Key Lao sounds, tone patterns, and minimal pairs for accurate pronunciation. Front: the sound pattern or example word. Back: meaning plus a plain-English pronunciation note.
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- ຂ (kh) unaspirated vs aspirated
- Lao distinguishes plain 'k' from aspirated 'kh', puffed with a burst of air. Example: ຂາ (kha, leg)
- ຕ vs ທ (t vs th)
- ຕ is an unaspirated 't', ທ is aspirated 'th' with a puff of air. Example: ຕາ (ta, eye) vs ທາ (tha, to apply)
- ປ vs ພ (p vs ph)
- ປ is unaspirated 'p', ພ is aspirated 'ph' with a puff of air. Example: ປາ (pa, fish) vs ພາ (pha, to bring)
- Tone: mid
- A level, neutral pitch held steady across the syllable. Example: ກາ (ka, crow)
- Tone: low
- A pitch that starts low and stays low or dips slightly. Example: ຂ່າ (kha, galangal, low tone)
- Tone: high
- A pitch held near the top of the voice range. Example: ຂ້າ (kha, to kill, high tone)
- Tone: rising
- A pitch that starts lower and rises toward the end of the syllable
- Tone: falling
- A pitch that starts high and drops toward the end of the syllable
- ໜ (n with silent ຫ)
- The silent ຫ before ນ raises the tone class of the consonant without adding an 'h' sound
- ຫຼ (l with silent ຫ)
- Similarly, a silent ຫ before ລ changes the tone class of the following consonant
- Final ບ, ດ, ກ (unreleased stops)
- Word-final ບ, ດ, ກ are cut off abruptly, not released with a puff of air like in English
- ຍ vs ຢ (ny vs y)
- ຍ is a nasal 'ny' sound like in 'canyon', while ຢ is a plain 'y' as in 'yes'
- ຮ (h)
- A simple aspirated 'h' sound, as in English 'house'. Example: ຮູ້ (hou, to know)
- ງ (ng) at word start
- Lao allows the 'ng' sound (as in 'sing') at the beginning of a word, unlike English. Example: ງູ (ngou, snake)
- ຶ vs ື (short eu vs long eu)
- A close, unrounded central vowel; the short and long versions change word length and sometimes meaning
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