Khmer, the official language of Cambodia, is spoken by over 16 million people. It’s a language with a rich history, closely tied to the Angkor Wat temples and the Khmer Empire. Learning Khmer can significantly enhance your experience in Cambodia, allowing for deeper connections with locals and a better understanding of Cambodian culture. This lesson covers essential conversational phrases and questions in Khmer, including transliterations for pronunciation help, to navigate various social interactions.

Greetings

• Hello – “សួស្តី” (Sous-dey)
• How are you? – “អ្នកសុខសប្បាយទេ?” (Neak sok sabay te?)
• Good morning – “អរុណ​សួស្តី” (Arun sous-dey)
• Good afternoon – “ទិវា​សួស្តី” (Tivea sous-dey)
• Good evening – “សាយ័ណ្ហ​សួស្តី” (Sayon sous-dey)
• Goodbye – “លា” (Lea)

Introducing Yourself or Others

• My name is [name]. – “ឈ្មោះខ្ញុំគឺ [name].” (Chhmoh khnhom keu [name].)
• This is [name]. – “នេះគឺ [name].” (Nih keu [name].)
• I am from [country]. – “ខ្ញុំមកពី [country].” (Khnhom mok pi [country].)
• I live in [city/place]. – “ខ្ញុំរស់នៅក្នុង [city/place].” (Khnhom ros nov knong [city/place].)

Asking for Directions or People

• Where is the [place]? – “[Place] នៅឯណា?” ([Place] nov ae na?)
• How do I get to [place]? – “ខ្ញុំត្រូវទៅ [place] យ៉ាងម៉េច?” (Khnhom trov tao [place] yang mech?)
• Is this the way to [place]? – “នេះជាផ្លូវទៅ [place] ឬ?” (Nih chea phlov tao [place] ru?)
• Can you show me on the map? – “អ្នកអាចបង្ហាញខ្ញុំលើផែនទីបានទេ?” (Neak ach bongnhan khnhom ler plein ti ban te?)

Solving a Misunderstanding

• Sorry, I don’t understand. – “សុំទោស, ខ្ញុំមិនយល់.” (Somtos, khnhom min yul.)
• Can you please repeat that? – “អ្នកអាចធ្វើម្ដងទៀតបានទេ?” (Neak ach tvae mdong tit ban te?)
• I mean… – “ខ្ញុំមានន័យថា…” (Khnhom mean noy tha…)
• What does [word] mean? – “[Word] មានន័យថាម៉េច?” ([Word] mean noy tha mech?)

Farewell Expressions

• See you later – “ជួបគ្នានៅពេលក្រោយ” (Chuob knea nov pel kroy)
• Take care – “សុខសប្បាយ” (Sok sabay)
• Have a good day – “សូមមានថ្ងៃល្អ” (Soum mean thngai la)

Travel and Dining

• I would like to book a room. – “ខ្ញុំចង់កក់បន្ទប់.” (Khnhom jong kok bantob.)
• Can I see the menu, please? – “ខ្ញុំអាចមើលម៉ឺនុយបានទេ?” (Khnhom ach mael menu ban te?)
• I am vegetarian. – “ខ្ញុំជាអ្នកសុទ្ធសាធ.” (Khnhom chea neak sotthsat.)
• The bill, please. – “វិក័យប័ត្រ, សូម.” (Vikybai bat, soum.)

Shopping

• How much does this cost? – “តម្លៃប៉ុន្មាន?” (Tamlei bonman?)
• Do you have this in another size? – “អ្នកមានទំហំផ្សេងទៀតឬ?” (Neak mean tomhom pseng tit ru?)
• I’m just looking, thanks. – “ខ្ញុំគ្រាន់តែមើលទេ, អរគុណ.” (Khnhom kran te mael te, arkoun.)
• Can I pay by card? – “ខ្ញុំអាចបង់ជាមួយកាតបានទេ?” (Khnhom ach bong cheamuoy kat ban te?)

Dating and Love

• You look beautiful. (to a woman) / You look handsome. (to a man) – “អ្នកមើលទៅស្រស់ស្អាត.” (Neak mael tao sros sart.) / “អ្នកមើលទៅសង្ហា.” (Neak mael tao sangha.)
• I miss you. – “ខ្ញុំនឹកអ្នក.” (Khnhom neuk neak.)
• I love you. – “ខ្ញុំស្រលាញ់អ្នក.” (Khnhom sralanh neak.)
• Would you like to go out with me? – “តើអ្នកចង់ទៅលេងជាមួយខ្ញុំទេ?” (Tae neak jong tao leng cheamuoy khnhom te?)

Emergencies

• Help! – “ជួយ!” (Chuoy!)
• Call the police! – “ហៅប៉ូលិស!” (Hao polis!)
• I need a doctor. – “ខ្ញុំត្រូវការពេទ្យ.” (Khnhom trov kar pet.)
• Where is the nearest hospital? – “មន្ទីរពេទ្យជិតបំផុតនៅឯណា?” (Montir pet chit bompot nov ae na?)

These phrases provide a foundation for basic communication in Khmer. Practice speaking and listening regularly, engage with Khmer media, and don’t hesitate to converse with native speakers. Remember, language learning is a journey—embrace mistakes as learning opportunities and continue to explore the rich linguistic and cultural nuances of Khmer.