ເຈົ້າ
[jao]
you Pronoun
Example —
ເຈົ້າ ເປັນ ຄົນ ສູງ*
[jao bpen khon suung]
You’re a tall person.
yes Adverb
* Note — Lao sentences and phrases are not typically spaced out by syllables. But, this is helpful for recognizing where syllables start and end.
Tips:
ໂດຍ [doi] is the formal way to say “yes” to older people, high officials, and monks, while ເຈົ້າ [jao] is a general way to say yes.
Tone Breakdown
ເຈົ້າ [jao] — this syllable has a middle-class consonant and a special vowel. This normally produces a high tone, but this syllable has a ໄມ້ໂທ /mai toh/ tone mark. Therefore, the tone of the syllable is a high-falling tone.