See what we did with the title? They say one of the main indicators that you’re fluent in a language is when you can make jokes, puns, and sarcastic remarks. What do you think?
If you’re hoping to become fluent in Khmer, you’ve come to the right place! Here, you’re guaranteed to not only learn Khmer but learn intriguing phrases that you can’t find anywhere else! We’ll start by introducing you to 15 essential Khmer slang words!
Why Use Khmer Slang Words?
While learning basic Khmer vocabulary and common greeting terms is important, most people don’t use that kind of vocabulary in daily life. Instead, they use slang!
Think about it, how often do you say, “I deeply apologize for not replying to your message sooner, as I’ve been preoccupied with other tasks”? You probably don’t say this very often, right? Instead, you say something like, “Sorry, I’ve been so slammed with work!” In this sentence, “slammed” is the slang word meaning busy. So, if you normally wouldn’t talk that formal in English, why would you talk like that in Khmer?
Learning a new language is all about learning both the formal and informal ways to respond. Learning informal responses and slang words can help you sound more natural to locals and even impress some of them.
Before you keep reading, you should note that not all slang words are acceptable for every situation. For example, it’s best if you don’t direct these slang words to the elderly, people in high positions, or monks.
What Are Some Slang Words In Khmer?
Before your next trip to Cambodia, be sure to take note of these slang terms. However, be careful who you use them with!
| English | Khmer | Transliteration |
| Annoyed | គួរអោយធុញ | Kuo-Aoy-Thunh |
| Are you crazy? | ហែងឆ្កួតមែន? | Haeng-Chh’kuot-Men |
| Bull**** | អាចម៍ | Ach |
| Cheers (used when drinking) | តោះជល់មួយ | Taoh-Chol-Muoy |
| Damn it | ចង្រៃយ៎ | Chang-Rai-Yo |
| Don’t talk too much | កុំនិយាយច្រើនពេក | Kom-Ni-Yeay-Chraeun-Pek |
| Dumb | អាភ្លើ | Ah-Pleu |
| Foreigner | អាបារាំង | Ah-Barang |
| Go away | ទៅអោយឆ្ងាយពីអញ | Tov-Aoy-Chh’ngay-Pi-Anh |
| Eat rice (rude way) | ច្រាសបាយ | Chras-Bay |
| I, me (rude way) | អញ | Anh |
| It’s not your business | មិនមែនរឿងហែងទេ | Min-Men-Roeang-Haeng-Te |
| You (rude way) | ហែង | Haeng |
| You are crazy | ហែងឆ្កួតហើយ | Haeng-Chh’kuot-Haeuy |
| You are stupid | ហែងឡប់ហើយ | Haeng-Lab-Haeuy |
Why Should I Learn Khmer?
Khmer is the official language of Cambodia, a country located in Southeast Asia. Ever heard of Phnom Penh? Well, that’s the capital city of Cambodia!
If you’re planning to visit Cambodia, you should definitely familiarize yourself with Cambodian phrases and try to speak Khmer with locals. Once you do, you’ll find that Cambodians love making conversation and new friends. In general, Cambodian people tend to be friendly, polite, and welcoming, no matter who you are.
While learning Khmer can undoubtedly help you connect with Cambodians and form more meaningful relationships, that’s not the only reason why you should learn the language. Let’s go over a couple more reasons.
First, Khmer not only sounds beautiful, but the language has a longstanding, rich history. In fact, did you know that Khmer was influenced by the oldest language in the world? That’s right, Sanskrit! By learning Khmer, you’re connecting yourself to the oldest considered language.
Second, learning a new language, especially as difficult as Khmer, is also great for your brain. Did you know that being bilingual or multilingual has been linked to a decreased risk of developing dementia? Yes, learning languages is literally good for your brain and overall mental agility.
What Is The Most Popular Slang Word In Other Languages?
Want to learn slang words from other languages? Well, you’re in luck because we have some here!
- “Salty” (US English): Adjective used to describe someone that gets upset or angry easily
- “Dog and Bone” (British English): Phone
- “Dejar plantado”(Spanish): To stand someone up on a date
- “Clope, garo, shmer” (French): Cigarette
- “Dicht” (German): Adjective used to describe someone drunk
- “Figo, fico” (Italian): Cool
- “520” (Mandarin): I love you
If you know different slang words from other languages that we didn’t mention, please feel free to leave them in the comments below!
Learn More Languages With Ling!
If you want to learn more fun vocabulary in Khmer or a new language other than Khmer slang words, Ling is here to help!
The Ling app is a language learning app that’s been specifically designed to help you master all four language skills no matter what language you want to learn. With courses in over 60+ languages, you’ll have plenty of options!
Ling offers fun exercises with step-by-step instructions to help you learn how to write languages correctly. But that’s not even the best part. If you want to practice your speaking skills, the app’s interactive AI chatbot can simulate conversations so that you can work on improving your pronunciation. Ling offers so much in terms of language learning, but we’ll leave that for you to discover on your own!
Apart from the app, which can be found in the App Store or Google Play, Ling has an excellent language blog. You can find thousands of resources covering every aspect of languages, such as information about different countries, cultures, and food. If you’re an avid language learner, you’ll become addicted to this blog!
If you want to see what we’re talking about, go ahead and check out the Ling app. រីករាយក្នុងការសិក្សា (Rik-Reay-Knong-Ka-Sek-Sa – “happy learning” in Khmer)!
