Language In Laos - Explore The Nation Alphabet & Numbers

Nestled in Southeast Asia - The Lao People's Democratic Republic (known as Laos) is a country that is surrounded by land and renowned for its striking landscapes, rich cultural heritage, and welcoming populace. 

Boasting a population exceeding 7 million, Laos takes immense pride in its mosaic of languages, captivating the interests of linguists, anthropologists, and travelers alike. Due to worldwide immigration and conflicts, Laos became more ethnically and linguistically diverse. 

Have you ever wondered what language in Laos is spoken while Laos is the only country that recorded more than 80 languages? In this article, we are about to uncover the linguistic wonders of Laos, delving into its diverse array of languages, their cultural significance, and their tireless endeavors to safeguard and promote these linguistic treasures. Let's find out what is the main language in Laos with us now!

Expose The Language In Laos History

You might have already known the official language in Laos; however, there are many language variants with dialects among various ethnic groups. The official language of Laos is Lao, also known as Laotian. It belongs to the Tai-Kadai language family and is closely related to Thai, the official language of neighboring Thailand. Lao is written in the Lao script, which is based on the ancient Khmer script, and it has its own unique pronunciation and vocabulary.

Lao is not only the official language of Laos but also serves as a lingua franca among different ethnic groups within the country. It is widely used in government, education, media, and daily communication. Its status as the national language reflects the nation's efforts to foster unity and understanding among its diverse population.

Discover the Laos language alphabet

The Lao language is written using the Lao script, which is an abugida script. An abugida is a writing system where each character represents a consonant with an inherent vowel sound, and additional diacritics or vowel marks are used to indicate different vowel sounds.

• Here are the Lao consonant characters:

ກ /k/, ຂ /kh/, ຄ /k/, ງ /ng/, ຈ /ch/, ສ /s/, ຊ /s/, ຍ /ny/, ດ /d/, ຕ /t/, ຖ /th/, ທ /t/, ນ /n/, ບ /b/, ປ /p/, ຜ /ph/, ຝ /f/, ພ /p/, ຟ /f/, ມ /m/, ຢ /y/, ຣ /r/, ລ /l/, ວ /v/, ຫ /h/, ອ /ʔ/, ຮ /h/, ຣັດ /dt/

• And the Lao vowel characters:

ະ /a/, ັ /a/, າ /aa/, ຳ /aa/, ິ /i/, ີ /ii/, ຶ /ue/, ື /u/, ຸ /uu/, ູ /uu/, /e/, ົ /ay/, ຼ /o/, ຽ /ai/, ເ /e/, ແ /ei/, ໂ /o/, ໃ /ay/, ໄ /ai/, ່ /-e/, ້ /-ay/, ໊ /-o/, ໋ /-ai/

The language in Laos alphabet

Where does the language Laotian come from?

The Laotian language, Lao, traces its origins to ancient Tai-speaking peoples migrating from southern China. Influenced by neighboring cultures and the adoption of the Lao script from the Khmer Empire, Lao developed as an essential oral and written medium. 

The Tai peoples migrated south towards India, the Malay Peninsula, and down the Mekong River valley due to the spread of Han Chinese, the impact of the Mongol invasion, and the desire for suitable lands for rice cultivation. This migration was passed down through oral history and is preserved in the legends of Khun Borom. Earlier groups of Austronesian languages (*) were absorbed by Tai speakers in what is now Laos.

(*) Austronesian languages: Approximately 386 million individuals speak Austronesian languages, making it the fifth-largest language family in terms of the number of speakers. Among the prominent Austronesian languages are Malay (Indonesian and Malaysian), Javanese, and Tagalog (Filipino).

The Main Language Spoken In Laos That Travelers Must Know

How many languages are spoken in Laos?

Laos is a linguistically diverse country with over 80 different languages spoken. These languages belong to several major language families, including Tai-Kadai, Austroasiatic, Hmong-Mien, and Sino-Tibetan.

The primary language spoken in Laos is the Kra-Dai language, which bears similarities to Thai and the Isan dialect spoken in northeast Thailand. The standard variation of Lao, spoken by 52% of the population, holds a dominant position as the official language.

Lao is a tonal language, much like Chinese and Vietnamese, resulting in a level of mutual understanding between Lao and Thai speakers, though there are some distinctions between the two languages.

