Lao or Laotian (BGN/PCGN: phasa lao, IPA: [pʰáːsǎːláːw]) is a tonal leid o the Kradai leid faimily. It is the offeecial leid o Laos, an an' a' spaken in the northeast o Thailand, whaur it is uisually referred tae as the Isan leid. Bein the primary leid o the Lao fowk, Lao is an aa an important seicont leid for the multitude o ethnic groups in Laos an in Isan. Lao, lik aw leids in Laos, is written in an abugida script. Awtho thare is nae offeecial staundart, the Vientiane dialect haes acome the de facto staundart.

Lao
ພາສາລາວ phasa lao
Pronunciationpʰáːsǎː láːw
Native taeThailand, Laos, Cambodie
Native speakers
20–25 million (2004)
(3 million in Laos)
Kra–Dai
Lao script in Laos
Thai script amang Isan in Thailand
Offeecial status
Offeecial leid in
Laos Laos
Leid codes
ISO 639-1lo
ISO 639-2lao
ISO 639-3Variously:
lao – Laotian Lao
tts – Isan (Thailand Lao)
phu – Phuan Lao