Learning Khmer - My first words

Cambodians in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap speak relatively good English, and sometimes even French. This is particularly noticeable among people working with travelers: guides, vendors, hotel staff, and tuk-tuk drivers.

However, more than once, you may find yourself playing a game of Taboo with the locals to get your point across.

You will notice how much the local population appreciates it when you try speaking a few words in Khmer. Cambodians are generally very understanding when it comes to approximations in pronunciation and sometimes even pretend to understand in order not to offend us! If you want to get closer to the local population, they will usually be happy to teach you a few basics of Khmer.

Khmer is an accessible language because it doesn't have tonalities, and its grammar is much less complex than our dear French grammar.

Basic Khmer vocabulary

Here are some useful words to learn during the first days of your trip to Cambodia. (Note that pronunciation may vary from city to city.)

- Hello: Sou(r) sdey

- Good morning: Tchum riep su(r) > formal greeting (monks, superiors, etc.), pronounced with hands together at chin level.

- Thank you: Au(g)koun

- Thank you very much: Au(g)koun tchran

- Please: Som

- The bill, please: Som Ket Loi

- Yes: Ba(t) if you are a man, Cha if you are a woman

- No : Até

Note that in Khmer, people don't say "no thank you", they simply say "no." Foreigners who have trouble with this often say "Até Au(g)koun" to remain polite, which always amuses the Cambodians!

To ask where a place is, you can say the name of the place followed by "Ne Na"with an upward intonation, like in French questions.

Example : Wat Lanka Ne Na ?  

Useful vocabulary for travel

Some vocabulary to help you get around by tuk-tuk or motodop:

- Stop: Chop

- Here: Tini

- Straight ahead: Trang

- Left : Tchweng

- Right : Sdam

- Turn : Bot

You can use certain expressions to address someone based on their age. This is very common in Cambodia. You can add it at the end of each sentence if you wish. Here are some tips:

- Someone younger than you: Aun (no matter the gender of the person).

- Someone your age or a little older: Bong (no matter the gender of the person).

- Someone older than you, but younger than your parents: Pou (if addressing a man), Minh (if addressing a woman).

- Someone clearly older than you, for example, older than your parents: Ohm (no matter the gender of the person).

- Someone very old: Ta (if addressing a man), Yeille (if addressing a woman).

You can combine these words to form simple sentences. For example, to give directions to a tuk-tuk or a motodop who said he knew where your hotel is, but seems lost (a common and amusing situation).

For example:

- Turn right, sir: Pou bot sdam

- Stop here, sir: Chop tiny bong

*Note: The letters in parentheses are barely pronounced, these sounds are just suggested orally.

*Note: The "R" sounds are rolled, except for those in parentheses.