Live and Learn Lao

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If you're learning Lao, you're embarking on a challenging and satisfying journey. You'll be learning to communicate with a fascinating people who have ancient roots and a rich cultural heritage. This page is designed to help you learn the language. Aswell as useful information about the language, you'll find recommendations on the best resources to help you on your way. We provide recommendations for the best dictionaries, exercise and phrase books, flashcards and online resources, to help you learn Lao.

Did you know?

Lao is a phonetic language - words are spelt they way they are spoken. This makes learning the language a whole lot easier!

Useful Phrases:

Hello: Sa-bai-Dee

How are you?: Sa-bai-Dee-Baw

Fine thanks: Sa-bai-Dee

What's your name?: Bpen Nyung?

My name is Mike: Bpen Mike

Please: Kalunaa

Thank you: Khawp Jai

Yes: Doy

No: Baw

Goodbye and take care: Sohk Dee Der

Language Synopsis

The official language of the country Laos, nestled between Thailand and Vietnam. It is part of the Tai family of languages, and is very closely related to the Isan language of North East Thailand.

It is a tonal language which uses the Abugida system of writing. There are over 5 million native speakers, with substantial pockets of natives also living in Thailand, China, the USA, Canada, France and Australia.

The language descends from the Tai-Kadai family of languages now spoken in Southern China and Northern Vietnam. Due to the expansion of the Han Chinese Empire, the threat of Mongol hords and the need for more suitable land for wet rice cultivation, the Tai people moved South. Some of them ended up in what is now Laos, and pushed out or absorbed earlier language groups. Over time the people were able to create a common identity and meld their different dialects into one common tongue.

There are currently five main dialects of the language: Vientiane, Northern, North-Eastern, Central and Southern. The Vientiane dialect, spoken in the capital, is considered the standard and is the language you will hear if you watch Laotian TV or listen to the radio.

Alphabet:

As the language is phonetic, words are spelt the way they are spoken. However tones are key to the language, and learning to use them and recognise them is essential to understand and be understood.

Tones:

The tones are divided into three classes, and change depending on whether a syllable is open or closed. Closed syllables are those ending in p, t or k.

Consonants:

Consonants can be divided into three groups, each determining the tone of a syllable. All consonants can be used at the beginning of a syllable, but only some can be used at the end. Under each character you'll find a phonetic guide on how it is pronounced. The tone class is (1, 2 or 3) is also under each character.

Vowels:

Audio Lessons

The "Lao-for-Beginners" book recommended in our Exercise Book section on this page comes with complementary audio material.

Internet freebies:

WorldNomads Podcast: This excellent podcast lesson will teach you some valuable vocabulary. Follow along as traveller Scot befriends a native monk.

Lao Language Learning Software

Internet freebies:

This specialist software website has several useful downloads for using the Abugida script on your keyboard and word processor.

Lao-English Dictionaries

Lao-English English-Lao Dictionary is probably the most complete and easy to use Lao-English dictionary available. The dictionary can be used without knowing the Abugida script, but also includes a comprehensive introduction to the Lao writing system and pronunciation.

Lao Exercise & Phrase Books

Lao-for-Beginners is and excellent course to get you started. It covers all four aspects of the language: speaking, listening, reading and writing (if bought in conjuction with the complementary audio lessons). The book is easy to use and includes an introduction the writing system, conversations to listening and comprehension, and essential grammar points.

Lonely-Planet-Lao-Phrasebook is the most easy to use and practical phrasebook available for the language. The pronunciation guide is excellent, and the handy culture notes dispersed throughout the book, make the ideal travel companion if you're in the country or in North East Thailand.

Internet freebies:

The following website provides free educational information regarding the teachings of the Bible, with a page in the language and the same information on a page in English. A comparison of the texts can help contribute to your language acquisition.

Flashcards

Live and Learn Languages provide free flashcards in any language! To get your hands on some Lao language flashcards visit our Flash Cards page and follow the instructions.

