How to pronounce Lao
Say it like LOW. Lao is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce Lao. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- LOW
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Lao pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- LOWSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ow" in now.
American vs British pronunciation of Lao
American and British speakers say Lao in essentially the same way: /laʊ/ in the US and /laʊ/ in the UK.
British respelling: LOW.
What does Lao mean?
- of or relating to a member of the Buddhist people inhabiting the Mekong river in Laos and Thailand
- a member of a Buddhist people inhabiting the area of the Mekong River in Laos and Thailand and speaking the Lao language; related to the Thais
- the Tai language of a Buddhist people living in the area of the Mekong River in Thailand and Laos
Words that rhyme with Lao
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of Lao.
Words that sound like Lao
Questions about saying Lao
How do you pronounce Lao?
Say LOW. The American pronunciation is /laʊ/. In British English it is /laʊ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in Lao?
Lao is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: LOW.
Do Americans and Brits say Lao the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /laʊ/ and the British form is /laʊ/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.
What words sound the same as Lao?
Lao sounds the same as lough in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.