Essential Khmer (cambodian)Phrases

Essential Khmer (Cambodian) Phrases

Sometimes you don't have time to learn long lists of words and phrases. All you want to know are the bare essentials for communicating to get what you need, or where you need to go.

Here are the bare minimum of Khmer words and phrases you need to know to survive.

Learn the Top 10 Phrases if you only have time for the barest minimum. If you need or want more, then take a look at the Top 20 Phrases, Top 30 Phrases and the Extra Phrases.

If you need help with pronunciation,
please see the Pronunciation Guide below.

Here are ten easy phrases to get you started ...

The Top 10 ...

Jom riab sua.
Sua s'dəy.

Hello.
Lia seun hai.
Goodbye.
Ne-a' jeh phiasaa awng-kle te?
Do you speak English?
Kh'nyom awt meun yeul.
Kh'nyom meun yeul te.
I don't understand.
Bon-dteuch bon-dto-ich.
A little.
Baat. Awt te/Baat te/Te. (Men)
Jaa. Awt te/Jaa te/Te. (Women)
Yes. No.
Th'lai ponmaan?

How much is it?
Th'lai pek. O-ke.
Too expensive. OK.
Som.
Please.
Aw kon (j'raan).
Thank you (very much).

Here are ten more phrases that will help you make new friends and ask for directions ... The Top 20 ...
	Ne-a' ch'muah ei? What is your name? Kh'nyom ch'muah ... My name is ... Ne-a' sok sabai te? How are you? Kh'nyom sok sabai. Jo ne-a'? Fine. And you? ... neuw ai naa? Where is ...? Bawng-kon neuw ai naa? Proh/S'rei. Where is the toilet? Men/Women. Som toh. Sorry. Excuse me. Awt banyahaa. No problem. Kh'nyom jawng ... I want ... Kh'nyom awt jawng ... Kh'nyom meun jawng ... te. I don't want ...

Here are another ten phrases to help you make a little more conversation and to get around ...

The Top 30 ...

Ne-a' mao pii prateh naa?
Where are you from?
Kh'nyom mao pii prateh Owstraalii.
I am from ...
Som keut luy.
The bill, please.
Kh'nyom wongweng phleuw.
I'm lost.
Chop! Rong jam!
Stop! Wait!
Ai nih, ai nuh.
Here, there.
Tak-sii. Saanthakia/Otail. Jom-nawt yoo-un hoh. S'thanii.
Taxi. Hotel. Airport. Station.
Kh'nyom jol jeut ...
I like ...
Kh'nyom awt jol jeut ...
Kh'nyom meun jol jeut ... te.
I don't like ...

muəy, pii (peul), bəy, buən, pram.
one, two, three, four, five.
pram muəy, pram pii (pram peul), pram bəy, pram buən, dawp.
six, seven, eight, nine, ten.

*Or choose your country:
prateh Amerik - America
prateh Kaanaadaa - Canada
prateh Awng-kle - England
prateh Iilahn - Ireland
prateh Niw Siilahn - New Zealand

Here are some extra words and phrases you might find useful, especially if you have dietary needs or allergies ...

Useful Extras ...

Sonti' yutta'!
Cheers!

la'aw / meun la'aw
good / bad
tom / to-ich
big / small
jeut / ch'ngai
near / far
teuch / tiat
less / more
muəy tiat / l'mawm
another / enough

Kh'nyom tawm saich.
Kh'nyom nyam m'hop bu-ah.
I am vegetarian.
Kh'nyom awt nyam saich.
Kh'nyom meun nyam saich te.
I don't eat meat.
... saich moən.
... chicken.
... trəy.
... fish.

Kh'nyom meun treuw thiat kroh-up.
I am allergic to nuts.
... son-daik de.
... peanuts.
... trəy.
... fish.
... m'hop samot.
... seafood.
... pawng.
... eggs.

Pronunciation Guide

Vowels:
ai is ai as in aisle
aw is pronounced as ɔ (o as in pot)
ə is pronounced as er as in brother (schwa)
eu is pronounced as ɨ (a high schwa ə or New Zealand i)
o is pronounced as o in boat

Consonants:
' indicates a glottal stop (ʔ)
b is an implosive b (ɓ or like ʔb)
d is an implosive d (ɗ or like ʔd)
p indicates p without any puff of air, as in French pas (p)
ph indicates p with a puff of air, as in English pot (pʰ)
t indicates t without any puff of air, as in French ton (t)
th indicates t with a puff of air, as in English top (tʰ)