Lao or Thai are two distinct languages spoken in Southeast Asia. Lao is the official language of Laos, while Thai is the official language of Thailand. Both languages are part of the Tai-Kadai language family and share many similarities, including a common script. They are both tonal languages, meaning that the same word can have different meanings depending on the tone used to pronounce it. Lao and Thai are also mutually intelligible, meaning that speakers of one language can understand the other to some degree.