Lao Digit Zero

໐ is Lao zero: the digit that marks an empty place in Lao numbers. Lao manuscripts also used numerals to number leaves and record dates.

Text symbol

What ໐ means

It is the Lao digit for zero. In a longer Lao number, it marks an empty place so the other digits keep their place values.

Lao manuscripts used numerals to number leaves and write dates; an older practice used letters to number leaves. Fak Kham, an older script associated with Sukhothai, is described as a model for Lao writing. One inscription survey identifies an inscription on a stone monument at Tha Khaek, dated 17 April 1494, as the earliest genuine Lao-script example in its survey; that date does not establish when ໐ itself first appeared.

Part of the collection

ກ

Lao Alphabet & Letters

Who writes ໐

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Don't confuse it with

Digit Zero

Lao zero and 0 have the same value but are separate characters; surrounding text, not outline, identifies the script.

๐

Thai Digit Zero

๐ is Thai zero: it has the same value as Lao ໐ but is a different character. The surrounding writing identifies the script.

Questions people ask

Why does ໐ show as a box on some devices?

Not every system ships a font for the Lao block. Where none is installed, the character shows as an empty box; adding a font such as Noto fixes it. The character itself is still correct and copies correctly.