Speaking Khmer will no doubt enrich your stay in the Kingdom, starting from negotiating a fair tuktuk fare to deepening your cultural understanding. A little goes a long way so start getting hip to the lingo.
There are some great Khmer-English/French language and phrasebooks widely available in the Kingdom, (such as Colloquial Cambodian: The Complete Course for Beginners by David Smyth, available at Monument Books on 111 Norodom Blvd or at Aeon Mall), along with a range of apps, and if you’re really keen or plan to stay a while, language classes, including private tuition are offered in the major cities. Here are a few useful phrases to get you started.
Meeting people
| English | Khmer script | Phrase |
|---|---|---|
| Hello (formal) | ជំរាបសួរ | johm riab suor * |
| *This is appropriate for greeting people older or superior to yourself, such as government officials, and should be combined with the gesture of joining your palms in front of your heart and slightly lowering the head (sampeah). If in doubt, reply with the same greeting as given to you. | ||
| Hello (informal) | សួស្ដី | sous-dey |
| What is your name? (formal) | លោកមានឈ្មេះថាមេ៉ច ? | lohk mean chmuah tah much? |
| What is your name? (informal) | អ្នកឈ្មេះអី ? | neak chmuah ay? |
| My name is ______. | ខ្ញុំឈ្មេះ ___ | khñomm chmuah _____. |
| Nice to meet you. | ខ្ញុំត្រេកអរណាស់ដែលបានស្គាល់លោក | khñom trawk or nah dael bahn skoal lohk |
| How are you? (formal) | តើលោកសុខសប្បាយជាទេ ? | tae lohk sokh sabbay chea teh? |
| How are you? (informal) | សុខសប្បាយជាទេ ? | sokh sabbay chea teh? |
| Fine, thank you. | ចា៎/បាទ ខ្ញុំសុខសប្បាយ អរគុណ | chah (f.) / baht (m.) khñom sokh sabbay, orkun. |
| I can’t speak Khmer. | ខ្ញុំអត់ចេះភាសាខ្មែរទេ | khñomm ort cheh piasah khmaaer teh |
| Do you speak English? | អ្នកចេះភាសាអង់គ្លេសទេ ? | neak cheh piasah ongkleh baan teh? |
| Is there someone here who speaks English? | មានម្នកណាចេះភាសាអង់គ្លេសទេ ? | meean m’neak na cheh piasah ongkleh teh? |
| I don’t understand. | មិនយល់ទេ | min yuall teh |
| Goodbye (formal) | ជំរាបលា | chum reap leah |
| Goodbye (informal) | លាសិនហើយ | leah sin houwy |
Out and About
| English | Khmer script | Phrase |
|---|---|---|
| Yes. | ចា៎ បាទ |
chah (f.) baht (m.) |
| No. | អត់ទេ | ort teh * |
| *This is a useful phrase if you want to refuse something which is offered, such as a tuktuk. You can pair this with a so-so type hand gesture, with an open palm as if turning a doorknob. | ||
| Excuse me/I’m sorry | សំទោស | somm toh |
| Where is the toilet? | បន្ទប់ទិកនៅឯណា? | bantub dakk noew ay nah? |
| Please. | សូម | soum |
| Thank you (very much). | អរគុណ (ច្រើន) | orkun (cheraown) |
| No problem. | អត់បញ្ហាទេ | Ort bañe-hah teh |
| How much is it? | ថ្លៃបុ៉ន្មាន ? | t’lay bonmaan? |
| So expensive! | T’lai na! | |
| May I have the Bill please. | សូមគិតលុយ ! | Soum git loi! |
Drinking and dining
| English | Khmer script | Phrase |
|---|---|---|
| Eat | Nham * | |
| Rice | Bai * | |
| *Often the words ‘Eat’ and ‘Rice’ are used together to indicate the act of eating or a meal, with Nham Bai Hoey? (Have you eaten yet?) often used in greeting. | ||
| Delicious | ឆ្ងាញ់ | chhnganh |
| *A challenge to say, but the message is generally understood if combined with a smiling patting of the stomach. All locals love to hear this, whether they are the chef or not. | ||
| One more, please. | សូមមួយទៀត | Soum moi ti-at |
| An ashtray please. | Soum chan ‘ku baray. * | |
| *In accordance with the passing of a new law, smoking in bars and restaurants is prohibited but there is often an outdoors area where you can light up. | ||
| Cheers! | ជល់មួយ | choul mouy |
Forms of address
| English | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Uncle | Pu | This is usually the correct form of address for tuktuk and moto drivers. |
| Aunty/girls who are younger than you. | Ming | This is usually the correct form of address for female stallholders at markets. |
| Teacher | Kru | |
| High authority, generally monks | Lok | |
| Husband, Older Relative/Friend | Bong | |
| Wife, Younger Relative/Friend | Oun | |
| Relative that is older than your parents, or your nephew/nieces from your younger sibling. | Oum | |
| Grandma | Yeay | |
| Grandpa | Ta |
On the road
| English | Khmer word |
|---|---|
| Stop | Choup |
| Turn | Bot |
| Right | Sa-dahm |
| Left | Ch-wang |
| Straight | Throng |
| Slow down | Yeut yeut |