Lao Alphabet

Learning the Lao language alphabet is an essential step in mastering Lao, the official language of Laos. Lao is a tonal language, closely related to Thai, and uses its own unique script. The Lao script is an abugida, where each consonant has an inherent vowel sound that can be altered with diacritical marks. Here’s a detailed lesson to guide you through the Lao alphabet:

Overview of the Lao Alphabet

• Script Type: Abugida
• Components: 27 consonants (ກ, ຂ, ຄ…), 28 vowels (ະ, ັ, ິ…), tone marks, and various other diacritics.
• Tones: Lao is a tonal language with six distinct tones, essential for meaning.

Lao Consonants (ຄະສອນຊະນິດ)

1. ກ (ko)

   • Pronunciation: Like ‘k’ in “kite.”
   • Example: ກັດ (kat) – “Cut”

2. ຂ (kho)

   • Pronunciation: Like ‘kh’ in “khan.”
   • Example: ຂອງ (khong) – “Thing”

3. ຄ (kho)

   • Pronunciation: Aspirated ‘k,’ as in “khan.”
   • Example: ຄົນ (khon) – “Person”

4. ງ (ngo)

   • Pronunciation: Like ‘ng’ in “sing.”
   • Example: ງາມ (ngam) – “Beautiful”

5. ຈ (cho)

   • Pronunciation: Like ‘ch’ in “check.”
   • Example: ຈັກ (chak) – “How many”

6. ສ (so)

   • Pronunciation: Like ‘s’ in “see.”
   • Example: ສັດ (sat) – “Animal”

7. ຊ (so)

   • Pronunciation: Like ‘sh’ in “she.”
   • Example: ຊາດ (sahat) – “Market”

8. ຍ (nyo)

   • Pronunciation: Like ‘ny’ in “canyon.”
   • Example: ຍີ່ຫໍ້ (nyī hɔ̂ɔ) – “Daughter-in-law”

9. ດ (do)

   • Pronunciation: Like ‘d’ in “dog.”
   • Example: ດວງ (duang) – “Flower”

10. ຕ (to)

    • Pronunciation: Like ‘t’ in “top.”
    • Example: ຕາມ (taam) – “Follow”

11. ຖ (tho)

    • Pronunciation: Aspirated ‘t.’
    • Example: ຖົງ (thong) – “Pot”

12. ທ (tho)

    • Pronunciation: Aspirated ‘t.’
    • Example: ທາງ (thaang) – “Way”

13. ນ (no)

    • Pronunciation: Like ‘n’ in “noon.”
    • Example: ນາ (naa) – “Rice field”

14. ບ (bo)

    • Pronunciation: Like ‘b’ in “baby.”
    • Example: ບ້ານ (baan) – “Village”

15. ປ (po)

    • Pronunciation: Like ‘p’ in “pan.”
    • Example: ປາ (paa) – “Fish”

16. ຜ (pho)

    • Pronunciation: Aspirated ‘p.’
    • Example: ຜູ້ (phū) – “Person”

17. ຝ (fo)

    • Pronunciation: Like ‘f’ in “far.”
    • Example: ຝົນ (fon) – “Rain”

18. ພ (pho)

    • Pronunciation: Aspirated ‘p.’
    • Example: ພູ (phu) – “Mountain”

19. ຟ (fo)

    • Pronunciation: Like ‘f’ in “far.”
    • Example: ຟັງ (fang) – “Listen”

20. ມ (mo)

    • Pronunciation: Like ‘m’ in “mother.”
    • Example: ມາ (maa) – “Come”

21. ຢ (yo)

    • Pronunciation: Like ‘y’ in “yes.”
    • Example: ຢາ (yaa) – “Medicine”

22. ຣ (ro)

    • Pronunciation: Like ‘r’ in “run.”
    • Example: ຣາຍ (raay) – “Line”

23. ລ (lo)

    • Pronunciation: Like ‘l’ in “lamp.”
    • Example: ລາວ (lao) – “Lao” (the people)

24. ວ (wo)

    • Pronunciation: Like ‘w’ in “water.”
    • Example: ວາງ (waang) – “Open”

25. ຫ (ho)

    • Pronunciation: Like ‘h’ in “hat.”
    • Example: ຫົວ (hūa) – “Head”

26. ອ (‘o)

    • Pronunciation: Glottal stop or serves as a vowel holder.
    • Example: ອາຫານ (aahaan) – “Food”

27. ຮ (ho)

    • Pronunciation: Like ‘h’ in “hat.”
    • Example: ຮັກ (hak) – “Love”

Lao Vowels (ສະຫລະ)

Lao vowels are written around the consonants. They can appear above, below, in front of, behind, or around a consonant.

1. ະ (a)

   • Pronunciation: Like ‘a’ in “about.”
   • Example: ບະ (ba) – “to be”

2. ັ (am)

   • Pronunciation: Short ‘a,’ like ‘u’ in “cup.”
   • Example: ກັບ (kap) – “with”

3. າ (aa)

   • Pronunciation: Like ‘a’ in “father.”
   • Example: ພາ (phaa) – “leaf”

4. ິ (i)

   • Pronunciation: Like ‘i’ in “bit.”
   • Example: ຕິ (ti) – “flag”

5. ີ (ii)

   • Pronunciation: Like ‘ee’ in “see.”
   • Example: ຈີ (chii) – “heart”

6. ຶ (ư)

   • Pronunciation: Somewhat like ‘u’ in “cup.”
   • Example: ສຶ (sư) – “to believe”

7. ື (ư̄)

