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Khmer is the main and official language of Cambodia.

Khmer script

[edit] Pronunciation guide

Knowing a few Khmer words, while unnecessary, will help you earn some respect while in Cambodia.

• If you are male the word for 'yes' is pronounced 'baht' as in the sound of a sheep followed by a hard T.
• If you are female the word for 'yes' is pronounced 'jah' as in the first part of 'jar'.
• The word for 'no' is pronounced 'otDay' with a short 'ot with an emphasis on the D following.
• The word for 'thank you' is pronounced 'awkunh' sounds a little like raccoon.
• To express greater thanks (thank you very much), use the word 'awkunh ch'ran'.
• The word for 'hello' is pronounced 'sue-saw-day' with sue as in a woman's name, saw as in a thing you cut with, and day as in sunday.
• The word for 'sorry' is pronounced 'somtoh'.
• The word for 'toilet' is pronounced 'dakuhn' or 'pahkuhn' Similarly to how you would pronounce the kunh in thank you, but with a short 'ba' in front.
• Scooter/mopeds with carriages pulled behind are called a 'tuk-tuk' better pronounced with the U sound from the back of your throat, like tulk-tulk.
• Scooter/mopeds by themselves are pronounced 'moto' with an emphasis on 'mo'.
• Rickshaws are called 'cyclo'. The cy is pronounced like the word see.

[edit] Vowels

[edit] Consonants

[edit] Common diphthongs

[edit] Phrase list

[edit] Basics

Hello. 

. (Chum riep sueh)

Hello. (informal) 

. (sues dei)

How are you? 

 ? (sok sabbai te?)

Fine, thank you. 

. (la'or, arkhun)

What is your name? 

 ? (Lok chmuah ey?)

My name is ______ . 

______ . (Knyom chmuah _____ .)

Nice to meet you. 

. (Reek ree-AY dae bahn skoal loak )

Please. 

. (Soum)

Thank you. 

. (Aw khun)

You're welcome. 

. (Muhn ay te or Unjuhn)

Yes. 

. (ja female) (baaht men)

No. 

. (ot te)

Excuse me. (getting attention) 

. (soum doh)

Excuse me. (begging pardon) 

. (soum doh)

I'm sorry. 

. (soum doh)

Goodbye 

. (chum riep leah)

Goodbye (informal) 

. (leah sen heuy)

I can't speak name of language [well]. 

[ ]. (khnyom ot seu cheh niyeay pia'saa khmae te)

Do you speak English? 

 ? (Cheh niyeay pia'saa Anglais baan te?)

Is there someone here who speaks English? 

 ? (Mean neak nass cheh Onglayh te?)

Help! 

 ! (Chouay!)

Look out! 

 ! (Moul sen!)

Good morning. 

. (arun sour sdei )

Good afternoon. 

. (tiveah sour sdei )

Good evening. 

. ( )

Good night. 

. (reah-trey sour sdei )

Good night (to sleep) 

. ( )

I don't understand. 

. (Min yul dtey)

Where is the toilet? 

 ? (Bangkun now ey nah?)

[edit] Problems

[edit] Numbers

Although Khmer uses base-10 numbers, the numbers for 1-9 are effectively spoken as base-5. Thus, six (bpram mouy) literally means five (bpram), one (mouy); whereas sixteen (dop bpram mouy) is ten (dop), five (bprum), one (mouy).

In practice, the word 'sep' is often omitted from the numbers for 30-90. However, it is generally considered more proper to include the word.

0  

๐ (soun)

1  

๑ (mouy)

2  

๒ (pii)

3  

๓ (bey)

4  

๔ (bourn)

5  

๕ (pbram)

6  

๖ (pbram muoy)

7  

๗ (pbram pii)

8  

๘ (pbram bey)

9  

๙ (pbram bourn)

10 

๑๐ (dop)

20 = m'pai

30 = sam sep

40 = sae sep

50 = ha sep

60 = hok sep

70 = chet sep

80 = bpet sep

90 = gow sep

100 = mouy roy (or m'roy)

1000 = mouy poan (or m'poan)

10,000 = mouy meun (or m'meun)

100,000 = mouy sen (or m'sen)

[edit] Time

Time = Moung

[edit] Clock time

What time is it? = Moung bon maan?

Moung mouy tngai (day) = 1 pm

Moung mouy yup (night) = 1 am

[edit] Duration

Hour = moung

Minute = natii

[edit] Days

Day = tngai (ថ្ងៃ)

One day = mouy tngai (១ ថ្ងៃ)

Monday = Chunn (ច័ន្ទ)

Tueday = Onkear (អង្គារ)

Wednesday = Pourt (ពុធ)

Thursday = Pror-hoah (ព្រហស្បត្តិ៍)

Friday = Sok (សុក្រ)

Saturday = Sau (សៅរ៍)

Sunday = A-dtut (អាទិត្យ)

[edit] Months

Month = Khae

[edit] Year

Year = Chnam

[edit] Writing time and date

Year - Chnam

[edit] Colors

Red- Pberh Ga'Hom

Blue- Pberh Kiew

Yellow- Pberh Leung

White- Pberh Saw

Black- Pberh Kmao

Green- Pberh BeyDong

Orange- Pberh Kruoit

Pink- Pberh Pikah-Chook

Purple - Pberh Swvai

[edit] Transportation

Ride = Cheeh

[edit] Bus and train

Train = Ah-teh-plung

[edit] Directions

Right = st-daam

Left = ch-veng

Straight = throng

[edit] Taxi

[edit] Accommodation

[edit] Money

Money- Loii

[edit] Eating

Ngam (to eat) mahop (food) Baii (rice)

[edit] Bars

[edit] Shopping

ne ke ghtu

[edit] Driving

baaww (to drive) laan (car)

[edit] Authority