Meaning & use
Laotian
Last updated
Meanings
adjectivebefore a noun
Relating to Laos, its people, or its language.
Grammar: Used before a noun: Laotian food, Laotian culture.
Patterns
- Laotian + noun
She cooked a Laotian meal with sticky rice and spicy dipping sauce.
The Laotian border is not far from here.
He studies Laotian history at university.
nouncountable
A person from Laos.
Grammar: Countable: one Laotian, two Laotians.
Patterns
- a Laotian
- the Laotians
My neighbor is a Laotian who moved here ten years ago.
Many Laotians live in this city.
noununcountable
The official language of Laos.
Grammar: Uncountable: speak Laotian, not 'a Laotian' for the language.
Patterns
- speak Laotian
- in Laotian
Do you speak Laotian?
The guide explained the temple in Laotian and English.
Word forms
| plural | Laotians |
|---|
Common combinations
- Laotian food
- Laotian food often includes fresh herbs and sticky rice.
- Laotian people
- Laotian people are known for their friendly welcome.
- speak Laotian
- She learned to speak Laotian while living in Vientiane.
- Laotian culture
- Laotian culture has strong Buddhist traditions.
Synonyms and how they differ
- Lao
- More common for the language and often for the people; 'Laotian' is also correct but less frequent in everyday use.
Commonly confused: Laotian or Latvian?
Laotian vs Latvian
Latvian relates to Latvia, a country in Europe; Laotian relates to Laos in Southeast Asia. They sound somewhat similar but refer to different places.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'Laotian' correctly?
Choose one answer.
When 'Laotian' means the language, it is uncountable and takes no article: 'speaks Laotian'. The other options wrongly add an article or use the plural for the language.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “Laotian”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.