Mor Lam

Explore mor lam (หมอลำ – mɔ̌ɔ lam), one of the most famous forms of entertainment from Isan, northeastern Thailand, in this Thai Thai Series lesson. Find out what หมอ (mɔ̌ɔ) and ลำ (lam) mean, and how mor lam grew from evening storytelling sessions in the village into huge night-time stage shows with singers, dancers and full bands, including the modern mor lam sing style. You’ll also hear what it’s like to watch mor lam in Thailand, from laying out mats in front of the stage at merit-making ceremonies to live streams during COVID, how it connects with luk thung music, and why some people now stay away.

Thai Vocabulary:
หมอลำ (mɔ̌ɔ lam) – Mor lam (Isan folk performance)
คณะ (ká-ná) – Troupe
ปูเสื่อ (puu sʉ̀a) – To lay out a mat
หางเครื่อง (hǎang krʉ̂ang) – Backup dancers
คล้องจอง (klɔ́ɔng jɔɔng) – To rhyme

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Mor Lam

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