Editing Lao language (section)

==Vocabulary==
{{See also| Indosphere | Greater India | Sanskrit#usage | label 3 = Sanskrit global usage}}
The Lao language consists primarily of native Lao words. Because of [[Buddhism]], however, [[Pali]] has contributed numerous terms, especially relating to religion and in conversation with members of the [[sangha]]. Due to their proximity, Lao has influenced the Khmer and Thai languages and vice versa.

Formal writing has a larger number of [[loanword]]s, especially [[Pali]] and [[Sanskrit]], much as Latin and Greek have influenced European languages. For politeness, pronouns (and more formal pronouns) are used, plus ending statements with {{lang|lo|ແດ່}} (dae {{IPA|/dɛ̄ː/}}) or {{lang|lo|ເດີ້}} (doe {{IPA|/dɤ̂ː/}}). Negative statements are made more polite by ending with {{lang|lo|ດອກ}} (dok {{IPA|/dɔ̏ːk/}}). The following are formal register examples.
* {{lang|lo|ຂອບໃຈຫຼາຍ ໆ ເດີ້}} (khop chai lai lai doe, {{IPA|/kʰɔ᷆ːp tɕàj lǎːj lǎːj dɤ̂ː/}}) ''Thank you very much''.
* {{lang|lo|ຂ້ານ້ອຍເຮັດບໍ່ໄດ້ດອກ}} (kha noi het bo lai dok, {{IPA|/kʰa᷆ː nɔ̂ːj hēt bɔ̄ː dâj dɔ᷆ːk/}}) ''I cannot''.
* {{lang|lo|ໄຂປະຕູໃຫ້ແດ່}} (khai patu hai dae, {{IPA|/kʰǎj páʔ.tùː ha᷆j dɛ̄ː/}}) ''Open the door, please''.

=== French loanwords ===
{{Further|French language in Laos}}
[[File:Francois Ngin street corner Vientiane.jpg|thumb|A bilingual Lao-French street sign in Vientiane. Although the influence of French on the Lao language has waned considerably, hundreds of words of French origin are used in Laos.]]
After the division of the Lao-speaking world in 1893, French would serve as the administrative language of the French Protectorate of Laos, carved from the Lao lands of the left bank, for sixty years until 1953 when Laos achieved full independence.<ref name="Francophone">L'Organisation internationale de la Francophonie (OIF). Laos. (2013). Retrieved from http://www.francophonie.org/Laos.html {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170610201238/https://www.francophonie.org/Laos.html |date=2017-06-10 }}</ref> The close relationship of the Lao monarchy with France continued the promotion and spread of French until the end of the [[Laotian Civil War]] when the monarchy was removed and the privileged position of French began its decline. Many of the initial borrowings for terms from Western culture were imported via French. For instance, Lao uses ''sangtimet'' ({{lang|lo|ຊັງຕີແມດ}} {{IPA|/sáŋ.tìː.mɛ́ːt/}}) in an approximation of French ''centimètre'' ({{IPA|/sɑ̃timɛtʁ/}}). Lao people also tend to use French forms of geographic place names, thus the Republic of [[Guinea]] is ''kine'' ({{lang|lo|/ກີເນ/}} {{IPA|/kìː.néː/}}) from French ''Guinée'' ({{IPA|/gi ne/}}).

Although English has mostly surpassed French as the preferred foreign language of international diplomacy and higher education since the country began opening up to foreign investment in the 1990s, the position of French is stronger in Laos than in [[Cambodia]] and [[Vietnam]]. Since 1972, Laos has been associated with [[La Francophonie]], achieving full-member status in 1992. Many of the royalists and high-ranking families of Laos left Laos in the wake of the end of the Laotian Civil War for France, but as of 2010, it was estimated that 173,800 people, or three percent of the population, were fluent in French and French is studied by 35% of the population as a second language as a required subject and many courses in engineering, medicine, law, administration and other advanced studies are only available in French.<ref name="Francophone"/>

Laos maintains the French-language weekly ''[[Le Rénovateur]]'', but French-language content is sometimes seen alongside English in publications in older issues of ''Khaosane Phathét Lao News'' and sporadically on television ad radio.<ref>Panthamaly, P. (2008). Lao PDR. In B. Indrachit & S. Logan (eds.), ''Asian communication handbook 2008'' (pp. 280–292). Singapore: Asian Media Information and Communication Centre.</ref> French still appears on signage, is the language of major civil engineering projects and is the language of the élite, especially the older generations that received secondary and tertiary education in French-medium schools or studied in France. France maintains a large Lao diaspora and some of the very well-to-do still send their children to France for study. The result of this long-standing French influence is the use of hundreds of loan words of French origin in the Lao language of Laos—although many are old-fashioned and somewhat obsolete or co-exist alongside more predominant native usages. They may be contrasted with the neighbouring languages in Thailand, which borrowed from English instead of French.

