Khmer is the main and official language of Cambodia.
Khmer script
Pronunciation guide
Knowing a few Khmer words will help you earn some respect while in Cambodia.
If you are male the word for 'yes' is pronounced 'baht'(បាទ) as in the sound of a sheep followed by a hard T.
If you are female the word for 'yes' is pronounced 'jah'(ចា) as in the first part of 'jar'.
The word for 'no' is pronounced 'otDay'(អត់ទេ/ទេ) with a short 'ot with an emphasis on the D following.
The word for 'thank you' is pronounced 'awkunh'(អរគុណ) sounds a little like raccoon.
To express greater thanks (thank you very much), use the word 'awkunh ch'ran'(អរគុណច្រើន).
The word for 'hello' is pronounced 'sue-saw-day'(សួស្តី) 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'(សុំទោស).
The word for 'toilet' is pronounced 'dakuhn' or 'pahkuhn'(បង្គន់/បន្ទប់ទឹក)) 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'(តុកតុក) better pronounced with the U sound from the back of your throat, like tulk-tulk.
Scooter/mopeds by themselves are pronounced 'moto'(ម៉ូតូ) with an emphasis on 'mo'.
Rickshaws are called 'cyclo'(ស៊ីក្លូ). The cy is pronounced like the word see.
Vowels
Consonants
Common diphthongs
Phrase list
Basics
Common signs
OPEN
CLOSED
ENTRANCE
EXIT
PUSH
PULL
TOILET
MEN
WOMEN
FORBIDDEN
Hello.
. (Chum riep sueh)
Hello. (informal)
. (sues dei)
How are you?
. (Daa neh sok sabbai te?)
Fine, thank you.
. (la'or, arkhun)
What is your name?
. (Daa neh 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?)
Problems
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.
