ลีลา

Thai

Etymology

From Pali līlā (“grace; charm; etc”), from Sanskrit लीला (līlā, “idem”); perhaps via Old Khmer līlā (“to move in a graceful or elegant manner”). Cognate with Lao ລີລາ (lī lā), Modern Khmer លីលា (liiliə).

Pronunciation

Orthographic		ลีลา l ī l ā
Phonemic		ลี-ลา l ī – l ā
Romanization	Paiboon	lii-laa
	Royal Institute	li-la
(standard) IPA(key)		/liː˧.laː˧/(R)

Walking Buddha of Sukhothai, Sukhothai Historical Park, Thailand

Noun

ลีลา • (lii-laa)

1. manner, style, pattern, design, form, or technique, especially one that is graceful or elegant.
2. motion or movement, especially one that is graceful or elegant.
3. (Buddhism) a type of Buddha statue depicting the Buddha walking gracefully with his right hand in the gesture of abhayamudrā.

Verb

ลีลา • (lii-laa) (abstract noun การลีลา or ความลีลา)

1. (poetic) to move or proceed (as from one place to another), especially in a graceful or elegant manner.
2. (slang, humorous) to have or be characterised by excessive manners, styles, patterns, or forms.
3. (slang, humorous) to be hesitant, slow, or delaying (as in moving or acting); to dawdle.

Derived terms

• กระบี่ลีลา
• จูงนางลีลา
• มหาราชลีลา
• ลีลากระทุ่ม
• ลีลาวดี (lii-laa-wá-dii)
• หงสลีลา
• หงส์ลีลา