{| class="wikitable" 
|+ French loanwords in Lao
! Isan
! Thai
! Lao
! French
! Lao<br>alternate
! Gloss
|-
| {{lang|tts|เนกไท}} <br> {{transliteration|tts|nek thai}} <br> {{IPA|[nê(ː)k tʰâj]}}
| {{lang|th|เนกไท}} <br> {{transliteration|th|nek thai}} <br> {{IPA|[nê(ː)k tʰāj, -tʰáj]}}
| {{lang|lo|ກາລະວັດ/ກາຣະວັດ (*การะวัด)}} <br> {{transliteration|lo|karawat}} <br> {{IPA|[kàː.lā.wàt]}}
| {{lang|fr|cravate}} <br> {{IPA|/kʁa.vat/}}
|
| 'necktie'
|-
| {{lang|tts|โฮงภาพยนตร์}} <br> {{transliteration|tts|hong phapphayon}} <br> {{IPA|[hôːŋ pʰȃːp.pʰā.ɲôn]}}
| {{lang|th|โรงภาพยนตร์}} <br> {{transliteration|th|rong phapphayon}} <br> {{IPA|[rōːŋ pʰȃːp.pʰā.jōn]}}
| {{lang|lo|ໂຮງຊີເນມາ (*โฮงซิเนมา)}} <br> {{transliteration|lo|hong sinema}} <br> {{IPA|[hóːŋ sī(ː).néː.máː]}}
| {{lang|fr|cinéma}} <br> {{IPA|/si.ne.ma/}}
| {{lang|lo|ໂຮງຫນັງ}} <br> {{transliteration|lo|hong nang}} <br> {{IPA|[hóːŋ nǎŋ]}}
| 'cinema', 'movie theater' (US)
|-
| {{lang|tts|พจนานุกรม}} <br> {{transliteration|tts|photchananukrom}} <br> {{IPA|[pʰòt.tɕā.nâː.nù(ʔ).kòm]}}
| {{lang|th|พจนานุกรม}} <br> {{transliteration|th|photchananukrom}} <br> {{IPA|[pʰót.tɕā.nāː.nú(ʔ).krōm]}}
| {{lang|lo|ດີຊອນແນ/ດີຊອນແນຣ໌ (*ดิซอนแนร์)}} <br> {{transliteration|lo|disonnae}} <br> {{IPA|[dì(ː).sɔ́ːn.nɛ́ː]}}
| {{lang|fr|dictionnaire}} <br> {{IPA|/dik.sjɔnɛʁ/}}
| {{lang|lo|ພົດຈະນານຸກົມ}} <br> {{transliteration|lo|photchananukom}} <br> {{IPA|[pʰòt.tɕā.náː.nū(ʔ).kòm]}}
| 'dictionary'
|-
| {{lang|tts|แอฟริกา}} <br> {{transliteration|tts|aepfrika}} <br> {{IPA|[ʔɛ́(ː)p.fì(ʔ).kàː]}}
| {{lang|th|แอฟริกา}} <br> {{transliteration|th|aepfrika}} <br> {{IPA|[ʔɛ́(ː)p.frí(ʔ).kāː]}}
| {{lang|lo|ອາຟິກ/ອາຟຣິກ (*อาฟรีก)}} <br> {{transliteration|lo|afik/afrik}} <br> {{IPA|[ʔàː.fīk, -frīk]}}
| {{lang|fr|Afrique}} <br> {{IPA|/afʁik/}}
| {{lang|lo|ອາຟິກາ/ອາຟຣິກາ}} <br> {{transliteration|lo|afika/afrika}} <br> {{IPA|[ʔàː.fì(ʔ).kàː]}}
| 'Africa'
|-
| {{lang|tts|บักแอปเปิล}} <br> {{transliteration|tts|bak aeppoen}} <br> {{IPA|[bǎk ʔɛ́p.pɤ̂n]}}
| {{lang|th|ผลแอปเปิล}} <br> {{transliteration|th|phon aeppoen}} <br> {{IPA|[pʰǒn ʔɛ́p.pɤ̂n]}}
| {{lang|lo|ຫມາກປົ່ມ/ໝາກປົ່ມ (*หมากป่ม)}} <br> {{transliteration|lo|mak pom}} <br> {{IPA|[mȁːk pōm]}}
| {{lang|fr|pomme}} <br> {{IPA|/pɔm/}}
|
| 'apple'
|-
| {{lang|tts|เนย}} <br> {{transliteration|tts|noei}} <br> {{IPA|[nɤ̂ːj]}}
| {{lang|th|เนย}} <br> {{transliteration|th|noei}} <br> {{IPA|[nɤ̄ːj]}}
| {{lang|lo|ເບີ/ເບີຣ໌ (*เบอร์)}} <br> {{transliteration|lo|boe}} <br> {{IPA|[bɤ̀ː]}}
| {{lang|fr|beurre}} <br> {{IPA|/bœʁ/}}
| {{lang|lo|ເນີຍ}} <br> {{transliteration|lo|noei}} <br> {{IPA|[nɤ́ːj]}}
| 'butter'
|-
| {{lang|tts|ไวน์}} <br> {{transliteration|tts|wai}} <br> {{IPA|[wâːj]}}