There are many languages spoken in Laos due to the diversity in ethnic

The Khmu Language

The largest ethnic group in Laos is the Khmu community, with approximately 500,000 speakers residing in the northern provinces of Bokeo, Luang Prabang, Luang Nam Tha, Oudomxay, and Phongsaly. The Khmu language belongs to the Austroasiatic language family and comprises various closely related dialects, including Kniang, Puoc, and O'du, which collectively form the Khumuic group.

The Khmu languages have distinctive features, including differences in consonant usage and lexical range. While communication between speakers from distant regions may pose challenges, the dialects are generally comprehensible to each other. Although the Khmu people primarily use their language for intra-group communication, they are often multilingual and proficient in the dominant dialects of the local area. When dealing with government representatives, interacting with lowland communities, or attending schools, they commonly switch to using Lao, another prevalent language in Laos.

The Hmong Language

The Hmong language is used by the Hmong community residing in the mountains of Laos, Thailand, Burma, and China, comprising two primary groups: White Hmong (or Hmong Daw) and Green/Blue Hmong (or Hmong Njua). While living in close proximity, White Hmong takes precedence as the dominant language, and the Hmong writing system, with eight or twelve sounds, reflects the pronunciation of the Hmong Daw dialect.

The main distinctions between these two languages lie in vocabulary, pronunciation, word structure, and grammar. However, both dialects have undergone some modifications over time to better align with each other. Despite their separate languages, many Hmong individuals also speak Lao as a means of communication.

Other foreign languages spoken in Laos

In addition to the official language, Lao, and its various ethnic languages, other foreign languages are also spoken in Laos due to historical and modern influences. 

• English is widely used in urban areas, especially in tourist destinations, as it is considered the global lingua franca and is taught in schools. 

• French, a remnant of Laos' colonial past, is still spoken among some older generations and is used in certain diplomatic and official contexts. 

• Chinese has gained prominence in recent years due to increased economic and trade ties with China. 

Additionally, languages from neighboring countries, such as Thai, Vietnamese, and Khmer, are also understood and spoken by some communities living near the borders.

English and French are also common languages in Laos

Some Phrases That Travelers Should Learn Before Traveling

As a traveler to Laos, learning some basic phrases in the local language can help your experience easier and make communication with locals more enjoyable. Here are some essential phrases to get you started:

• Hello: Sabaidee (pronounced: sah-bai-dee)

• Thank you: Khop jai (pronounced: khop jai)

• Yes: Jao (pronounced: jao)

• No: Baw (pronounced: bao)

• Please: Karuna (pronounced: ka-roo-nah)

• Excuse me / Sorry: Khaw thot (pronounced: khaw thote)

• Goodbye: La gorn (pronounced: lah gawn)

• How much is this?: Tao dai? (pronounced: tao dai?)

• Where is the bathroom?: Hong nam yu sai? (pronounced: hong nam you sai?)

• I don't understand: Khoy baw khao jai (pronounced: koy bao khao jai)

• That’s expensive!: Phaeng lai lai

• Can you lower the price?: Lout lake daï bo?

• Numbers: soon (0), neung (1), song (2), saam (3), sii (4), haa (5), hok (6), jet (7), bpaet (8), kao (9), sip (10), etc.

Time To Travel To Laos

Language in Laos is a treasure trove of diversity, reflecting the myriad ethnic communities that call this enchanting country home. For many ethnic communities in Laos, their language serves as a vital link to their history, traditions, and values. Laos has been increasingly attracting tourists from around the world, drawn by its natural beauty, cultural heritage, and unique charm. While Lao is the primary language used in tourist hubs, such as Vientiane and Luang Prabang, the country's linguistic diversity can be experienced more profoundly when venturing into rural areas.

Traveling to remote villages offers a chance to encounter the richness of ethnic languages and cultures. Engaging with local communities in their native languages can be a rewarding experience for travelers, creating meaningful connections beyond typical tourist interactions.

Coming to Laos can bring many interesting things to travelers

Now is the right time to travel to Laos to experience one of the most intriguing cultures in the world. Let’s apply for a Laos e-visa; within only a few minutes, travelers can totally own an access permit to travel to Laos immediately. However, there are only some countries that can apply for this type of visa; therefore, it is necessary to check your eligibility to ensure that travelers meet the visa conditions. 

With a valid visa, travelers and linguists continue to explore this fascinating linguistic and beautiful landscape; the enduring beauty of Laos' languages and cultures will undoubtedly captivate hearts and minds for generations to come.