With Christmas around the corner, you must be already juggling joy and excitement with every passing day. However, if you plan to celebrate this year’s Christmas holidays with your friends in Cambodia, you must sit back for a while and take some time to learn Khmer Christmas greetings. With that in mind, this blog is the perfect space for you to learn a few Christmas greetings, words, and wishes that will help you enjoy a native Cambodian Christmas!
Christmas is a festival that knows no boundaries of religion and culture. Every person from every corner of the world devotes one day to the name of Jesus and decorates their houses with beautiful lights and motifs, giving a pleasant and mesmerizing vibe. Likewise, in Cambodia, the locals have their own unique ways of celebrating Christmas, and each happy new year is a grand event for them.
Imagine you are visiting your friends over there, and you don’t know how to wish them in Khmer. Awkward right? So, to remove the barriers and have a comfortable party, learning some greetings and words in the Khmer language will only give you a more prosperous new year this year. If you want to learn more, let’s begin!
Page Content
- Christmas In Cambodia
- Khmer Christmas Greetings: Basic Ways
- Christmas Messages In Khmer
- Christmas Words In Khmer
Christmas In Cambodia
Before we settle in for merry Christmas greeting translations, let us have a quick peek at Cambodian Christmas along with some tips to have a good time once you land there.
As we all know, Cambodia is filled 90% with Buddhist people for whom Christmas may or may not hold such a prominent position in their calendar, unlike other cultural festive. Nevertheless, the towns and streets still light up on the occasion of Jesus’s birth and allow the locals to witness the glory of such a holy day. With only small numbers of Christians, Cambodia still enjoys the Christmas cheer with their family and friends, although not traditionally like the Americans do.
What is the best thing to do once you are in Cambodia for Christmas? Pertaining to that, visiting the streets, hotels, and cafes will always be on the top list. Many hotels get decorated with giant trees and beautiful fairy lights that will not disappoint the Christmas feel. Mainly in Phnom Penh, the capital city, the unique restaurants and cafes can give you fantastic holiday nightlife.
Moreover, you will be surprised to find a Christmas market in the city that lights up for the major holiday. The Russian market is one of the best to find peace and stroll around looking at the twinkling starlights and motifs. However, that does not mean you have no traditional markets to visit. Local markets like the central market also have a lot in stock for you to explore.
Other than the markets, pub streets have many DJ nights for you if you are a party person. The Cambodian Islands can also never be too old for you. Especially Koh Rong Samloem, one of Cambodia’s most pleasant islands to visit during Christmas.
Khmer Christmas Greetings: Basic Ways
Coming back to our lesson, now we will go through some of the standard and best ways of wishing someone during Christmas in Khmer. Learning these will help you adapt to the Cambodian people’s local ways and make you a better speaker of the Khmer language. So, let’s get started.
1. Merry Christmas – រីករាយថ្ងៃបុណ្យណូអែល
The first most basic way of greeting someone during the holidays is រីករាយថ្ងៃបុណ្យណូអែល. It is pronounced as rikreay thngai bony nauel and you can use this phrase to wish Christmas in all settings, from formal and casual, to intimate. Although Khmer people are acquainted with the English language version and use customary greetings, it is always more fun and exciting to impress them with your language skills. Hence, please give it a good read, and do not forget to memorize it well.
2. Happy Holidays – រីករាយថ្ងៃឈប់សម្រាក
If you want to explore more exciting ways of wishing someone a merry Christmas, you can say រីករាយថ្ងៃឈប់សម្រាក. Pronounced as rikreay thngai chhbsamreak, Happy holidays work similar to the basic greeting. It is only more uncommon, and once you use it, it will leave a sophisticated impression of your skills and personality. You can mainly use this in casual settings around friends and known members.
3. Merry Everything – រីករាយគ្រប់យ៉ាង
Another fascinating way of greeting someone is by saying រីករាយគ្រប់យ៉ាង. Pronounced as rikreay krobyeang, it is an out-of-the-box way of wishing someone Merry Christmas. Since it is not commonly used, it is fair to use it around people you know. It might not be very understandable in formal settings, especially when Christmas is already not a traditional celebration for most locals.
