Writing on signs in Laos
Like Thai, but rounder
Lao script looks like Thai, but the letters are rounder and simpler, with fewer loops and fewer tall marks above the line.
- Letters are soft and bubbly, like ລ, ວ and ສ.
- Lao has fewer letters than Thai, so words look plainer.
- Signs often add English or French underneath.
11 photos, grouped by the clue they show.
Key clue Shop sign 6
Key clue Street sign 5
Laos: what its writing looks like
Lao script is a close cousin of Thai, but its letters are rounder and simpler. There are fewer loops and fewer tall marks above the line, so a Lao word looks softer than a Thai one.
Signs in Laos often add the name in English or French, a reminder of the colonial past.
Lao script is used across Laos, from Vientiane to Luang Prabang.
Look-alikes: how to tell them apart
Thailand
CambodiaThai has sharper letters with more loops and marks. Khmer is much curlier, with letters stacked below the line.
Questions about the writing in Laos
Is Lao the same as Thai?
No, but they are related. Many letters look alike, and Lao is rounder and simpler. Thai speakers can often read some Lao.
Do signs in Laos use French?
Some do, especially older government buildings. English is more common today.