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Understand the 6 tones of the Lao language
Lao is a tonal language where the pitch pattern of a syllable changes its meaning. The tone of a syllable depends on the consonant class, vowel length, and tone mark.
A flat, mid-level pitch. The default tone for mid-class consonants without tone marks.
A low, slightly falling pitch. Produced by mai ek (່) on mid-class consonants.
A high-to-low falling pitch. Produced by mai tho (້) on mid-class consonants.
A rising pitch starting from high. The default tone for high-class consonants with long vowels.
A low pitch that rises. The default tone for low-class consonants with long vowels.
A flat, high-level pitch. Found in high-class consonants with short vowels in closed syllables.
The resulting tone depends on the consonant class and tone mark
| Consonant class | No mark | Mai ek (່) | Mai tho (້) |
|---|---|---|---|
| High class | Rising | Low | Falling |
| Mid class | Mid | Low | Falling |
| Low class | Rising | Mid | High |