If you are traveling to Cambodia soon, you should take care of one crucial aspect that the locals love to hear… and that is hearing the Khmer language spoken by foreigners. While people just limit their vocabulary with simple greetings, learning some of the insanely funny phrases in Khmer will certainly help you earn a brownie point among the locals. If you are interested, let’s get right into it!
Why Learn The Khmer Language?
Khmer is the official language of Cambodia, and it is a fact that not many outsiders are seen speaking or talking in Khmer except for its neighbors, Thailand and Vietnam. However, it is a beautiful language with its roots deeply engraved in the Cambodian culture, written early in the 7th century. The Khmer or the mon Khmer language was highly influenced by the Sanskrit and Pali scripts, and today is spoken by almost every person in Cambodia.
The Khmer script is a comprehensive one, and it is a complicated language to learn, especially if English is your native language. Most of the vowels of Khmer are different from the European language, making it amongst the most complex ones. But that does not mean you lose the liberty to give it a try.
Khmer and its culture have gained ultimate roots in the literature universe and have a beauty you can behold if you keep digging different words and phrases. There has been an increasing demand for Khmer, becoming one of the most popular languages globally with above million speakers. It is a rich language, and attaining a few phrases and day-to-day words will give you an essence of the Cambodian literary nature, proffering an easy and relaxing journey throughout.
Common Funny Phrases In Khmer
There are different ways to go about when it concerns learning languages. But what can beat the fun of knowing some funny phrases as a foreigner to such an artistic country? Such knowledge will ultimately help you spend time with the locals, hold a cordial conversation and gain the immense trust of the Cambodian people. So, if you think it is pretty intriguing to learn Khmer before you land in Cambodia, let’s get started with the essential words and phrases.
ចោរម្រាយ!
English Translation: Screw you!
Want to look cool when someone is bothering you? Say chaor mrea y! (ចោរម្រាយ!). It is a phrase that literally means “screw you” in English and tells someone they cannot bother you with their actions.
ខ្ញុំជាប្រភេទមានកំណត់
English Translation: I’m a limited edition.
Khnhom chea braphet mean kamnt (ញុំជាប្រភេទមានកំណត់) is the following best phrase you can use to show off some skills to the locals. It means “I’m a limited edition” in English, and it is literally used when someone complains or makes fun of your quirky nature.
កុំខ្វល់ពីសម្រស់របស់ខ្ញុំ
English Translation: Never mind my beauty.
The phrase kom khval pi samrosa robsakhnhom (កុំខ្វល់ពីសម្រស់របស់ខ្ញុំ) is something very witty you can use when someone comments on your looks. It means “never mind my beauty” in English and has a playful tone you can use around your local friends.
ខ្ញុំធ្វើដែករបស់ខ្ញុំទាំងអស់នៅក្នុងម៉ាស៊ីនសម្ងួត។
English Translation: I do all my ironing in the dryer.
Another way to play with the Cambodians through words is to say khnhom thveu dek robsakhnhom teangoasa nowknong measain samnguot (ញុំធ្វើដែករបស់ខ្ញុំទាំងអស់នៅក្នុងម៉ាស៊ីនសម្ងួត។), which means “I do all my ironing in the dryer” in English. It is used when you wear clothes that are a little rumpled. It is sure to give a good laugh to the people of Cambodia.
វាមិនអីទេ ប្រសិនបើអ្នកមិនចូលចិត្តខ្ញុំ។
English Translation: It’s okay if you don’t like me
You can say vea min ei te brasenbae Anak min chaulchett khnhom (វាមិនអីទេ ប្រសិនបើអ្នកមិនចូលចិត្តខ្ញុំ។) when someone says they mind your existence. It literally says, “It’s okay if you don’t like me,” because not everybody has good taste.
បោះបង់ការជាវរបស់ខ្ញុំ – ខ្ញុំមិនត្រូវការបញ្ហារបស់អ្នកទេ។
English Translation: Cancel my subscription—I don’t need your issues.