4. Season’s Greetings – ការស្វាគមន៍រដូវកាល
If you are in search of something unique and want to let go of the basicness in your wishes, ការស្វាគមន៍រដូវកាល- kar svakom rdauv kal is just the correct phrase for you. It is a cumulative way of wishing someone and keeping things more creative and fun. While Merry Christmas is a universal holiday expression, we do not always have the time to be fundamental, right? So, whenever you see a perfect chance, use the greeting phrase kar svakom rdauv kal and have an exciting time exploring the Cambodian holidays.
5. Happy New Year – រីករាយឆ្នាំថ្មី
With Christmas comes a new year to ponder upon. So, if you want to go beyond the Christmas greetings and wish someone a happy new year instead, you can do so by saying រីករាយឆ្នាំថ្មី – rikreay chhna thmei. It is common to wish someone a new year along with Christmas as it is believed that we, with the Birth of Jesus, proceed into a new year filled with laughter and joy. In fact, saying rikreay chhna thmei or merry Christmas at any point in December is not accepted to be false.
Christmas Messages In Khmer
Now that you know some common and fun ways of greeting someone during the holidays, here is a list of already-made holiday messages that you can learn and use directly towards your friends and family. Sometimes, it is not just about saying merry Christmas; especially when it comes to text messages, it is necessary to add some joyous and funny lines that will convey your utmost love. So, here we go!
| English | Khmer | Pronunciation |
| Merry Christmas! May God give you all the strength to move ahead in life. | រីករាយថ្ងៃបុណ្យណូអែល! សូមព្រះប្រទានឱ្យអ្នកនូវកម្លាំងទាំងអស់ដើម្បីឈានទៅមុខក្នុងជីវិត។ | rikreay thngai bony nauel! saum preah bratan aoy anak nouv kamleang teangoasa daembi chheantowmoukh knong chivit |
| Wishing you a happy Christmas and New year. May this season give you all that you desire and deserve. | សូមជូនពរអ្នករីករាយបុណ្យណូអែល និងឆ្នាំថ្មី។ សូមឱ្យរដូវកាលនេះផ្តល់ឱ្យអ្នកនូវអ្វីដែលអ្នកចង់បាននិងសមនឹងទទួលបាន។ | saumchounopr anak rikreay bonyanauel ning chhnam thmei. saum aoy rdauv kal nih phtal aoy anak nouv avei del anak chngban ning samnung ttuol ban |
| May the warmth and closeness of your loved ones, family, and friends fill your heart with happiness and joy. | សូមឱ្យភាពកក់ក្តៅ និងភាពស្និទ្ធស្នាលរបស់មនុស្សជាទីស្រឡាញ់ ក្រុមគ្រួសារ និងមិត្តភ័ក្តិរបស់អ្នក បំពេញបេះដូងរបស់អ្នកដោយសុភមង្គល និងរីករាយ។ | saum aoy pheap kkktaw ning pheap snetthosneal robsa mnoussachea tisrleanh krom kruosaear ning mitt phkte robsa anak bampenh behdaung robsa anak daoy sophomongkol ning rikreay |
| Christmas is a season of love and enjoyment for every small thing. May you have great memories | បុណ្យណូអែលគឺជារដូវកាលនៃក្តីស្រលាញ់ និងរីករាយសម្រាប់គ្រប់រឿងតូចតាច។ សូមឱ្យអ្នកមានការចងចាំដ៏អស្ចារ្យ | bonyanauel kuchea rdauv kal nei ktei sralanh ning rikreay samreab krob rueng tauchtach . saum aoy anak meankar changcham da aschar |
