Lao Vowels

Grouped by vowel families (pairs and triples).

/a/ (short) and /aa/ (long) (Triple)

◌ະ
ອະ
ກະ
Sound: a
IPA: /a/
Length: short
Position: after
Example word: ກະ
Pronunciation: ga
◌ັ
ອັ
ກັ
Sound: a
IPA: /a/
Length: short-closed
Position: above
Example word: ຮັກ
Pronunciation: hak
◌າ
ອາ
ກາ
Sound: aa
IPA: //
Length: long
Position: after
Example word: ກາ
Pronunciation: gaa

/u/ (short) and /uu/ (long) (Pair)

◌ຸ
ອຸ
ກຸ
Sound: u
IPA: /u/
Length: short
Position: below
Example word: ສຸກ
Pronunciation: suk
◌ູ
ອູ
ກູ
Sound: uu
IPA: //
Length: long
Position: below
Example word: ປູ
Pronunciation: puu

/i/ (short) and /ii/ (long) (Pair)

◌ິ
ອິ
ກິ
Sound: i
IPA: /i/
Length: short
Position: above
Example word: ກິນ
Pronunciation: gin
◌ີ
ອີ
ກີ
Sound: ii
IPA: //
Length: long
Position: above
Example word: ດີ
Pronunciation: dii

/eu/ (short) and /euu/ (long) (Pair)

◌ຶ
ອຶ
ກຶ
Sound: ue
IPA: /ɯ/
Length: short
Position: above
Example word: ຄຶດ
Pronunciation: khueut
◌ື
ອື
ກື
Sound: uue
IPA: /ɯː/
Length: long
Position: above
Example word: ຊື່
Pronunciation: suee

/ea/ (short) and /eaa/ (long) (Pair)

ເ◌ະ
ເອະ
ເກະ
Sound: e
IPA: /e/
Length: short
Position: surround
Example word: ເກະ
Pronunciation: ge
ເ◌
ເອ
ເກ
Sound: e
IPA: //
Length: long
Position: before
Example word: ເດ
Pronunciation: dee

/ae/ (short) and /aae/ (long) (Pair)

ແ◌ະ
ແອະ
ແກະ
Sound: ae
IPA: /ɛ/
Length: short
Position: surround
Example word: ແກະ
Pronunciation: gae
ແ◌
ແອ
ແກ
Sound: ae
IPA: /ɛː/
Length: long
Position: before
Example word: ແມ່
Pronunciation: mae

/o/ (short) and /oo/ (long) (Pair)

◌ົ
ອົ
ກົ
Sound: o
IPA: /o/
Length: short
Position: above
Example word: ກົດ
Pronunciation: got
ໂ◌
ໂອ
ໂກ
Sound: o
IPA: //
Length: long
Position: before
Example word: ໂຕ
Pronunciation: too

/ai/ vowels (Pair)

ໃ◌
ໃອ
ໃກ
Sound: ai
IPA: /aj/
Length: long
Position: before
Example word: ໃຫຍ່
Pronunciation: yai
ໄ◌
ໄອ
ໄກ
Sound: ai
IPA: /aj/
Length: long
Position: before
Example word: ໄປ
Pronunciation: pai

/ao/ vowels (Single)

ເ◌າ
ເອາ
ເກາ
Sound: ao
IPA: /aw/
Length: long
Position: surround
Example word: ເຂົາ
Pronunciation: khao

/ua/ vowels (Single)

ົວ
ອົວ
ົວ
Sound: ua
IPA: /ua/
Length: long
Position: after
Example word: ຕົວ
Pronunciation: tua

/eua/ vowels (Single)

ເ◌ືອ
ເອືອ
ເກືອ
Sound: uea
IPA: /ɯa/
Length: long
Position: surround
Example word: ເມືອງ
Pronunciation: mueang

/oei/ vowels (Single)

ເ◌ີຍ
ເອີຍ
ເກີຍ
Sound: oei
IPA: /ɤj/
Length: long
Position: surround
Example word: ເຄີຍ
Pronunciation: koei