Is it pronounced Laos or Lao?
Of course, ‘Lao‘ is perfectly correct in English when used as an adjective. For example, a Lao person, the Lao language, a Lao poem, etc. In English, when describing this Asian nation, the correct pronunciation is ‘Laos‘ with a voiced ‘s’.
How do you pronounce the word Laos?
Why does Laos have an S?
The French added an “s” to make the name of the country plural, and began referring to the collective as “Laos.” As with many plural words in French, the trailing “s” was not pronounced, thereby creating a source of confusion. Laos gained independence and became a constitutional monarchy in 1953.
What do u call someone from Laos?
Within the country, ‘Lao‘ is a universal term for almost everything. In English however, both ‘Lao‘ and ‘Laotian’ are widely used.
David Nilsen is the former editor of Fourth & Sycamore. He is a member of the National Book Critics Circle. You can find more of his writing on his website at davidnilsenwriter.com and follow him on Twitter as @NilsenDavid.