🇱🇦Laos, Northeastern Thailand (Isan)

Learn Lao with real humans

Lao is the official language of Laos, a landlocked country of 7 million people at the heart of mainland Southeast Asia, often described as 'the soul of Southeast Asia' for its serenity and the authenticity of its Buddhist culture. A Tai-Kadai language closely related to the Thai of northeastern Thailand (Isan), Lao is spoken by around 30 million people if you include speakers in northeastern Thailand. One of the region's best-kept secrets: learning Lao unlocks both Laos and large parts of rural Thailand.

Small groupsNative teachersTwice a week

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First words in Lao

ເປັນຈັ່ງໃດ (Pen jang dai?), How are you doing?

sa-BAI-dee / PEN jang DAI

ສະບາຍດີ (Sabaidi), Hello / How are you?

Formal greeting

Did you know? Laos is the only landlocked country in Southeast Asia, and that may be precisely what has allowed it to preserve a culture of exceptional gentleness. The notion of 'baw pen nyang' (it doesn't matter, no problem, the Lao equivalent of 'sabai dee') reflects a deeply relaxed philosophy of life that contrasts with the hustle of its neighbours. Luang Prabang, the former royal capital and a UNESCO World Heritage site, is one of the most spiritually captivating cities in Asia, and the monks walking silently at dawn for the tak bat alms ceremony are an unforgettable sight.

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Class groups

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Live classes / week

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Native teachers

30d

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Live classes

Learn Lao live with a native teacher

2 live classes per week in small groups. Ask questions, practice conversation, progress fast.

Conversation with a teacher - Lao | Targumi

classes per week

Small

groups

100%

certified native teachers

Live classes

Your typical Lao week

2 live video classes per week, Mondays and Thursdays at 8pm (Paris time). Small groups.

Week of

1 – Jun 7, 2026

Mon1

Tue2

Wed3

Thu4

20:00

At the restaurant: ordering

Role-playBeginner

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Fri5

Sat6

Sun7

Ready to get started?

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Risk-free trial · 30-day refund · Small groups of 2-5

The platform

Progress in Lao between classes, at your own pace

Interactive lessons with native audio, vocabulary, dialogues and quizzes. Everything you need to reinforce your skills between live sessions.

Ready to improve?

Access all interactive exercises and online courses.

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Risk-free trial · 30-day refund · Small groups of 2-5

The community

Join Targumi's Lao community

Dedicated WhatsApp group, exchanges between learners, resource sharing. You're never alone in your learning journey.

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Free · Lifetime access · Native speakers present

🇲🇦

Lao School - Community

Anissa

Hi everyone 🙌

4:22 PM

Fatiha

Hey, welcome back!

4:23 PM

I’m not on desktop, is it mobile-friendly too?

4:23 PM

Mrhd

Yes, it works on phone and computer together 📱💻

4:24 PM

Message

Full program

Your Lao curriculum

Exactly what you'll find inside the platform: 47 modules, 0+ structured lessons, quizzes and exercises.

🇱🇦

Laotien Débutant

👋Les bases du laotien

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🔤L'alphabet — ອັກສອນລາວ

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🔢Chiffres et vie quotidienne

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👋Les salutations — ການທັກທາຍ

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👨‍👩‍👧‍👦La famille — ຄອບຄົວ

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🛒Au marché — ຕະຫລາດ

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🍚La nourriture — ອາຫານ (āhăn)

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🧭Direction — ທິດທາງ (thit thang)

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🍜Gastronomie lao — ອາຫານພື້ນເມືອງ (ahan pheun meuang)

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👨‍👩‍👧‍👦La famille lao — ຄອບຄົວລາວ (khop khua lao)

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✈️Voyager au Laos — ການເດີນທາງ (kan deun thang)

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🌿Nature du Laos — ທຳມະຊາດ (thamma sat)

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🛕Culture lao — ວັດທະນະທຳ (vatthanatham)

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📱Tech au Laos — ເທັກໂນໂລຢີ (tek no lo yi)

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⏰Le temps — ເວລາ (vela)

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🎨Les couleurs — ສີ (si)

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🫀Le corps et la sante — ຮ່າງກາຍ ແລະ ສຸຂະພາບ

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👗Les vetements — ເສື້ອຜ້າ (seua pha)

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🏠La maison — ເຮືອນ (heuan)

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🚌Le transport — ການຂົນສົ່ງ (kan khon song)

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☀️La meteo — ດິນຟ້າອາກາດ

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🐘Les animaux — ສັດ (sat)

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🇱🇦

Laotien Intermediaire

✈️Voyages avances — ການທ່ຽວ

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💼Monde du travail — ໂລກຂອງວຽກງານ

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📰Medias et actualites — ສື່ອມວນຊົນ

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🏛️Politique et societe — ການເມືອງແລະສັງຄົມ

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💰Economie et finances — ເສດຖະກິດແລະການເງິນ

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🎓Education avancee — ການສຶກສາ

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🎨Arts et litterature — ສິລະປະແລະວັນນະຄະດີ

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🌍Environnement — ສິ່ງແວດລ້ອມ

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🔬Sciences et technologie — ວິທະຍາສາດແລະເທັກໂນໂລຊີ

