![](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6239147f13b5602587a92aea/b502f2b2-4782-4922-a10a-ca8c1d8194af/The+scenery+of+southern+Laos+-+Get+to+Know+Lao+-+How+to+Learn+Languages.jpg)
Get to Know the Lao language and explore Laos
The Lao language is from the Kra-Dai (Tai-Kadai) language family, and is both a first language and a lingua franca in Laos - a country with more than 80 languages, two of the most widely spoken of which (after Lao) are Hmong and Khmu.
In Lao, the Lao language is called ພາສາລາວ (Phasa Lao), and is written in the Lao script, ອັກສອນລາວ (Akson Lao). The Lao language can also simply be referred to as ລາວ (Lao). Lao is a tonal language, with most of the Lao dialects having six tones.
Get to Know the Lao language
The Lao language is spoken by around 30 million people - predominantly in Laos, where it is spoken by 7 million - and northeast Thailand, where it is spoken by 23 million.
This stems from the Franco-Siamese War of 1893, after which the Lao-speaking lands were politically separated through a border drawn along the Mekong River.
In northeast Thailand, the Lao language can also be known as Isan, although native speakers still refer to it as Lao.
Though slightly different, the scripts of Lao and Thai are closely related, and the spoken languages are mutually intelligible - forming a dialect continuum with other languages from the Southwestern Tai language group.
Whilst there is no official standard dialect in Laos, the dialect of the country’s capital, Vientiane, became the de facto standard.
Kuang Si Falls, Louangphabang, Laos
Photo by Kyle Petzer on Unsplash
Speakers :
30 million
Where :
Laos, Thailand (Isan), Cambodia (Stung Treng, Preah Vihear and Ratanakiri), Vietnam (Điện Biên, Lai Châu, and Sơn La)
Dialects :
Northern Lao (Louang Phrabang Lao), Northeastern Lao (Phuan), Central Lao, Southern Lao, Western Lao (Isan)
Cover Image
The scenery of southern Laos
Photo by Joule Benjarat on Unsplash
Map
Map of Laos with regions colour coded, by User:Burmesedays, Perry-Castañeda Library Map Collection Laos Maps, OpenStreetMap
Resources for learning the Lao language
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Videos
Maly speaking Lao - Wikitongues
PadubDin ປະດັບດິນ in Laos (Playlist) - PadubDin ປະດັບດິນ ประดับดิน
Learn Lao language (Playlist) - Vanida WP
Lao for Beginners (Playlist) - Lao101
Lao Conversation Lessons (Playlist) - Lao101
Lao Vowels : Children’s Picture Book (Playlist) - Lao101
Lao Stories (Playlist) - Lao101
Lao Grammar Series (Playlist) - Lao101
Lao Book Reviews (Playlist) - Lao101
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Books
Lao-English English-Lao Dictionary with Transliteration for Non-Lao Speakers
by Khamphan Mingbuapha and Benjawan Poomsan Be
English-Lao Lao-English Dictionary
by Russel Marcus (Tuttle Language Library)
Lao Basics : An Introduction to the Lao Language
by Sam Brier and PhouPhanomlack (Tee) Sangkhampone (Tuttle Publishing)
ເຈົ້າຊາຍນ້ອຍ (The Little Prince in Lao)
by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
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Podcasts and Radio
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Articles
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Contact
Do you make videos or resources for learning a specific language? Feel free to get in touch so I can add links to your work on the relevant Get to Know page for that language, or in the relevant How to Learn Languages guide.
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