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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.

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Read more: Madura is an invisible island off the northeast corner of Java. If you ever find it, try using some Madurese.

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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 the lower the bow, the greater the show of respect. Som Pas tends to appear in tandem with saying hello and goodbye and fulfils the same role as a handshake.

It is thus:

English Khmer

Basics Moulodthan

Hello Choum reap sur (formal) / Soo sdai (informal)

How are you? Sok sabai?

Fine Sok sabai

Sorry / Excuse me Suom dtoh 

Thank you Ar koon

Please Saum

You’re welcome Anak svakom

Yes Baa (male) / Chaa (female)

No Te

Goodbye Chom reap lear (formal) / Lee hi (informal)

Good morning Aroon suostei

Good afternoon Suostei pelorsiel

Good evening Reatrei suostei

What’s your name? Nyek chmua ai? 

My name is (Thomm) Knyohm chmua (Thomm)

I’m from (Dili) Khnom mokpee (Dili)

What’s the score? Taa pintou avei

I like your nose Khnhom chaulchett chramouh robsa anak

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Directions Tisadaw

Where are you going? Tae anak talnae?

I don’t know Knyohm aht duong  

I want to go to… Knyohm jang toh…  

Where is (the temple)? (Brasaeat) noh ai nah? 

(Over) there (Cheang) tinoh

(Over) here (Cheang) tinih

Stop Chop

Turn around Bangvil

Straight on Da trong

Left Schweng

Right Sadam

Behind Now khangokraoy

In front of Now khangmoukh

How far? Chhngay bonna?

How long? Yourbonna?

Airport Pr​ lean​ yontohaoh

Hotel Santhakar

Restaurant Phochniyodthan

Bar Rohrbar

Temple Brasaeat

Bank Thneakear

Cinema Rongkon

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Shopping / Transactions Kartinh tomninh / Bratebatte kar

How much? Bow man?

Cheap Thaok

Expensive Thlai

Very (cheap) (Thaok) nasa

Do you have (a room)? Tae anak mean (bantob) te?

I want / would like (a room) Khnhom chngban (bantob) muoy

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Food / Drink / Miscellaneous Ahar / Phoek / Phsaeng

Eat / Drink Briphok / Phoek

Chicken Sach mean

Fish Trei

Rice Bay

Noodles Kouyteav

Soup Saoub

Milk Tukdaohko

Coffee Kahve

Water Tuk

Fruit Phlechheu

Vegetables Banle

Cigarettes Bari

Lighter Sral cheang moun

Beer Bia

Water Neu-uk

A room Bantob

Ticket Sambot

Rainy season Roadal wossair

Dry season Raodal vreng

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Numbers Lekh

0 Soon

1 Moi

2 Bee

3 Bai

4 Boum

5 Pram

6 Pram moi

7 Pram bee

8 Pram bai

9 Pram boum

10 Dop

11 Dop mee

12 Dop bee

13 Dop bai

14 Dop boum

15 Dop pram

16 Dop pram moi

17 Dop pram bee

18 Dop pram bai

19 Dop pram boum

20 Mpei

30 Sam sep

40 Sae sep

50 Ha sep

60 Hok sep

70 Chet sep

80 Paet sep

90 Kao sep

100 Muoy roy

Hundred Roy

Thousand Pohn

Million Lean

How old are you? Ayou bonman tae anak mente?

I’m (30) years old Khnhom mean ayou (samseb) chhnam