English Reference

Word

laos

Phoneticslaos

/ˈɫaʊs/

Definition

n. a country in Southeast Asia that does not have a coast. It is known for its mountains and the Mekong River.

n. a landlocked sovereign state in Southeast Asia, bordered by Myanmar, China, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand.

Examples

“Vientiane is the capital city of Laos.”

“Many travelers visit Laos to see the historic temples in Luang Prabang and the beautiful natural landscapes.”

“As the only landlocked nation in Southeast Asia, Laos has historically relied on the Mekong River as a primary artery for trade and internal communication.”

Examples

simple

“Vientiane is the capital city of Laos.”

contextual

“Many travelers visit Laos to see the historic temples in Luang Prabang and the beautiful natural landscapes.”

complex

“As the only landlocked nation in Southeast Asia, Laos has historically relied on the Mekong River as a primary artery for trade and internal communication.”

Usage

Proper noun; typically used without a definite article ('the') in modern English.

Pitfall

I am going to the Laos

I am going to Laos

Unlike 'the Philippines' or 'the Netherlands', Laos does not take a definite article.

Etymology

Borrowed from French Laos, plural of Lao, from Lao ລາວ (lāo, “Lao”). More at Lao.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Domain

Politics

This entry

Level
B1 · Intermediate
Frequency
Frequent
Updated

Scan code

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English Reference