ຢ່າ
[yah]
do not, stop Auxiliary Verb
Example —
ຢ່າ ເຮັດ*
[yah het]
Don’t do it/stop it.
* Note — Lao sentences and phrases are not typically spaced out by syllables. But, this is helpful for recognizing where syllables start and end.
Tips:
This is a negative imperative verb, or simply a way to say not to do something.
Tone Breakdown
ຢ່າ [yah] — this syllable has a middle-class consonant and a long vowel. This normally produces a low tone, but this syllable has a ໄມ້ເອກ /mai ehk/ tone mark. Therefore, the tone of the syllable is a middle tone.