   • Pronunciation: Longer version of ‘ư.’
   • Example: ກື (kư̄) – “to be stuck”

8. ຸ (u)

   • Pronunciation: Like ‘u’ in “put.”
   • Example: ບຸ (bu) – “to hit”

9. ູ (uu)

   • Pronunciation: Like ‘oo’ in “food.”
   • Example: ກູ (kuu) – “news”

10. ົ (o)

    • Pronunciation: Like ‘o’ in “not.”
    • Example: ບົ (bo) – “to drill”

11. ຼ (aw)

    • Pronunciation: Like ‘aw’ in “saw.”
    • Example: ກຼ (kaw) – “to fear”

12. ຽ (ai)

    • Pronunciation: Like ‘ai’ in “Thai.”
    • Example: ຫຽວ (hiaw) – “hungry”

13. ເາ (ae)

    • Pronunciation: Somewhat like ‘ai’ in “Thai.”
    • Example: ເກາະ (kaeo) – “island”

14. ເິ (ei)

    • Pronunciation: Like ‘ei’ in “neighbor.”
    • Example: ເຕິ (tei) – “to sit”

15. ເື (œ)

    • Pronunciation: Similar to ‘eu’ in French “peur.”
    • Example: ເດືອນ (deuan) – “month”

16. ເູ (eo)

    • Pronunciation: Like ‘eo’ (not a common sound in English).
    • Example: ເດົາ (deuo) – “expensive”

17. ເົາ (ao)

    • Pronunciation: Like ‘ow’ in “cow.”
    • Example: ເພົາ (phao) – “to roast”

18. ເົື້ອ (uea)

    • Pronunciation: A unique sound, a combination of ‘u’ and ‘ea.’
    • Example: ເຕົື້ອ (teua) – “boat”

19. ແາ (aai)

    • Pronunciation: Like ‘ai’ in “Thai.”
    • Example: ແກ້ວ (kaai) – “glass”

20. ແິ (ia)

    • Pronunciation: Like ‘ia’ in “Piano.”
    • Example: ແຕິ (tia) – “mat”

21. ແູ (uo)

    • Pronunciation: Like ‘uo’ in “quo” (not a common sound in English).
    • Example: ແກູ (kueo) – “knee”

22. ໂາ (aw)

    • Pronunciation: Like ‘aw’ in “saw.”
    • Example: ໂກາ (kaw) – “old”

23. ໂີ (oi)

    • Pronunciation: Like ‘oi’ in “boil.”
    • Example: ໂຕີ (toi) – “table”

24. ໄາ (ai)

    • Pronunciation: Like ‘ai’ in “Thai.”
    • Example: ໄກ່ (kai) – “chicken”

25. ໄີ (ay)

    • Pronunciation: Like ‘ay’ in “play.”
    • Example: ໄຫີ (hai) – “to do”

26. ໄື (uai)

    • Pronunciation: Like ‘uai’ in “huai” (not common in English).
    • Example: ໄປໄື່ (pai uai) – “together”

27. ໄູ (ui)

    • Pronunciation: Like ‘ui’ in “fluid.”
    • Example: ໄປໄູ່ (pai ui) – “together”

28. ເົາາ (aw)

    • Pronunciation: Like ‘aw’ in “saw.”
    • Example: ເພາະໄາາ (pha kaw) – “because”

Tone Marks

Tone marks are used to indicate the tone of a syllable.

1. ່ (Mai Ek)

   • Tone: Low tone
   • Example: ກ່າວ (kàw) – Pronounced with a low tone, meaning “news.”

2. ້ (Mai Tho)

   • Tone: Falling tone
   • Example: ຫ້ອງ (hông) – Pronounced with a falling tone, meaning “room.”

3. ໊ (Mai Ti)

   • Tone: High tone
   • Example: ພໍ່໊ (pôr) – Pronounced with a high tone, meaning “father.”

4. ໋ (Mai Catawa)

   • Tone: High-falling tone
   • Example: ມ໋ນ (môn) – Pronounced with a high-falling tone, meaning “to wrap.”

5. ົ (Short Vowel)

   • Indication: Shortens the vowel
   • Example: ບົດ (bòt) – Pronounced with a short vowel, meaning “piece.”

6. ວ (Long Vowel)

   • Indication: Lengthens the vowel
   • Example: ບວກ (baw) – Pronounced with a long vowel, meaning “to split.”

Writing System and Pronunciation Tips

• Syllable Structure: Most Lao syllables consist of a consonant with an inherent vowel, which can be changed with vowel diacritics.
• Reading Direction: Lao is written from left to right.
• No Spaces Between Words: In Lao, spaces are used to separate sentences or phrases rather than words.

Practice Exercises

• Listening and Speaking: Practice saying each consonant, vowel, and tone. Listen to native speakers for pronunciation cues.
• Writing Practice: Write each consonant and vowel, and practice combining them to form words.
• Reading Practice: Start with simple texts to familiarize yourself with the script. Children’s books and basic Lao readers are good starting points.

Additional Resources

• Language Learning Apps: Look for apps that offer Lao language learning.
• Online Tutorials: YouTube channels and websites may provide lessons on the Lao language.
• Language Exchange: Engage with native speakers for conversational practice and improve pronunciation.

Conclusion

Mastering the Lao alphabet is the foundational step toward fluency in Lao. The script is an integral part of Lao culture and communication. Regular practice in reading, writing, speaking, and listening is vital for effective learning and comprehension. Understanding the Lao script opens a window to the rich cultural heritage and literature of Laos.