Lao script facts for kids

The Lao script is the special way of writing used for the Lao language. Imagine it like the alphabet you use, but with different letters and rules! This script comes from an older writing system called the Khmer script, which is used in Cambodia.

Because the Thai script also came from the Khmer script, the Lao script looks quite similar to Thai writing. Both are what we call an abugida. This means that each main letter (a consonant) already has a basic vowel sound built into it. You add special marks to change that vowel sound or to add other vowels.

The Lao script also uses tone markers. These are small symbols that tell you how to say a word, like whether your voice goes up, down, or stays flat. This is important because the same word can mean different things depending on its tone! The script also groups its consonants into three classes, which helps decide the tone of a syllable.

What Makes Lao Script Special?

Even though it's similar to Thai, the Lao script has its own unique features.

• It has fewer consonants than Thai.
• Its letters are much curvier and rounder, while Thai letters are more angular.
• Lao script doesn't use extra letters that come from ancient languages like Sanskrit and Pali, which Thai script still uses. This makes Lao spelling a bit simpler.

The Lao script has:

• 27 main consonant letters
• 7 special consonant ligatures (these are like two letters joined together to make one sound)
• 33 vowel markers
• 4 tone markers

Images for kids

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  Evolution of the Lao Script over time.

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  Lao script on a sign at Wat That Luang, a famous temple in Vientiane, Laos.

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  These older Lao letters were once used for words from Sanskrit and Pali. They were later removed, making the Lao script simpler and less like Thai.

See also

In Spanish: Alfabeto laosiano para niños