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

The ruling Lao People's Revolutionary Party has held power for more than 50 years.

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

"We are not very happy with the tariff… Laos is a very small country," said Xaybandith Rasphone, co-founder of sports marketing agency MKGT, and vice-president of the Lao national chamber of commerce.

From BBC • Aug. 1, 2025

On social media, some Asian Americans pledged their support for what they saw as the original, authentic chili crisp, the product by Lao Gan Ma.

From Los Angeles Times • May 31, 2024

Finally I said with a mouth as dry as sand, "Lao Lao, isn't there anything I can do?"

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