Video & Media

There is very little for the language learner in terms of native movies.

With the onset of Communism in 1975, private film makers were prohibited from shooting films in Laos. However things seem to have taken a turn for the better with the June 2009 Bangkok release of "Sabaidee Luang Prabang" (Good Morning Luang Prabang). The film, shot in Laos, is about a heart throb Thai photographer who falls in love with a beautiful local tour guide.

Internet Freebies:

Check out the following videos which give a glimpse of what life is like in Luang Prabang, one of the country's most fascinating places. As you watch the first video, see if you notice what the Lao word for temple is...

Learn Live Online

Internet freebies:

My Language Exchange allows you to practise your speaking skills with native speakers who want to practise their English and other languages. You can also practise your reading and writing skills by sending/receiving e-mails to/from them.

Language Immersion

Surrounding yourself with Lao words and sounds and music will be the very best way to learn this fascinating language. If you're serious about learning the language, whether you live in the country or not, do your best to immerse yourself in the language where you live, using the following suggestions…

1. Use a dictionary to print words like “table”, "door", "window", "kettle", "bed", "chair", "mirror" etc and stick them onto the corresponding items around the house. Over time these words will automatically become part of your vocabulary, without even trying to memorize them! You could also in time add some verbs to them, like eat, open/close, wash, boil, sleep, sit, look, etc so as to associate them with the objects. Try it!

2. Listening to the radio a little each day and tune in your ears! All radio stations are broadcast in the Vientiane dialect, the generally accepted standard form of the language.

3. Keeping up with the news each day! Of course, reading the news will only be possible if you've learnt to use the writing system. However, if you're new to the language you can still use the news as a valuable resource in learning the language. For example try using a dictionary to figure out one headline per day - this is an excellent way to increase your vocab.

4. Using http://www.google.com/intl/lo/ instead of Google in English… OR use Google’s translation tools to turn English pages that you’re familiar with into Lao, and get to know the word equivalents that way.

5. Listen to music and look for the lyrics to popular Lao songs! Studies have shown that people loose thier accent when they sing. For example, think of Celine Dion: when she speaks she has a very strong Quebec accent, however, when singing you can't detect a trace of it.

Some popular native music artists include Dao Kha Chai, Khem Tid and Aluna. Listening to their songs and following the lyrics can be a fun and valuable learning technique.

For example, listen to the following song "Koam hu seuk bork" by Aluna, and follow the lyrics. Of course, this will be a lot easier once you've learnt the alphabet.

Listen to clips from Aluna's two albums using the box below. Choose the songs you like, search for them on Youtube or Google Video and follow along with the lyrics.

Culture Corner

Cultural Quirks:

The culture of the South East Asia area is heavily influenced by Theravada Bhuddism. The Lonely Planet Phrasebook gives some fascinating insights into the culture. See our Exercise Book section for more details.

National Dishes and recipes:

The staple food of the people is sticky rice. They frequently use galangal and fish sauces in their cooking. The national dish is called "laap", a spicy dish that offers a mixture of marinated meat and/or fish (sometimes prepared raw) with a combination of greens, herbs and spices. Another popular dish is "tam mak houng" - spicy green papaya salad.

Traditional-Recipes-of-Laos is the perfect recipe book if you want to make some Lao dishes of your own.

Traditional Music:

Native folk music usually involves an insturment called the Khene. Made from a special type of bamboo, the khene resembles Andean instruments and is played by blowing down the reed pipes of different lengths to produce a beautiful sound.

According to many experts, ancient Khmer music is best preserved in Laos. The classical music of this country is related to clasical Siamese music.

Listen to some clips of native folk and classical music by using the box below:

Help Others Live & Learn

Have you learnt or are you learning this language? If so we'd love to hear about your experiences. What resources did you find useful, and why? Which resources weren't that great?

Please e-mail us your thoughts using the form below. Your shared language learning experiences will save other language learners' time, energy, and money. In fact, that is the the mission of Live & Learn Languages!