Beginner Lao: Consonants & Core Vocabulary

60 vocabulary flashcards introducing Lao consonants, their example words, and everyday terms taken from the lecture notes.

ກ (Ko Kai)

Consonant for an unaspirated ‘k’ sound; sample word ໄກ່ (chicken).

ໄກ່

Chicken – example for consonant ກ.

ຂ (Kho Khai)

Consonant for an aspirated ‘kh’; sample word ໄຂ່ (egg).

ໄຂ່

Egg – example for consonant ຂ.

ຄ (Kho Khuaay)

Consonant for an aspirated ‘kh’; sample word ຄວາຍ (water-buffalo).

ຄວາຍ

Water-buffalo – example for consonant ຄ.

ງ (Ngo Ngu)

Consonant for the ‘ng’ sound; sample word ງົວ (cow/ox).

ງົວ

Cow / ox – example for consonant ງ.

ຈ (Cho Chok)

Consonant for ‘ch/j’; sample word ຈອກ (cup).

ຈອກ

Cup / glass – example for consonant ຈ.

ສ (So Suea)

Consonant for ‘s’; sample word ເສືອ (tiger).

ເສືອ

Tiger – example for consonant ສ.

ຊ (So Sang)

High-tone ‘s’; sample word ຊ້າງ (elephant).

ຊ້າງ

Elephant – example for consonant ຊ.

ຍ (Nyo)

Consonant for ‘ny’; sample word ຍຸງ (mosquito).

ຍຸງ

Mosquito – example for consonant ຍ.

ດ (Do Dek)

Consonant for ‘d’; sample word ເດັກ (child).

ເດັກ

Child – example for consonant ດ.

ຕ (To Tao)

Consonant for unaspirated ‘t’; sample word ຕາ (eye).

ຕາ

Eye – example for consonant ຕ.

ຖ (Tho Thǒng)

Consonant for aspirated ‘th’; sample word ຖົງ (bag/sack).

ຖົງ

Bag / sack – example for consonant ຖ.

ທ (Tho Thung)

Consonant for aspirated ‘th’; sample word ທຸງ (flag).

ທຸງ

Flag – example for consonant ທ.

ນ (No Nok)

Consonant for ‘n’; sample word ນົກ (bird).

ນົກ

Bird – example for consonant ນ.

ບ (Bo Bai)

Consonant for ‘b’; sample word ແບ້ (goat).

ແບ້

Goat – example for consonant ບ.

ປ (Po Pla)

Consonant for unaspirated ‘p’; sample word ປາ (fish).

ປາ

Fish – example for consonant ປ.

ຜ (Pho Phueng)

Consonant for aspirated ‘ph’; sample word ເຜິ້ງ (bee).

ເຜິ້ງ

Bee – example for consonant ຜ.

ຝ (Fo Fon)

Consonant for ‘f’; sample word ຝົນ (rain).

ຝົນ

Rain – example for consonant ຝ.

ພ (Pho Phou)

Consonant for aspirated ‘ph’; sample word ພູ (mountain/hill).

ພູ

Mountain / hill – example for consonant ພ.

ຟ (Fo Fai)

Consonant for ‘f’; sample word ໄຟ (fire).

ໄຟ

Fire – example for consonant ຟ.

ມ (Mo Maaw)

Consonant for ‘m’; sample word ແມວ (cat).

ແມວ

Cat – example for consonant ມ.

ຢ (Yo Ya)

Consonant for ‘y’; sample word ຢາ (medicine).

ຢາ

Medicine / drug – example for consonant ຢ.

ຣ (Ro Rada)

Rarely-used ‘r’ consonant; sample word ຣາດາ (proper name ‘Rada’).

ລ (Lo Ling)

Consonant for ‘l’; sample word ລິງ (monkey).

ລິງ

Monkey – example for consonant ລ.

ວ (Wo Wa)

Consonant for ‘w/-ua’; sample word ວີ (sound “wi”).

ຮ (Ho Huan)

Aspirated ‘h’; sample word ເຮືອນ (house).

ເຮືອນ

House / home – example for consonant ຮ.

ກາ

Crow (bird); practice word combining ກ + long vowel ອາ.

ຂາ

Leg; practice word combining ຂ + long vowel.

ງາ

Sesame seed; practice word with initial ງ.

ລາຄາ

Price / cost.

ດີ

Good; adjective often used for greetings (ສະບາຍດີ).

ແຖ

Row / block; practice word for consonant ຖ.

ທາງ

Road / path / way.

ຖື

To hold / carry.

ເຕະບານ

Football / soccer (literally ‘kick-ball’).

ປູ

Crab – reading practice word.

ນາ

Rice field / farm.

ຂໍ

To ask / request.

ໂບດ

Church / chapel (loanword from Thai).

ກາເຟ

Coffee.

ເຝີ

Pho – Lao/Vietnamese noodle soup.

ຜີ

Ghost / spirit.

ເມຍ

Wife / spouse.

ຝາແຝດ

Twins (siblings born at the same time).

ເຈົ້າ

You (polite) / lord / owner, depending on context.

ເຂົາ

He / they; also can mean ‘horn’ depending on tone.

ເຮົາ

We / us (inclusive pronoun).

ເຂົ້າ

Cooked rice or to enter (different tones).

ດໍາ

Black (color).