lama
word
/ˈɫɑmə/
LAH-muh
/lˈɑːmɐ/
LAH-muh
Definition
A lama is a title for a Tibetan Buddhist teacher, monk, or respected spiritual leader, especially in Tibetan Buddhism.
Usage & Nuances
"Lama" is used for spiritual leaders in Tibetan Buddhism, similar to "guru" in other contexts. The most famous is the Dalai Lama. Do not confuse with "llama" (the South American animal). Always capitalized when referring to a specific title.
Spanish: lamaPortuguese (BR): lamaPortuguese (PT): lamaChinese (Simplified): 喇嘛Chinese (Traditional): 喇嘛Hindi: लामाArabic: لاماBengali: লামাRussian: ламаJapanese: ラマVietnamese: lạt maKorean: 라마Turkish: lamaUrdu: لاما (روحانی پیشوا)Indonesian: lama
Example Sentences
We saw a lama at the temple during our trip.
basic
The Dalai Lama is a famous spiritual leader.
basic
The lama gave a talk about mindfulness that really inspired me.
natural
Many people travel to meet a lama and ask for guidance.
natural
The lama taught the monks about compassion.
basic
It’s easy to mix up the words 'lama' and 'llama', but one is a teacher and the other is an animal!
natural