This life is full of complaints and frustration everywhere. But, how about you funnily deal with that? Saying baohbng kar chea vr bsa khnhom – khnhom min trauvkar banhhea robsa anak te (បោះបង់ការជាវរបស់ខ្ញុំ – ខ្ញុំមិនត្រូវការបញ្ហារបស់អ្នកទេ។) is precisely the way to do so. The phrase literally means “Cancel my subscription—I don’t need your issues” in English when someone cannot stop blabbering.
More Khmer Phrases And Words
Now you have gained a distinct idea of how fascinating funny quotes and phrases are, but let us not stop yet. We have a lot more to learn and a lot more to attain. Slangs and funny words not only get you along with new mates but also leaves a very down-to-earth impression of your personality. So, let’s make your image shine even brighter with some additional knowledge of goofy Khmer words and express a burst of laughter even louder once you are in Cambodia.
| English | Khmer | Pronunciation |
| Skinny legs | ជើងស្គម | cheung skam |
| Monkey House | ផ្ទះស្វា | phteah sva |
| Crazy girl | ស្រីឆ្កួត | srei chhkuot |
| Monday Blues | ថ្ងៃច័ន្ទ ប៊្លូស | thngaichnt blou s |
| Useless person | មនុស្សគ្មានប្រយោជន៍ | mnoussa kmean brayoch |
| Ugly duckling | កូនទាអាក្រក់ | kaun tea akrak |
| Nosey husband | ប្តីញី | btei nhi |
| Stupid love | ស្នេហាល្ងង់ | snehea lngong |
| Funny story | រឿងកំប្លែង | rueng kambleng |
| Dirty mind | គំនិតអាក្រក់ | koumnitaeakrak |
Day-To-Day Khmer Phrases
While funny words take you a long road to happy relations, some basic ideas of day-to-day phrases and sentences are a must to have a friendly conversation. Add a little more detail to your understanding of the Khmer language with these customary phrases you will need in Cambodia.
| English | Khmer | Pronunciation |
| Do you want food? | តើអ្នកចង់បានអាហារទេ? | tae anak chngban ahar te? |
| Can we talk later? | តើយើងអាចនិយាយនៅពេលក្រោយបានទេ? | tae yeung ach niyeay now pelokraoy ban te? |
| Goodbye to you! | លាហើយ! | leahaey! |
| I want a beer | ខ្ញុំចង់បានស្រាបៀរ | khnhom chng ban srabie r |
| I love to walk in the park | ញុំចូលចិត្តដើរលេងក្នុងសួន | khnhom chaulchett daerleng knong suon |
| Always respect woman | គោរពស្ត្រីជានិច្ច | korp strei cheanich |
| Are you fine? | តើអ្នកសុខសប្បាយជាទេ? | tae anak sokhasabbay cheate? |
| I need a good picture | ញុំត្រូវការរូបភាពល្អ។ | khnhom trauvkar roubpheap la |
| I don’t have much money | ខ្ញុំមិនមានលុយច្រើនទេ។ | khnhom min mean louy chraen te |
| Past is a gone case | អតីតកាលគឺជាករណីដែលបាត់ | ateitkal kuchea karnei del bat |
Learn A Country’s Official Language With Ling
It is always exciting to read and speak foreign languages, especially when you are a native English speaker. Although the process may seem quite tacky, it always proves to be a worthwhile journey in the end. Acquiring some idea of the Khmer language of Cambodia with word-to-word understanding can give you an enlightening experience of the literature and its culture. Learn more by clicking on “Easy Khmer Sentence Structure: #1 Useful Guide” and “80 Useful Words About Khmer Days And Months“.
However, if you are willing to learn other languages apart from Khmer, stop scrolling any website and say goodbye to your language course. Ling App by Simya Solutions has just the right solution for you. Ling provides knowledge for multiple languages with experts from all over the world. Within just a few weeks, you will be able to speak the languages of different countries and enjoy the serenity of their local culture. So, start learning Khmer and other official languages today!
