Lao is the official language of Laos. It is the principal language of administration, education, national media, and public life in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic.
Lao belongs to the Kra–Dai language family and is closely related to Thai. The two languages share historical vocabulary, writing-system influences, and some cultural connections, but they are distinct languages with different standardized forms.
Lao is tonal and is written in the Lao script, an abugida related historically to the Khmer script and ultimately to Indic writing traditions. The spelling system records consonants and vowel signs in combinations that do not always follow the linear order used in English.
Several regional varieties are spoken across Laos, and the country is home to many other languages, including Hmong and languages of the Mon-Khmer branch. The official status of Lao therefore exists alongside substantial linguistic diversity.