หมอลำ
mɔ̌ɔ-lamMeanings
1NounB1
mor lam performer
a traditional Isan/Lao singer-storyteller who performs improvised or narrative verse, typically accompanied by the khaen (bamboo mouth organ)
Examples
ตาdtaaตาdtaa1eye2grandfather (maternal)3elderly man; grandpa (informal)4grid square; mesh5turn (in a game)6eye (classifier for small holes/mesh openings)ของฉันkɔ̌ɔng-chǎnของฉันkɔ̌ɔng-chǎnmy; mineเป็นbpenเป็นbpen1to be (identity/category/state)2to become3[to] know how; be able to (skill)4alive; living5[to] have; suffer from; be in (a condition)หมอลำmɔ̌ɔ-lamหมอลำmɔ̌ɔ-lam1mor lam performer2mor lam (genre/performance tradition)ที่tîiที่tîi1place; spot; seat; space2at; in; to (a place)3classifier: places; seats; individual servings4that/which/who (relative marker)5when; the time that (time marker)6ordinal markerมีชื่อเสียงmii-chʉ̂ʉ-sǐiangมีชื่อเสียงmii-chʉ̂ʉ-sǐiang1famous; renowned; well-known2[to] be famous; have a reputationในnaiในnai1in; inside; within2during; in (time)3of; belonging to (formal)หมู่บ้านmùu-bâanหมู่บ้านmùu-bâan1village; hamlet2housing estate; gated community
My grandfather is a famous mor lam singer in the village.
3 more examplesShow less
การจะเป็นgaan jà bpenหมอลำmŏ lamที่têeเก่งgèngได้dâiต้องมีdtông meeความสามารถkwaam săa-mâatในnaiการด้นกลอนสดgaan dôn glon sòtประกอบbprà-gòpเสียงแคนsĭiang kaen
To become a skilled mor lam singer, one must have the ability to improvise verse accompanied by the khaen.
หมอลำmɔ̌ɔ-lamคณะká-náนี้níiกำลังขับgam-lang-kàpลำlamเรื่องrʉ̂ʉangท้าวtáaoผาแดงนางไอ่pǎa-dɛɛng-naang-àiซึ่งsʉ̂ngเป็นbpenนิทานพื้นบ้านní-taan-pʉ́ʉn-bâanอีสานii-sǎan
This mor lam performer is singing the story of 'Thao Phadaeng Nang Ai', which is an Isan folktale.
ในอดีตnai à-dèetหมอลำmŏ lamไม่เพียงแต่mâi piiang dtàeให้hâiความบันเทิงkwaam ban-terngแต่ยังdtàe yangมีmeeบทบาทสำคัญbòt bàat săm-kanในฐานะnai tăa-náผู้pôoถ่ายทอดtàai tôtวรรณกรรมwan-ná-gamและláeประวัติศาสตร์bprà-wàt-sàatท้องถิ่นtóng tìn
In the past, mor lam singers not only provided entertainment but also played an important role as transmitters of local literature and history.
2NounB1
mor lam (genre/performance tradition)
a Northeastern Thai/Lao musical and performance tradition characterized by rapid, melismatic vocals, call-and-response, and khaen accompaniment; includes modern styles such as ลำซิ่ง
Examples
ทุกครั้งที่túk-kráng-tîiทุกครั้งที่túk-kráng-tîiwhenever; every time thatมีmiiมีmii1[to] have; possess2there is/are; exist3[to] experience; undergoงานวัดngaan-wátงานวัดngaan-wáttemple fairจะต้องjà-dtɔ̂ngจะต้องjà-dtɔ̂ng1must; have to; be obliged to2be certain/inevitableมีmiiมีmii1[to] have; possess2there is/are; exist3[to] experience; undergoการแสดงgaan-sà-dɛɛngการแสดงgaan-sà-dɛɛng1performance; show2expression; display; demonstration (explaining/showing)หมอลำmɔ̌ɔ-lamหมอลำmɔ̌ɔ-lam1mor lam performer2mor lam (genre/performance tradition)
Every time there's a temple fair, there has to be a mor lam performance.
3 more examplesShow less
วัยรุ่นwai-rûnสมัยนี้sà-mǎi-níiชอบchɔ̂ɔpฟังfangหมอลำmɔ̌ɔ-lamซิ่งsîngเพราะprɔ́เป็นbpenดนตรีdon-dtriiหมอลำmɔ̌ɔ-lamที่tîiประยุกต์bprà-yúkให้hâiมีmiiจังหวะjang-wàเร็วreoและlɛ́สนุกสนานsà-nùk-sà-nǎan
Teenagers these days like to listen to mor lam sing because it's a style of mor lam music adapted to have a fast and fun rhythm.
หมอลำmɔ̌ɔ-lamเป็นbpenแนวดนตรีnɛɛo-don-dtriiที่tîiเป็นเอกลักษณ์bpen-èek-gà-lákของkɔ̌ɔngภาคอีสานpâak-ii-sǎanมีmiiทั้งtángแบบดั้งเดิมbɛ̀ɛp-dâng-dəəmและlɛ́แบบbɛ̀ɛpประยุกต์bprà-yúk
Mor lam is a unique musical genre of the Northeast region, with both traditional and modern styles.
อิทธิพลìt-tí-ponของkɔ̌ɔngหมอลำmɔ̌ɔ-lamได้dâaiแพร่หลายprɛ̂ɛ-lǎaiเข้าไปในkâo-bpai-naiดนตรีdon-dtriiป๊อปbpɔ́pกระแสหลักgrà-sɛ̌ɛ-làkทำให้เกิดtam-hâi-gə̀ətการผสมผสานgaan-pà-sǒm-pà-sǎanทางวัฒนธรรมtaang-wát-tá-ná-tamที่tîiน่าสนใจnâa-sǒn-jai
The influence of the mor lam genre has spread into mainstream pop music, creating interesting cultural fusions.
Tones
See how the spelling sets each syllable's tone, step by step.
Why is หมอลำ said หมอ-ลัม?
mɔ̌ɔ-lam
The tone rules below use the spoken syllables.
2 syllables · pick one to see its rule
How the tone is decided
- Consonant classHigh class
- Tone markNo tone mark
- Syllable endingLive syllableA long vowel with no final consonant, so it is live.
High class consonants
ขฃฉฐถผฝศษสห
Result
Rising tone
mɔ̌ɔ
Dips low first, then rises clearly.
High class + No tone mark + Live syllable → Rising
Tone chart
Every class and spelling pattern, with this syllable outlined.
| Mid class | High class | Low class | |
|---|---|---|---|
| No mark + live | Mid | Rising | Mid |
| No mark + dead short | Low | Low | High |
| No mark + dead long | Low | Low | Falling |
| Mai ek | Low | Low | Falling |
| Mai tho | Falling | Falling | High |
| Mai tri | High | — | — |
| Mai chattawa | Rising | — | — |
Word Breakdown
หมอmɔ̌ɔหมอmɔ̌ɔ1doctor; physician2veterinarian3expert; specialist (informal)4traditional healer; shamandoctor; physicianPart 1
+
ลำlamลำlam1classifier: boats; ships; aircraft; rockets; some musical instruments2classifier: beams/rays of light; laser3shaft; trunk; stalk; hull/body (of boat or instrument)4beam; ray (of light)5delicious; tasty (Northern Thai)6[to] sing; chant traditional verse (Isan)classifier: boats; ships; aircraft; rockets; some musical instrumentsPart 2
หมอลำmɔ̌ɔ-lamหมอลำmɔ̌ɔ-lammor lam performermor lam performerWord