Lama

Lama is a word with multiple meanings. In the most common ecological sense, lama is the scientific name (genus) for a group of animals native to South America and belonging to the camel family (Camelidae). The most well-known species is Lama glama, known in English as the llama.

A related term is "lama" or "laama", widely used among scholars of Tibetan Buddhism. Additionally, in some Somali usage, "lama" translates "la ma", a question particle. The meaning is therefore determined by the overall sense of the sentence.

The animal lama

Lama glama is a domesticated animal that Andean peoples of South America developed thousands of years ago from the wild guanaco. It is used as a pack animal, for wool, and for meat. Unlike the camel, it lacks the humps on its back, but it shares the camel's body structure, including a multi-chambered stomach for digestion.

Related animals in the same genus include the alpaca, which is bred primarily for its wool. The scientific classification of these species is sometimes subject to revision depending on genetic research.

Religious use

Lama is an honorific title for teachers of Tibetan Buddhism. It denotes a person who has attained a level of learning and spiritual training and who is qualified to teach others. The most well-known title of this kind is Dalai Lama, a historical leader within Tibetan culture.