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Vocab

Cambodia Time

Cambodia Time

This vocabulary lesson about Cambodia Time is going to cover days of the week, the months, and general terms to help one talk about time.

[table]

khmer,englee

tngai, day

aa-dtit/sa-bdaa, week

kae, month

chnam, year

tngai-jan, monday

tngai-aung-gia, tuesday

tngai-bput, wednsday

tngai-bpra-hoa, thursday

tngai-sok, friday

tngai-sau, saturday

tngai-aa-dtit, sunday

tngai-nih, today

tngai naa, which day

graoy, later

mun, before

aa-dtit-graoy, next week

aa-dtit-mun, last week

kae-graoy, next month

kae-mun, last month

sa-aek, tomorrow

kaan-sa-aek, day after tomorrow

msel-miñ, yesterday

msel-mngai, day before yesterday

kae-mak-gra, january

kae-gom-peah, february

kae-mii-nia, march

kae-mii-nia, march

kae-oo-sa-pia, may

kae-mi-to-naa, june

kae-gak-ga-daa, july

kae-sey-haa, august

kae-gañ-yaa, september

kae-dto-laa, october

kae-vwi-je-gaa, november

kae-tnuu, december

kae naa, which month

[table]

The month can also be learned with using the number. For example, January is kae-muay which is first month…June would be kae-bpram-muay since June is the sixth month.

I hope these vocabulary words help you learn a little about Cambodia Time.

Categories
Vocab

Khmer Animals Vocab 7

Khmer Animals

First word is not going to be any Khmer animals. To begin we are going to learn a slang cuss word for dogs butt. After that it will just be a bunch of Khmer animals with their Cambodian translation next to it. Enjoy!

Ta

[table]

Sat (Khmer), Animals (Englee)

Kiki Lu Lu, Dogs bottom

chgaeu, dog

chmaa, cat

dtrey, fish

jaab, bird

dtao, lion

klaa, tiger

klaa-kmum, bear

dom-rey, elephant

moan, chicken

goo, cow

jruuk, pig

seh, horse

chluh, deer

[/table]

For the other half of the Khmer animal list click more.

Continue reading “Khmer Animals Vocab 7”
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Lessons Vocab

The Khmer You

Intro to Khmer You

In the Cambodian language there are different ways to say the word, you. The nondescript generic version is nek, but many other Khmer you words can used more accurately and more precisely.

Khmer You Vocab Words

[table]

khmer you word, english translation, definition

Nek, generic you, generally only used when speaking to someone of lower social status or if they are younger. But if in doubt saying nek most listeners will figure out you are trying to say you.

bong, you older, Someone that is older then you but probably not for a really old person you respect. Also can be used to talk to someone that is around your age or even a little younger if one is close to said person

aun, you younger, when speaker to someone younger then you aun is used. If used with the word srey it means baby doll or baby girl.

kmuay, nephew/niece, can be used instead of aun if the listener is in the age range of the speakers child

goon, child, used when speaking to your kids….child

bpaa, Dad, used for your father or a father figure

mae, mom, used for your mother or a mother figure

bpuu, uncle, this can be used to address a person that is around your dads age.

miing, aunt, this can be used to address a person that is around your mothers age.

ohm, old old person, someone that is older then your parents.

look, polite version of nek, This word is used when speaking to a male and not a female. Especially used if the said person is a boss or some other high social status

look-srey, polite version of nek (f), Same as look but for addressing girls.

look-gruu, teacher, This can be used when speaking to a male teacher

[/table]

Nek-gruu – Teacher (f), This can be used when speaking to a female teacher

Khmer teacher vanna in Phnom Penh, cambodia
So you better call me look-srey and not look-gruu 🙂

[table]

khmer you word, english translation, definition

bong-toam, high status, very high status

okhna, noble, If someone has enough money and prestige they can get a title of okhna even a barang! The president of Ezecom (internet) became an Okhna in 2013.

aek-oo-toam, your excellency, used for government ministers

bpraah-ong, God or King, only used when talking with God or the King.

[/table]

I hope these words and explanations will help you figure out how to properly use the Khmer you equivalent correctly.

Categories
Vocab

Khmer classifiers

c grammar lesson

Khmer Classifiers

Brief introduction to Cambodian Classifiers

Specific words that are used to identify nouns are called classifiers. The Khmer language commonly uses classifiers for some words, but sometimes they are not used at the speakers discretionary. Confusing I know!

English does have it’s set of classifiers like glasses of beer, pairs of shoes, and rolls of toilet paper. This page is going to try to list some of the most common Khmer classifiers so you can try to use them or when you hear the term in daily conversation you can understand it’s purpose.

Ta!

