Khmu is the language of the
Khmu people of the northern
Laos region. It is also spoken in adjacent areas of
Vietnam,
Thailand and
China. Khmu lends its name to the
Khmuic branch of the
Austroasiatic language family, the latter of which also includes
Khmer and
Vietnamese. Within Austroasiatic, Khmu is often cited as being most closely related to the
Palaungic and
Khasic languages. The name "Khmu" can also be seen
romanized as Kmhmu, Khmu', Kammu, or Khamuk in various publications or alternatively referred to by the name of a local dialect.