ສຳລັບ

[sum-lup]

for Preposition

Example —
ແມ່ ໃຫ້ ເງີນ ສຳ ລັບ ຊື້ ສິ້ນ*
[mae hai ngern sum lup seu siin]
Mom gave (me) money (for) to buy a skirt.

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

Tips:

Not an actual rule, but in regards to when to use the word ເພື່ອ or ສຳລັບ, ສຳລັບ is more formal and used in writing.

Tone Breakdown

ສຳ [sum] — this syllable has a high-class consonant and a special vowel. As a result, this produces a high tone.

ລັບ [lup] — this syllable has a low-class consonant, a short vowel, and unreleased-stop final consonant. As a result, this produces a middle tone.