Lao

American  

[lou] / laʊ /

noun

plural

Laos,

plural

Lao

1. a member of a people of Laos and northern Thailand.

2. the Tai language of the Lao.

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adjective

1. of or relating to the Lao or their language.

LAO ¹ British  

abbreviation

1. Laos (international car registration)

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Lao ² British  

/ laʊ /

adjective

1. another name for Laotian

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Etymology

Origin of Lao

First recorded in 1880–85; from Lao Láo, a self-designation

Example Sentences

"Younger and middle-aged candidates make up the majority," the Lao News Agency said, adding that the government was aiming to elect women to at least 30 percent of seats.

From Barron's • Feb. 20, 2026

Honworld Group, the holding company for cooking wine and soy sauce maker Lao Heng He in Zhejiang province, said household spending was weaker than expected, leading other brands to unload inventory at low prices.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 28, 2026

Anthonin says he was helping some other passengers retrieve their luggage at the back of the sinking ferry when he saw a Lao mother and her two children.

From BBC • Dec. 22, 2025

Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu wrote, “A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 12, 2025

"First," Lao Lao said, "we must get a bottle of the finest wine and make a box of sweets."

From "Where the Mountain Meets the Moon" by Grace Lin