to English – QWERTY for English.
- Start typing. Click the keys of the on-screen keyboard with your mouse or finger, or type on your computer keyboard – each key produces the Lao letter printed on it, for example k → າ and e → ຳ.
- Use Shift and Caps Lock for more letters. They switch to the second set of characters – more consonants and the full vowels, such as ໝ (Shift + u → ໝ).
- Type by voice. Click the microphone in the text box and speak in Lao – your words appear as Lao text (works in Chrome and Edge).
- Save or share your text. Use the toolbar above the text box to start a new text, download it as a .txt file, copy, print, share it on WhatsApp or by email, work in full screen, or translate it into English and other languages.
How to Join Consonants and Vowels to Make Lao Words
Lao is written from left to right without spaces between words. Vowels are written around the consonant and tone marks sit above it; you type them in written order.
Three rules to remember
- Vowel after the consonant: ກ + າ = ກາ (kā) – press d k.
- Vowel before: ເ + ກ = ເກ (ke) – type the vowel first – press g d.
- Tone mark on top: ບ + ້ + ານ = ບ້ານ (bān, village) – press [ h k o.
Practice words
| Word | Meaning | Letters | Keys to press |
|---|---|---|---|
| ເຮືອນ | house | ເ + ຮ + ື + ອ + ນ | g i n v o |
| ນ້ຳ | water | ນ + ້ + ຳ | o h e |
| ປຶ້ມ | book | ປ + ຶ + ້ + ມ | x b h , |
| ລາວ | Lao | ລ + າ + ວ | ] k ; |
| ສະບາຍດີ | hello | ສ + ະ + ບ + າ + ຍ + ດ + ີ | l t [ k p f u |
Want to learn every letter first? See the complete Lao alphabet with pronunciation and examples.
About the Lao Language
Lao (ພາສາລາວ) is a Kra–Dai language, the official language of Laos, and very close to Thai – especially to Isan, the language of north-east Thailand. It is tonal, with six tones in the Vientiane dialect. Lao is written in the Lao script, a rounder relative of the Thai script with fewer letters, from left to right and without spaces between words.
- Script
- Lao script (ອັກສອນລາວ)
- Language family
- Kra–Dai
- Official status
- Official language of Laos
- Related languages
- Thai, Isan, Shan
How old is the Lao script?
The Lao script developed from the old Khmer script and took its present form around the 14th–16th century, in the time of the kingdom of Lan Xang.
How many people speak Lao?
About 7 million people in Laos speak Lao, and more than 20 million people in north-east Thailand speak the closely related Isan.
Where is Lao spoken?
Lao is spoken in Laos, in north-east Thailand (Isan), and by communities in Cambodia, the USA, France and Australia.
Lao children learn each letter with a picture word, as in ກ ໄກ່ (ko kai, chicken) – the same system Thai uses.
Common Lao Phrases
A greeting and everyday phrases, to see how Lao looks. Click a phrase to add it to the text box.
Lao Alphabet at a Glance (Tua aksone)
Lao has 27 consonants, vowels written around the consonant, and four tone marks.
Vowels ສະຫຼະ 12
ອະ ອາ ອິ ອີ ອຸ ອູ ເອ ແອ ໂອ ໄອ ໃອ ອຳ
Written as full letters at the start of a word or on their own.
Extra signs 4
ກ່ ກ້ ກ໊ ກ໋
Mai ek. Mai tho. Mai ti. Mai chattawa.
Consonants ພະຍັນຊະນະ 27
- Consonants 1
- ກ ຂ ຄ ງ ຈ ສ ຊ ຍ ດ
- Consonants 2
- ຕ ຖ ທ ນ ບ ປ ຜ ຝ ພ ຟ
- Consonants 3
- ມ ຢ ຣ ລ ວ ຫ ອ ຮ
Grouped by where in the mouth the sound is made – from the throat forward to the lips.
Numerals ຕົວເລກ
໐ ໑ ໒ ໓ ໔ ໕ ໖ ໗ ໘ ໙
Lao digits. Everyday Lao mostly uses 0–9.
Vowels on ກ ສະຫຼະ
ກະ ກາ ກິ ກີ ກຸ ກູ ເກ ແກ ໂກ ໄກ ໃກ ກຳ ກ່ ກ້ ກ໊ ກ໋
Vowel signs added to a consonant.
Hear every letter and practise reading on the Lao alphabet page.
Lao Keyboard – Frequently Asked Questions
How do I type in Lao?
Click the keys of the on-screen Lao – Standard keyboard, or type on your own keyboard – each key types the Lao character shown on it.
Is the online Lao keyboard free?
Yes. The keyboard, translator, typing tutor and image to text tool are free to use, with no sign-up and nothing to install.
Do I need to install Lao fonts?
No. The page loads a Unicode font for the Lao script, so Lao text shows correctly in any modern browser, and the text you copy works in WhatsApp, Word and email.
How many letters does the Lao alphabet have?
The Lao alphabet has 27 consonants, 28 vowel forms, 4 tone marks and 6 tones. See every letter with its pronunciation on the alphabet page.
Where is Lao spoken?
Lao is spoken in Laos, in north-east Thailand (Isan), and by communities in Cambodia, the USA, France and Australia.
Can I translate Lao text?
Yes. Type your text, choose a language next to Translate and press the button – the translator opens with your text translated into English or any other supported language.
Can I type Lao by voice?
Yes. Click the microphone in the text box and speak in Lao – it works in Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge.