ເ
+
ຮ + ◌ື
ຮື
+
ອ
+
ນ
Alphabets
The Lao alphabet ໂຕອັກສອນ
Meet every letter of Lao, hear how it sounds, and learn how letters join to make words.
About Lao
Lao is written in the Lao script (ອັກສອນລາວ) from left to right. Its consonants fall into three classes – high, middle and low – which, with the tone marks, decide the tone of a syllable. Vowels are written before, after, above or below the consonant. Lao spelling is close to how words are said.
- 27
- consonants
- 28
- vowel forms
- 4
- tone marks
- 6
- tones
Vowels ສະຫຼະ
Vowels are written around the consonant – ◌ shows where it goes, here on ກ.
Four tone marks
Mai ek.
Mai tho.
Mai ti.
Mai chattawa.
Consonants ພະຍັນຊະນະ
The consonants are arranged by where in the mouth the sound is made. Tap a letter to hear it.
Consonants 1 ກ – ດ
with their example words
Consonants 2 ຕ – ຟ
with their example words
Consonants 3 ມ – ຮ
with their example words
Some sounds are written with ຫ in front, which only changes the tone: ໝ (hm), ໜ (hn), ຫຼ (hl).
How letters join to make words
Lao words are built syllable by syllable. Three simple rules cover almost everything.
-
1
Vowel after the consonant
Some vowels follow the consonant.
ກ +າ =ກາ -
2
Vowel before the consonant
Some vowels come first – and you type them first.
ເ +ກ =ເກ -
3
Tone mark on top
A tone mark sits on the consonant.
ບ +◌້ +າ +ນ =ບ້ານ
Where does the vowel go?
After
ກາ ກະ
Written after the consonant.
Before
ເກ ແກ ໂກ ໄກ
Written before the consonant.
Above
ກິ ກີ
Sits on top.
Below
ກຸ ກູ
Hangs underneath.
Build real words
ນ + ◌້
ນ້
+
ຳ
ແ
+
ມ
+
ວ
ລ
+
າ
+
ວ
Ready to type in Lao?
Use the on-screen keyboard to write these letters, or translate your first sentence.