| Here is to sharing a Christmas with joy and wonder of Christ’s birth. I am sending you a message of love, hope, and faith and a happy Christmas. | នៅទីនេះគឺដើម្បីចែករំលែកបុណ្យណូអែលជាមួយនឹងសេចក្តីអំណរ និងភាពអស្ចារ្យនៃកំណើតរបស់ព្រះគ្រីស្ទ។ ខ្ញុំកំពុងផ្ញើសារជូនអ្នកនូវសេចក្តីស្រឡាញ់ ក្តីសង្ឃឹម និងសេចក្តីជំនឿ និងរីករាយបុណ្យណូអែល។ | now tinih ku daembi chekromlek bonyanauel cheamuoynung sechaktei amnr ning pheap aschary nei kamnaet robsa preahkrist . khnhom kampoung phnhae sar choun anak nouv sechaktei sraleanh ktei sangkhum ning sechaktei chomnue ning rikreay bony nauel |
| Receive my love and affection this holiday season. Consider my love as a token filled with good wishes | ទទួលយកក្តីស្រលាញ់ និងក្តីស្រលាញ់របស់ខ្ញុំក្នុងរដូវវិស្សមកាលនេះ។ សូមចាត់ទុកសេចក្ដីស្រឡាញ់របស់ខ្ញុំជាសញ្ញាសម្គាល់ដែលពោរពេញទៅដោយក្ដីប្រាថ្នាល្អ។ | ttuol yk ktei sralanh ning ktei sralanh robsakhnhom knong rdauv vissamkeal nih . saum chat touk sechakdei sraleanh robsa khnhom chea sanhnhea samkeal del porpenh tow daoy kdei brathnea la |
| May this holiday season bring growth to your family. A very happy new year once again from me and my family. | សូមអោយរដូវវិស្សមកាលនេះនាំមកនូវភាពរីកចម្រើនដល់គ្រួសារអ្នក។ រីករាយឆ្នាំថ្មី ម្តងទៀតពីខ្ញុំ និងក្រុមគ្រួសារ។ | saum aoy rdauv vissamkeal nih neamk nouv pheap rikachamreun dl kruosaear anak . rikreay chhna thmei mtong tiet pi khnhom ning krom kruosaear |
| A Christmas reminder: Don’t try to borrow any money from elves … they’re always a little short! Have a Merry Christmas! | ការរំលឹកបុណ្យណូអែល៖ កុំព្យាយាមខ្ចីលុយពី elves… ពួកគេតែងតែខ្លីបន្តិច! រីករាយថ្ងៃបុណ្យណូអែល! | kar romluk bony nauel : kom pyeayeam khchei louy pi elves… puokke tengte khlei bantich! rikreay thngai bonyanauel! |
| Christmas is mostly for children. But we adults can enjoy it too until the credit card bills arrive. | បុណ្យណូអែលគឺភាគច្រើនសម្រាប់កុមារ។ ប៉ុន្តែយើង មនុស្សពេញវ័យក៏អាចរីករាយជាមួយវាផងដែរ រហូតដល់វិក្កយបត្រប័ណ្ណឥណទានមកដល់។ | bonyanauel ku pheakochraen samreab komar . bonte yeung mnoussa penhvy ka ach rikreay cheamuoy vea phng der rhautadl vikkayobatr bnnintean mokadl . |
| Eat. Drink. Be Merry. Have a wonderful Christmas! | បរិភោគ។ ផឹក។ រីករាយ។ មានបុណ្យណូអែលដ៏អស្ចារ្យ! | briphok . phoek . rikreay . mean bonyanauel da aschary! |
| Christmas is the only time of year in which one can sit in front of a dead tree and eat candy out of socks. Enjoy! | បុណ្យណូអែលគឺជាពេលវេលាតែមួយគត់នៃឆ្នាំដែលមនុស្សម្នាក់អាចអង្គុយនៅមុខដើមឈើដែលស្លាប់ ហើយញ៉ាំស្ករគ្រាប់ចេញពីស្រោមជើង។ រីករាយ! | bonyanauel kuchea pelvelea temuoyokt nei chhnam del mnoussa mneak ach angkouy nowmoukh daemchheu del slab haey nhoam skarokreab chenhpi sraomcheung . rikreay! |
Christmas Words In Khmer
To give you some added knowledge, here is a list of vocabulary related to Christmas in Khmer you can learn to become an even better language speaker.
