Is it possible that Angkor Wat piqued your curiosity about visiting Cambodia? If that’s the case, you could be looking up flight tickets while also making plans to brush up on simple Khmer words. The information in this blog will come in helpful!
Cambodia is a country that absolutely must be visited because of the history and culture that can be experienced there. For its historical significance, it was formerly the center of the Khmer Empire. You can learn about the glorious history of the Khmer Empire at Siem Reap, or you can learn about the recent history of the Khmer Rouge at the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum in Phnom Penh.
So, Let’ Learn Simple Khmer Words Together!
We can’t wait to show you some of the basics of the Khmer language that will come in handy throughout your time in Cambodia. So, we have covered a wide range of topics in the following Khmer vocabulary: how to greet people, how to get around, where to eat, what questions to ask, and more!
Khmer Words For Greetings
Greeting people in Khmer is a great way to ease the awkwardness between tourists and locals. They will be impressed that you have taken the time and effort to learn about and respect their culture.
Here are the Khmer language phrases for greeting the locals whenever you’ve got a chance to meet them!
| English Word | Khmer Word | Pronunciation |
| Hello (formal Khmer greeting) In case you didn’t know, the Cambodian people maintain an extremely respectful culture. Therefore this is how they welcome elders and those of higher social status. | ជំរាបសួរ | Chom reap suor |
| Hello (informal Khmer greeting) You can use this version to greet your friends because it’s a more informal Khmer greeting. | ស៊ូសាឌី | susadei |
| Good morning | អរុណសួស្ដី | ârŭn suŏ sdei |
| Good afternoon | ទិវាសួស្ដី | tĭvéa suŏ sdei |
| Good evening | សាយ័ណ្ហសួស្ដី | sayôn suŏ sdei |
| Good night | រាត្រីសួស្តី | réatri suŏ sdei |
| Good luck | សូមឲ្យបានជោគជ័យ | som aôyy ban choŭk chôy |
| Nice to meet you | រីករាយដែលបានជួបគ្នា | Riikreay dael baan juapknia |
| How are you? | សុខសប្បាយ | sok sapbaay? |
| Goodbye | ជំរាបលា | jumreaplia |
| Sorry | សុំទោស | soumtooh |
| Thank you | អរគុណ | orkun |
| Yes (for woman) | ចា៎ះ | caah |
| Yes (for man) | បាទ | baat |
| No | អត់ទេ | ort tee |
| Please | សូម | sohm |
| Congratulations! | អបអរសាទរ! | abaarsatr! |
| Excuse me | សុំទោស | sŏm toŭs |
| Bon voyage | ទៅអោយបានសុខ | tŏu aôy ban sŏkh |
Khmer Words To Use At The Restaurant
The traditional meal in Cambodia, like in many other Southeast Asian nations, is rice, commonly served with a curry dish. You can use these terms to place an order at your local eatery with little confusion the first time you visit.
| English Word | Khmer Word | Pronunciation |
| Restaurant | ភោជនីយដ្ឋាន | phochniyodthan |
| Food | អាហារ | mahobe |
| Drink | ភេសជ្ជៈ | puc |
| Rice | អង្ករ | bai |
| Curry | ការី | karee |
| Water | ទឹក | dtuhk |
| Tea | តែ | dthai |
| Coffee | កាហ្វេ | kaa fey |
| The bill please | សុំគិតលុយ | som ket loy |
Khmer Words To Use In Public Transportation
There are several options for public transportation in Cambodia. You should let the hotel know if you want to hire a particular vehicle. A few of Cambodia’s most common transportation modes are listed below.
| English Word | Khmer Word | Pronunciation |
| Taxi | តាក់ស៊ី | ta-xi |
| Bus | រថយន្ដក្រុង | laan krong |
| Motorbike | ម៉ូតូ | moto |
| Bicycle | កង់ | khong |
Khmer Words For Direction
Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a seasoned traveler to Cambodia, the nation is too large to explore in a single trip. For this reason, you should always be prepared to ask locals for directions. Let’s have a look at the wording, then.
| English Word | Khmer Word | Pronunciation |
| Left | ចាកចេញ | chaweng |
| Right | នៅខាងស្ដាំ | s’dam |
| Go straight | ត្រង់ | da trong |
| Slow | យឺត | yoot |
| Fast | តមបាយ | leuhn |
| Stop | បញ្ឈប់ | chop |
| Please stop here | សូមឈប់នៅទីនេះ | som chop tini |
| Where’s the toilet? | បង្គន់នៅឯណា? | bâng-kôn nŏuv aina? |
Khmer Words For Questions And Answers
If you want to talk to Khmer people for longer, here are some frequent questions to ask. Of course, a sudden burst of practice doesn’t make you a competent speaker, but regular practice will get you further.
| English Word | Khmer Word | Pronunciation |
| What’s your name? | អ្នកឈ្មោះអី? | neak cmuah ey? |
| My name is… | ងុំឈ្មោះ … | khnyŭm chhmoŭh … |
| What’s this? | នេះជាអី? | nih cea ey? |
| How much? | ថ្លៃប៉ុន្មាន? | tlay ponmaan? |
| Where are you from? | អ្នកមកពីប្រទេសណា? | ânâk mô pi brôté na? |
| I’m from… | ខ្ងុំមកពី… | khynŭm mô pi… |
| Do you speak Khmer? | អ្នកចេះនិយាយភាសាខ្មែរទេ? | ânâk chéh nĭyéay phéasa khmêr té? |
| Do you speak English? | អ្នកចេះភាសាអង់គ្លេសទេ? | ânâk chéh phéasa ’ângôklésâ té? |
| Where can I buy…? | ដែលជាកន្លែងដែល ខ្ញុំអាច ទិញ | nou tee na knyom ahrt teng… |
Ready To Visit Cambodia?
After mastering the most useful everyday Khmer phrases, you’ll feel at ease going about your day in the country. Because learning some simple Khmer words can allow you to start conversations with locals in various settings, from the restaurant to the transport to the question and answer session and beyond.
But if you’re up for the challenge of learning even more advanced Khmer vocabulary, we have just the app for you.
Learn Khmer With Ling Now!
If you want to learn Khmer quickly and easily, download Ling to your phone or tablet right now! Our extensive Khmer lexicon serves Khmer learners at all skill levels. Moreover, since our app is available worldwide, you may study the language anytime, anywhere, using public transportation or on the road. In addition, we provide a wide variety of interactive activities, from games and puzzles to clever chatbots, that will make learning the language a joy!
Most Khmer learners chose Ling to help them succeed, so why not join them? Download the Ling App from Google Play Store and Apple App Store now, and prepare to be fluent in Khmer soon!