Vocab List of Khmer Classifiers

Nek – People

son-lek – sheets of paper

gbaal – animals and books

dung – number of times

dom – piece, roll, bunch

jaan – plates of food

gaew – glasses of beer, water, coke

daab – bottles of beer, water, coke

guu – pairs of things

groab – small round things like candy, seeds, pills

joan – floor as in what stories is your office on

yaang – kinds, types, ways

bon-dtub – rooms

jbab – documents, copies

jam-net – slices

daum – sticks, guns

gii-loo – kilo (kind of like some speakers have a g and not k on kit luy

maet – meters

gii-loo-maet – kilometers

baaw – bags of rice

gam-plee – set of clothes

How to use Khmer Classifiers

So now we know some Khmer classifiers how do we use them? Well, usually the classifiers comes at the end of the sentence of phrase.

For example, sbaek-jong bpii guu (two pairs of shoes). This sentence goes noun + the modifier + classifier.

Sometimes Khmer classifiers are used in a sentence or phrase when their English equivalent phrase or sentence would not use a classifiers.

For example, tnam bey groab which is 3 pills.

One more example of a Khmer classifier in a sentence form. Kynum jong dtin coca (dtek-krooik) bpii daab. I want to buy 2 bottles of coca cola. Coca cola is pronounced with just the first word as in Coca like the coca plant. Also if you wanted to say pop, soda, the generic term is dtek-krooik.

I hope this article helps a little bit on learning the Cambodian language and the small nuances the language contains.

Categories
Vocab

Khmer Love Words – Vocab 5

Here are a small sampling of some khmer words that show love and affection or describe one’s marital status. Enjoy!

 

[table]

Khmer,English

kooik-jet, heartbroken

chugat, crazy

riab-gaa, to marry

gaa, married

liiw, single

seong-saa, steady lover

bdey, husband

bproon-bpon, wife

mook mneak-aeng, to come alone

srey saart, beautiful girl

sa-art, beautiful

pro sa-art, handsome

[/table]

Categories
Vocab

Khmer Food – Vocab 4

Here are some useful words when at a restaurant and wanting to order khmer food.

[table]

khmer,english

hel, spicy

nyum baay, eat rice

saik-jruuk, pork

saik-moan, chicken

saik-goo, beef

seom, fork

slaab-bpria, sppon

gam-bet, knife

jong-geh, chopsticks

kit luy, pay the bill

dtrey, fish

chngan, delicous

[/table]

so i hope these words will help you when you are ordering khmer food at a restaurant. Some of the words are also useful when ordering khmer food at the market too.

Categories
Vocab

Khmer Flirting – Vocab 3

Here are some phrases to help you flirt with khmers a little bit with the opposite sex. So let’s get going with Khmer Flirting. Tlor! Ta (Common, Lets start)

[table]

Khmer, English

sa-art, beautiful

srey-sa-art, beautiful girl

chguat, crazy

sabaii, happy

kooik-jet, heart broken

bpi-baak-jet, sad

riab-gaa, to marry

gaa, married

liiw, single

Dorch kernch nov na, I think I saw you somewhere

Peak ko ail sa-art nas dol huy, you are wearing a very beautiful dress
Pel chop tvwer gar huy dtov nhum ei grao chia moiu bong te?,  after your work is done – do you like to go outside and eat something with me?
Soam nek  dtour-ro-subp ban te? , Can I have your number?
Mien song sa nov?, do you have a boyfriend yet?
Kynum jong skorl nek, I want to get to know you

Moak neng dorch skorl, your face looks similiar to someone.

[/table]

When you are done practicing go to Cambodian Flirting Worksheet to try your luck!

Categories
Vocab

Khmer Colors – Vocab 2

Khmer Colors

Vocab 2

Here is a youtube video to help you with your pronunciation of the khmer colors and to help your listening. Sorry it is not edited, or shows the translations and transliterations on the video. When I get more time, maybe I will come back and clean up this video a little bit.

[table]

Khmer, English

bpoa crawl-home, red

bpoa kiaw, blue*

bpoa lluang, yellow

bpoa tnaot, brown

bpoa kmau, black

bpoa sawl, white

bpoa bai-dtoong, green*

[/table]

*Some Cambodians will list blue and green as the same Khmer colors so the word blue, ‘bpoa kiaw’ can be used as blue or green. Green can not be used to describe blue through…so in doubt when you learn Khmer colors, learn blue first before you learn green lol.

After reviewing, please go the accompany Khmer Colors Worksheet to practice!

 

Categories
Vocab

Khmer House – Vocab 1

Khmer House Vocab 1

Things in/ at your Khmer House

[table]

Khmer, English

dtok (tuk), table

grey, bed

gau-ey, chair

tvwia, door

bong-uik, window

bon-dtub, room

bon-dtub-geeng, bedroom

bon-dtub-dtek, bathroom

pdteah, house

neu na?, where*

siaw-pau, book

[/table]

* If you learn one word or phrase out of this Khmer house section, I would suggest you learn neu na. This word can come in handy if you need to find something or are lost.

So review this lesson for a bit, then head over here at Khmer House Worksheet to do some practice!

After learning these Khmer house words, I’d suggest you learn colors next so then you can say red bed or in Khmer the noun comes first, then the adjective, so bed red would be  grey crawl-home.