| {{lang|th|ไวน์}} <br> {{transliteration|th|wai}} <br> {{IPA|[wāːj]}}
| {{lang|lo|ແວງ (*แวง)}} <br> {{transliteration|lo|waeng}} <br> {{IPA|[wɛ́ːŋ]}}
| {{lang|fr|vin}} <br> {{IPA|/vɛ̃/}}
|
| 'wine'
|-
| {{lang|tts|คนส่งไปรษณีย์}} <br> {{transliteration|tts|khon song praisani}} <br> {{IPA|[kʰôn sōŋ pàj.sā.nîː]}}
| {{lang|th|คนส่งไปรษณีย์}} <br> {{transliteration|th|khon song praisani}} <br> {{IPA|[kʰōn sòŋ prāj.sā.nīː]}}
| {{lang|lo|ຟັກເຕີ/ຟັກເຕີຣ໌ (*ฟักเตอร์)}} <br> {{transliteration|lo|faktoe}} <br> {{IPA|[fàk.tɤ̀ː]}}
| {{lang|fr|facteur}} <br> {{IPA|/faktœʁ/}}
| {{lang|lo|ຄົນສົ່ງໜັງສື (*คนส่งหนังสือ)}} <br> {{transliteration|lo|khon song nangsue}} <br> {{IPA|[kʰón sōŋ nǎŋ.sɯ̌ː]}}
| 'postman', 'mailman' (US)
|-
| {{lang|tts|ปลาวาฬ}} <br> {{transliteration|tts|pla wan}} <br> {{IPA|[pàː wâːn]}}
| {{lang|th|ปลาวาฬ}} <br> {{transliteration|th|pla wan}} <br> {{IPA|[plāː wāːn]}}
| {{lang|lo|ປາບາແລນ (*ปลาบาแลน)}} <br> {{transliteration|lo|pa balaen}} <br> {{IPA|[pàː bàː.lɛ́ːn]}}
| {{lang|fr|baleine}} <br> {{IPA|/ba lɛn/}}
| {{lang|lo|ປາວານ}} <br> {{transliteration|lo|pa wan}} <br> {{IPA|[pàː wáːn]}}
| 'whale'
|-
| {{lang|tts|เคมี}} <br> {{transliteration|tts|khemi}} <br> {{IPA|[kʰêː.mîː]}}
| {{lang|th|เคมี}} <br> {{transliteration|th|khemi}} <br> {{IPA|[kʰēː.mīː]}}
| {{lang|lo|ຊີມີ (*ซิมี)}} <br> {{transliteration|lo|simi}} <br> {{IPA|[síː.míː]}}
| {{lang|fr|chimie}} <br> {{IPA|/ʃi.mi/}}
| {{lang|lo|ເຄມີ}} <br> {{transliteration|lo|khémi}} <br> {{IPA|[kʰéː.míː]}}
| 'chemistry'
|-
| {{lang|tts|บิลเลียด}} <br> {{transliteration|tts|binliat}} <br> {{IPA|[bìn.lîat]}}
| {{lang|th|บิลเลียด}} <br> {{transliteration|th|binliat}} <br> {{IPA|[bīn.lîat]}}
| {{lang|lo|ບີຢາ (*บียา)}} <br> {{transliteration|lo|biya}} <br> {{IPA|[bìː.jàː]}}
| {{lang|fr|billard}} <br> {{IPA|/bi.jaʁ/}}
| {{lang|lo|ບິລລຽດ}} <br> {{transliteration|lo|binliat}} <br> {{IPA|[bìn.lîat]}}
| 'billiards'
|-
| {{lang|tts|ธนาณัติ}} <br> {{transliteration|tts|thananat}} <br> {{IPA|[tʰā.nâː.nàt]}}
| {{lang|th|ธนาณัติ}} <br> {{transliteration|th|thananat}} <br> {{IPA|[tʰā.nāː.nát]}}
| {{lang|lo|ມັງດາ (*มังดา)}} <br> {{transliteration|lo|mangda}} <br> {{IPA|[máŋ.dàː]}}
| {{lang|fr|mandat}} <br> {{IPA|/mɑ̃.da/}}
| {{lang|lo|ທະນານັດ}} <br> {{transliteration|lo|thananat}} <br> {{IPA|[tʰā.náː.nāt]}}
| 'money order'
|-
| {{lang|tts|กรัม}} <br> {{transliteration|tts|kram}} <br> {{IPA|[kàm]}}
| {{lang|th|กรัม}} <br> {{transliteration|th|kram}} <br> {{IPA|[krām]}}
| {{lang|lo|ກາມ/ກຣາມ (*กราม)}} <br> {{transliteration|lo|kam/kram}} <br> {{IPA|[kàːm, -ràːm]}}
| {{lang|fr|gramme}} <br> {{IPA|/ɡʁam/}}
|
| 'gramme', 'gram'
|}

