ນາມສະກຸນ

[nahm-sa-guun]

surname/last name Noun

Example —
ນາມ ສະ ກຸນ ແມ່ນ ຫຍັງ*
[nahm sa guun maen nyung]
What is your last name?

* Note — Lao sentences and phrases are not typically spaced out by syllables. But, this is helpful for recognizing where syllables start and end.

Tone Breakdown

ນາມ [nahm] — this syllable has a low-class consonant, a long vowel, and a sonorant final consonant. As a result, this produces a high tone.

ສະ [sa] — this syllable has a high-class consonant and a short vowel. As a result, this produces a high tone.

ກຸນ [goon] — this syllable has a middle-class consonant, a short vowel, and a sonorant final consonant. As a result, this produces a low tone.