ຂ້າ
[khah]
to kill Verb
slave, servant, official Noun
* Note — Lao sentences and phrases are not typically spaced out by syllables. But, this is helpful for recognizing where syllables start and end.
Tips:
Although ຂ້າ [khah] can be used in a pejorative way, it is often used in other words and phrases that do not necessarily carry a negative connotation. For example, ຂ້າຫລວງໃຫຍ່ [khah luang nyai] means “high official/commisioner.” Or, the formal pronoun to refer the self to superiors is ຂ້ານ້ອຍ [khah noi].
Tone Breakdown
ຂ້າ [kha] — this syllable has a high-class consonant and a long vowel. 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.