Guide
Khmer words for visitors
Khmer words for visitors lists everyday phrases in Khmer, the language of Cambodia, for greeting people, shopping, eating out and getting around.[1] Each phrase is given in Khmer script with the romanization printed in the KhmerPod101 phrasebook. Other courses spell the same words in other ways: arkoun, "thank you," is written ar-koon by the Chumkriel Language School and or-koon by Tourism of Cambodia.[1][2][3]
Greetings
The formal greeting choumreap suor goes with the sampeah, the palms pressed together in front of the face with a slight bow.[4][2] The phrasebook gives it for elders, officials and monks.[1]
| English | Khmer | Romanization |
|---|---|---|
| Hello | សួស្ដី | suostei |
| Hello (formal) | ជម្រាបសួរ | choumreap suor |
| Thank you | អរគុណ | arkoun |
| You are welcome (literally "it is nothing") | មិនអីទេ | min ey te |
| Excuse me, sorry | សុំទោស | som toh |
| Goodbye (formal) | ជម្រាបលា | choumreap lie |
| How are you? | សុខសប្បាយទេ? | sok sabbay te? |
| I am fine | សុខសប្បាយ | sok sabbay |
Source: KhmerPod101 phrasebook, page 2.[1]
Numbers
| Number | Khmer | Romanization |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | មួយ | muoy |
| 2 | ពីរ | pii |
| 3 | បី | bei |
| 4 | បួន | buon |
| 5 | ប្រាំ | pram |
| 6 | ប្រាំមួយ | pram muoy |
| 7 | ប្រាំពីរ | pram pii |
| 8 | ប្រាំបី | pram bei |
| 9 | ប្រាំបួន | pram buon |
| 10 | ដប់ | dop |
The numbers six to nine are built on five: six is "five one," seven "five two," and so on.[1][2]
Shopping, food and drink
| English | Khmer | Romanization |
|---|---|---|
| How much? | ថ្លៃប៉ុន្មាន? | thlaj ponmaan? |
| Too expensive | ថ្លៃពេក | thlaj peyk |
| Money | លុយ | luy |
| Water, please | សូមទឹក | soum teuk |
| Rice, meal | បាយ | baay |
| Coffee | កាហ្វេ | kahvei |
| Not spicy | មិនហឹរ | min her |
| The bill, please | សុំគិតលុយ | som ket luy |
Source: KhmerPod101 phrasebook, pages 3 and 4.[1]
Getting around
| English | Khmer | Romanization |
|---|---|---|
| Turn right | បត់ស្ដាំ | bat sdam |
| Turn left | បត់ឆ្វេង | bat chveng |
| Go straight | ទៅត្រង់ | teuv trong |
| Stop here | ឈប់ត្រង់នេះ | chop trong nih |
| Where is ...? | ...នៅឯណា? | ... neuv ae na? |
Source: KhmerPod101 phrasebook, page 4.[1]
Help
| English | Khmer | Romanization |
|---|---|---|
| I do not understand | ខ្ញុំមិនយល់ទេ | knhom min yol te |
| Help! | ជួយផង! | chuoy pong! |
| I need a doctor | ខ្ញុំត្រូវការពេទ្យ | knhom treuv ka pety |
| Where is the hospital? | មន្ទីរពេទ្យនៅឯណា? | montii pety neuv ae na? |
| Call the police | ហៅប៉ូលីសផង | hav polih pong |
Source: KhmerPod101 phrasebook, page 5.[1]
See also
References 4
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 KhmerPod101, Khmer Travel Phrasebook (undated; read October 17, 2026)
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Chumkriel Language School, An Introduction to Khmer Culture and Language (undated; read October 17, 2026)
- ↑ Tourism of Cambodia, Learn Khmer Language (undated; read October 17, 2026)
- ↑ Tourism of Cambodia, Do's and Don'ts in the Kingdom of Cambodia (undated; read October 17, 2026)