=== Vietnamese loanwords ===
Because of the depopulation of the left bank to Siam prior to French colonization, the French who were already active in [[Vietnam]] brought Vietnamese to boost the population of the cities and help administer the region. Many Lao that received a French-language education during the period of French Indochina were educated in French-language schools in Vietnam, exposing them to French and Vietnamese languages and cultures. As the Vietnamese communists supported the ''Pathét Lao'' forces, supplying Lao communist militia with weaponry and training during the two-decade-long Laotian Civil War, large numbers of Vietnamese troops have been stationed at various times in Laos' post-independence history, although the Vietnamese military presence began to wane in the late 1980s as Laos pursued closer relations with its other neighbors and entered the market economy. Since market reforms in Vietnam, market liberalization has been the main focus between the two countries now.

{| class="wikitable"
|-----bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|+ Vietnamese loanwords into Lao and differences with Thai and Isan
! Isan
! Thai
! Lao
! Vietnamese
! Lao alternate
! Gloss
|-
| {{lang|tts|ก๋วยเตี๋ยว}}<br>{{transliteration|tts|kuaitiao}}<br>{{IPA|[kǔaj.tǐaw]}}
| {{lang|th|ก๋วยเตี๋ยว}}<br>{{transliteration|th|kuaitiao}}<br>{{IPA|[kǔaj.tǐaw]}}
| {{lang|lo|ເຝີ}}<br>{{transliteration|lo|foe}}<br>{{IPA|[fɤ̌ː]}}
| {{lang|vi|phở}}<br>{{IPA|/fə̌ː/}}
| {{lang|lo|ກ໋ວຍຕ໋ຽວ}}<br>{{transliteration|lo|kuaitiao}}<br>{{IPA|[kǔaj.tǐaw]}}
| 'rice noodles with soup'
|-
| {{lang|tts|เยื้อน}}<br>{{transliteration|tts|yuean}}<br>{{IPA|[ɲɯ̏an]}}
| {{lang|th|งดเว้น}}<br>{{transliteration|th|ngotwen}}<br>{{IPA|[ŋót.wén]}}
| {{lang|lo|ກຽງ}}<br>{{transliteration|lo|kiang}}<br>{{IPA|[kìaŋ] }}
| {{lang|vi|kiêng}}<br>{{IPA|/kiə̯ŋ/}}
| {{lang|lo|ເຍຶ້ອນ}}<br>{{transliteration|lo|nyuean}}<br>{{IPA|[ɲɯ̂an]}}
| 'to abstain',<br>'to refrain'
|-
| {{lang|tts|ฉาก}}<br>{{transliteration|tts|chak}}<br>{{IPA|[sàːk]}}
| {{lang|th|ฉาก}}<br>{{transliteration|th|chak}}<br>{{IPA|[tɕʰàːk]}}
| {{lang|lo|ອີແກ້}}<br>{{transliteration|lo|i kae}}<br>{{IPA|[ʔìː kɛ̂ː]}}
| {{lang|vi|ê-ke}}{{efn|Itself a loan word from French {{lang|fr|équerre}}}}<br>{{IPA|/ekɛ/}}
| {{lang|lo|ສາກ}}<br>{{transliteration|lo|sak}}<br>{{IPA|[sȁːk]}}
| 'carpenter's square',<br>'T-square'
|-
| {{lang|tts|เฮ็ดงาน}}<br>{{transliteration|tts|het ngan}}<br>{{IPA|[hèt ŋâːn]}}
| {{lang|th|ทำงาน}}<br>{{transliteration|th|tham ngan}}<br>{{IPA|[tʰām ŋāːn]}}
| {{lang|lo|ເຮັດວຽກ}}<br>{{transliteration|lo|het wiak}}<br>{{IPA|[hēt wîak]}}
| {{lang|vi|việc}}<br>{{IPA|/viə̯&#803;k/}}
| {{lang|lo|ເຮັດງານ}}<br>{{transliteration|lo|het ngan}}<br>{{IPA|[hēt ŋáːn]}}
| 'to work',<br>'to labour'
|}