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🌐Relations internationales — ຄວາມສຳພັນສາກົນ

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💭Philosophie et pensee — ປັດຊະຍາແລະຄວາມຄິດ

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🎯Projet personnel — ໂຄງການສ່ວນຕົວ

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🇱🇦

Expression avancée

🕌Sagesse laotienne et bouddhisme

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📜ວັນນະຄະດີລາວ — Littérature lao classique

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☸️ສາດສະໜາ ພຸດ — Bouddhisme theravada lao

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⭐ປະຫວັດສາດ — Histoire : Pathet Lao et révolution 1975

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📰ສື່ມວນຊົນ — Médias et presse lao

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🌊ແມ່ນ — Mékong : fleuve, barrages et enjeux

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🗺️ພາສາ ທ້ອງຖິ່ນ — Dialectes et variations régionales du lao

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🏛️ມູນລະນີ ຝຣັ່ງ — Héritage colonial français au Laos

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🌆ວຽງຈັນ — Vientiane : modernisation et identité

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🧠ປັດຊ — Philosophie et pensée abstraite en lao

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⚖️ສ — Débats de société contemporains

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✍️ກ — Expression littéraire et poésie avancée

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🌺ຊົນ ເຜົ່າ — Minorités ethniques et langues du Laos

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The method

Our method for learning Lao

Step 01

Quick level test

Assess your current knowledge in 5 minutes

Step 02

Structured modules

Progressive learning path with native audio and exercises

Step 03

Interactive live classes

2 sessions per week with your native teacher

Step 04

Level certification

Validate your progress with an official certificate

Why Targumi

What makes us different for Lao

100+

Available languages

Including rare languages you won't find anywhere else.

Free trial days

Try everything with no commitment. Classes, exercises, community.

3-en-1

Complete platform

Video classes + interactive exercises + WhatsApp community. All included.

24/7

Unlimited access

Learn whenever you want. Exercises and content are available 24/7.

The curriculum

What you'll learn in Lao

A curriculum designed to get you speaking Lao in the situations that actually matter to you.

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01
Lao alphabet: 27 initial consonants and the tonal system
02
Conversational Lao from Vientiane and Luang Prabang
03
Lao tones: mastering the 6 tones in practice
04
Lao vs Thai: intelligibility and differences
05
Lao culture: Theravada Buddhism, boun (festivals), silk craftsmanship
06
Lao for travellers, expatriates and professionals in Southeast Asia

Start Lao now

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FAQ

Frequently asked questions about learning Lao

Are Lao and Thai the same language?

Close, but not identical. Lao and Thai belong to the same Tai-Kadai family and share about 70-80% of basic vocabulary. A Lao speaker and a speaker of northeastern Thai (Isan) can usually understand each other. However, standard Bangkok Thai and Lao differ significantly in writing system, some tones and more formal vocabulary. Learning Lao gives you a very strong starting point for Thai.

Is the Lao alphabet difficult to learn?

The Lao alphabet has 27 initial consonants and a system of dependent vowels, plus tone markers. It is simpler than the Thai alphabet (which has 44 consonants) but still takes around 4 to 6 weeks for basic reading. The system is logical and phonetic once you understand the rules. For learners focused on oral conversation, you can start with transliteration and learn the alphabet in parallel.

Why learn Lao if everyone speaks Thai in Southeast Asia?

Laos is a country in the midst of transformation, ASEAN membership, major economic corridors, expanding tourism. Vientiane and Luang Prabang attract a growing number of investors and expatriates. The Lao community in France (around 50,000 people, notably in the Paris region) maintains strong ties with the motherland. And unlike Thai, which is widely taught, Lao remains a rare skill that immediately sets you apart in the region.

Laos is a former French colony, how does that affect the language?

Yes, Laos was part of French Indochina until 1954. Vientiane still uses the metric system, Lao-style coffee (café lao) is French-influenced, and many French words have been absorbed into everyday Lao: 'bia' (beer), 'lot' (car, from l'automobile), 'hong mhor' (hospital, from hôpital). The older educated elite still speaks French, and La Francophonie maintains a presence in Vientiane.

How long does it take to hold a conversation in Lao?

Lao is classified as a difficult language for Europeans, 6 tones, its own alphabet, SVO structure with particles. For an English or French speaker, expect 10 to 14 months with two lessons per week to reach B1. However, travellers and expatriates can learn basic formulas, practical situations and the main tones in 2 to 3 months. Lao people are extremely welcoming to foreigners who make the effort to speak their language, smiles are guaranteed.

How much do Lao courses cost on Targumi?

Targumi offers 3 plans: quarterly, yearly, and lifetime access. All plans include live small-group classes with native teachers, interactive lessons, and the community. See full pricing on the pricing page.

Are the Lao courses online or in person?

100% online. Live classes happen twice a week in small groups via Google Meet. You can join from anywhere in the world. The mobile and web app stay accessible 24/7 for interactive lessons.

Is there a money-back guarantee?

Yes. Targumi offers a 30-day money-back guarantee on all plans. If you are not satisfied, just email [email protected] for a full refund.

How do I cancel my subscription?

You can cancel anytime from your profile (“My subscriptions” section) with no hidden fees. Your access stays active until the end of your paid period.

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