A-G
| English | Khmer | Pronunciation |
| Artificial tree | ដើមឈើសិប្បនិម្មិត | daemchheu sebbanimmit |
| Bells | កណ្តឹង | k ntoe ng |
| Blizzard | ព្យុះព្រិល | pyouh pril |
| Bow | ធ្នូ | thnou |
| Box | ប្រអប់ | braab |
| Boots | ស្បែកជើងកវែង | sbekcheungokveng |
| Candle | ទៀន | tien |
| Candy | ស្ករគ្រាប់ | skarokreab |
| Card | កាត | kat |
| Celebration | ការប្រារព្ធពិធី | kar braropth pithi |
| Carols | ខារ៉ូល។ | kha rau l |
| Cold | ត្រជាក់ | trachak |
| Cookie | ខូគី | khauki |
| Decorate | តុបតែង | tobteng |
| Elf | អេលហ្វ | e l h |
| Family | គ្រួសារ | kruosaear |
| Festive | បុណ្យ | bon |
| Fireplace | ចង្ក្រានភ្លើង | changkran phleung |
| Firewood | អុស | os |
| Gingerbread | នំខ្ញី | nomkhnhei |
| Gift | អំណោយ | amnaoy |
| Guest | ភ្ញៀវ | phnhiev |
| Greeting | ជំរាបសួរ | chomreabsuor |
H-Z
| English | Khmer | Pronunciation |
| Holiday | ថ្ងៃឈប់សម្រាក | thngaichhb samreak |
| Hope | ក្តីសង្ឃឹម | ktei sangkhum |
| happy | រីករាយ | rikreay |
| Hug | ឱប | aob |
| Icy | ទឹកកក | tukakk |
| Jesus | ព្រះយេស៊ូវ | preahyesaouv |
| Joy | ភាពរីករាយ | pheap rikreay |
| Package | កញ្ចប់ | kanhchob |
| Pine tree | ដើមស្រល់ | daem sral |
| Reindeer | សត្វរមាំង | satv rmeang |
| Rudolph | រូឌុលហ្វ | rou dou l hv |
| Santa | សាន់តា | sa n ta |
| Scarf | កន្សែង | kansaeng |
| Sleigh | រអិល | rel |
| Season | រដូវ | rdauv |
| Socks | ស្រោមជើង | sraomcheung |
| Tree | ដើមឈើ | daemchheu |
| Turkey | ប្រទេសទួរគី | bratesa tuorki |
| Vacation | វិស្សមកាល | vissamkeal |
| Winter | រដូវរងា | rdauvornga |
Wrapping Up!
I am pretty sure learning these exciting wishes and messages in the Khmer language has already lit a ray of hope and joy in your soul. With these, you will not just impress your friends this holiday season but also become aware of the local ways and better understand what Christmas looks like in their culture. If you want to explore more about the language, we have the best app to provide you with the best experience. Click on the link and head to the App Store or Play Store to download the Ling App. It is one that many beginner learners like me use, and it will not disappoint you either.
Learn With Ling App
Ling App is a language learning app that covers over 60 languages, including the Khmer language, and provides content on various topics such as cooking, shopping, proverbs, and many more. It hires expert writers and native speakers to ensure that the content proffered is default free and full of necessary details that will provide constant growth in you as a language learner.
Moreover, Ling makes learning more fun and less dull by featuring multimedia content like audio and video and also gives you the liberty to use an AI chatbot that makes retaining lessons easy. Once you start learning with the Ling app, you will no longer need a google translator to translate every word for you. So, what are you waiting for? Download the Ling App, sign in, and become a pro-Khmer speaker with Ling in just a few months!
