The predominant language of Cambodia, characterised by nuance and subtlety.
Sixteen million speakers employ Khmer, which predates its Austrosciatic counterparts Mon and Vietnamese on account of being the official language of the Chenla and Angkor kingdoms. Like its counterparts, Khmer constitutes a rarity in this region of Southeast Asia on account of its reliance on stress rather than tone.
Visitors should recognise the importance of Som Pas in Cambodia. This traditional greeting is characterised by palms pressed together in an attitude of prayer; the hands are then lifted to chest level, accompanied by a bow. The higher the hands and lower the bow, the greater the show of respect. Som Pas tends to be used in tandem with saying hello and goodbye and fulfils the same role as a handshake.
It is thus:
English | Khmer |
Sorry / Excuse me | Suom dtoh |
Hello | Choum reap sur (formal) / Soo sdai (informal) |
How are you? | Sok sabai? |
I’m fine | Sok sabai |
Thank you | Aw khun |
Welcome | Soum swa-khom |
Goodbye | Lee hai |
Please | Saum |
Yes | Baat / Baa (m); Chaa (f) |
No | Ot teh |
Maybe | Brahel |
What’s your name? | Nyek chmua ai? |
My name is (Thomm) | Knyohm chmua (Thomm) |
Where is (the temple)? | (Brasaeat) noh ai nah? |
I don’t know | Knyohm aht duong |
I want to go to … | Knyohm jang toh … |
How far? | Chhngay bonna |
How long? | Rypel bonman? |
Temple | Brasaeat |
Airport | Pr lean yontohaoh |
Hotel | Santhakar |
Restaurant | Phochniyodthan |
Bar | Bar |
How much is this? | Thlai puon maan? |
Cheap | Thaok |
Expensive | Thlai |
Very (cheap) | (Thaok) nasa |
Do you have a (room)? | Tae anak mean (bantob) te? |
Room | Bantob |
Beer | Srabier |
Water | Tuk |
Cigarettes | Bari |
Lighter | Sral cheang moun |
Food | Ahar |
Drink | Phoek |
Chicken | Sach mean |
Fish | Trei |
Rice | Bay |
What’s the score? | Tae avei tow chea pintou |
I like your nose | Khnhom chaulchett chramouh robsa anak |
0 | Soon |
1 | Muy |
2 | Pi |
3 | Bai |
4 | Buhn prum |
5 | Prum |
6 | Prum Muy |
7 | Prum pi |
8 | Prum bai |
9 | Prum buhn |
10 | Dop |
11 | Dop muy |
12 | Dop pi |
20 | Mphai |
30 | Saam |
40 | Sai |
50 | Hay |
60 | Hok |
70 | Chet |
80 | Paet |
90 | Kau |
100 | Muy roy |
200 | Pi roy |
300 | Bai roy |