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 reap suor)
Hello. (informal)
(sous-dey)
Hello. (answering the phone)
(allo)
How are you?
(naek sok sabai teh?)
Fine, thank you.
(sok sabai)
What is your name?
(naek chmuah ey?)
My name is ______ .
(knyom chmuah _____ .)
Nice to meet you.
(reak reay dae bahn skoal loak )
Please.
(soum)
Thank you.
(aw khun)
Welcome
(soum swa-khom)
You're welcome.
(mun ay te or un-juhn)
Yes.
(jaah female) (baht men)
No.
(ot teh)
Excuse me.
(soum toh)
I'm sorry.
(soum toh)
Goodbye
(chum reap leah)
Goodbye (informal)
(leah seun hai)
I can't speak name of language.
(k'nyom ot seu cheh niyeay pia'saa khmae teh)
Do you speak English?
(cheh niyeay pia'saa Anglais baan teh?)
Is there someone here who speaks English?
(miean naek na cheh Anglais teh?)
Help!
(chuy!)
Look out!
(mer seun!)
Good morning.
(arun sous-dey )
Good afternoon.
(tiveah sous-dey )
Good night.
(reatrey sous-dey )
I don't understand.
( k'nyom min yul teh)
Where is the toilet?
(bakun noew ey nah?)
Happy Birthday!
(reak reay t'gnai khom-not)
Problems
Numbers
Although Khmer uses base-10 numbers, the numbers for 1-9 are effectively spoken as base-5. Thus, six (prahm muay) literally means five (prahm), one (muay); whereas sixteen (dahp prahm muay) is ten (dahp), five (prahm), one (muay).
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.
