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:
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 (males); Chaa (females)
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 – Srabie r
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
Eye In The Middle 