Lao letter Lo Ling

Usually l-like in modern speech; some learned readings retain r.

For Lao r pronunciation, follow the word rather than the letter's name. The older r-like sound merged with h in monosyllables around 1550 and with l in polysyllabic words over 1550–1900. For some words, modern pronunciation no longer matches that older spelling contrast.

In Buddhist writing, a learned reading of Pali or Sanskrit words may retain an r-like sound; everyday speech generally does not. Foreign spellings can also use ຣ to preserve an r from the source language.

Why was ຣ removed and brought back?

A spelling reform removed it; a later reform restored it for foreign words.

Lao writing developed through regional traditions linked to the Sukhothai kingdom and an Old Khmer/Mon intermediary, within the broader South Asian script family; the precise route is uncertain. A document in the wider Tham tradition dates to 1376. An inscription survey records ຣ and neighboring r-, l-, and h-sound letters from 1491–1603. By around 1500, Lao Tham, a writing tradition used mainly for religious texts, served religious writing, while Lao Laic served secular writing and fed the modern script.

The Ministry of Education removed ຣ from official spelling in 1975, replacing it with ລ. Lao orthography brought ຣ back for foreign words in 2000. In borrowed names and surnames, it can preserve the source spelling rather than reflect everyday Lao pronunciation.