ຂ້ອຍຮັກເຈົ້າ
[khoi-huk-jao]
I love you Phrase
* Note — Lao sentences and phrases are not typically spaced out by syllables. But, this is helpful for recognizing where syllables start and end.
Tips:
Depending on who the subject and “object” are in the sentence, ຂ້ອຍ and ເຈົ້າ can simply be replaced. For example, ລູກຮັກແມ່ [luuk huk mae] — I love you, mom (or technically, child loves mom).
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Tone Breakdown
ຂ້ອຍ [khoi] — this syllable has a high-class consonant, a long vowel, and a sonorant final consonant. This normally produces a rising tone, but this syllable has a ໄມ້ໂທ /mai toh/ tone mark. Therefore, the tone of the syllable is a low-falling tone.
ຮັກ [huk] — this syllable has a low-class consonant, a short vowel, and unreleased-stop final consonant. As a result, this produces a middle tone.
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.