English Lao Dictionary
Free offline English-Lao dictionary. Look up translations instantly without internet. Perfect for travelers to Laos and Lao learners.
Key Features
100% Offline
Look up Lao words anytime, anywhere — no internet connection needed.
Fast Search
Instant results as you type. Find the word you need in milliseconds.
Completely Free
No hidden costs, no subscriptions, no in-app purchases required.
Android & iOS
Available on both Google Play Store and Apple App Store.
Comprehensive
Thousands of words and phrases covering everyday vocabulary and more.
Bidirectional
Search from English to Lao or Lao to English seamlessly.
About English Lao Dictionary
This English-Lao dictionary provides offline translations for travelers visiting Laos, language learners, and anyone interested in the Lao language. Laos is a beautiful Southeast Asian country attracting more visitors each year.
About Lao
Lao is spoken by about 7 million people and is the official language of Laos. It is closely related to Thai and is a tonal language with its own unique script.
Who is this app for? Travelers to Laos, Lao language learners, backpackers in Southeast Asia.
Close to Thai, but not the same
Lao and Thai are closely related and share a great deal of vocabulary and structure. Lao speakers commonly understand Thai, helped by extensive exposure to Thai media; the reverse is less reliable. The scripts are related but distinct, so reading does not transfer automatically in either direction.
Lao script is generally considered the simpler of the two — it has fewer letters, having shed some of the redundant consonants Thai retains for spelling Sanskrit and Pali loanwords. Spelling is more consistently phonetic as a result.
Tonal, and written without spaces
Lao is tonal, with tone determined by a combination of consonant class, syllable structure, vowel length and tone marks — the same kind of system Thai uses. As in Thai, learning a consonant means learning its class along with its sound.
It is also written without spaces between words, using them at phrase and clause boundaries. Segmenting the text is the practical barrier to dictionary use early on.
Who this serves
Lao is the official language of Laos, with around four million speakers there, and closely related varieties are spoken by a much larger population in northeastern Thailand. There are also significant diaspora communities, particularly in the United States, France and Australia.
Offline access matters more than usual here: connectivity in much of Laos is limited and expensive, and a dictionary that needs a signal is unavailable where the language is spoken.
Frequently Asked Questions
How similar are Lao and Thai?
Closely related, with much shared vocabulary and structure. Lao speakers typically understand Thai, aided by exposure to Thai media, while the reverse is less consistent. The writing systems are related but distinct, so reading does not transfer automatically.
Is Lao script easier than Thai script?
Generally considered so. Lao has fewer letters, having dropped some consonants Thai keeps for spelling Sanskrit and Pali loanwords, and its spelling is more consistently phonetic as a result.
Is Lao tonal?
Yes. As in Thai, tone is determined by consonant class, syllable structure, vowel length and tone marks together, so each consonant has to be learned along with its class rather than just its sound.
Why does offline access matter for Lao?
Because connectivity across much of Laos is limited and mobile data is a real household expense. A dictionary requiring a connection is unavailable precisely where the language is spoken.
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