Being polite in Khmer goes a long way. Even a few polite words can make locals appreciate your effort.
Conversation
| Khmer | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| αα½ααααΈ | Suo-sdei | Hello |
| αα½ααααΈ! αα»ααααααΆααα? | Suo-sdei! Sok sabbay te? | Hello! How are you? |
| αα»ααααααΆα α’ααα»αα | Sok sabbay, aw-kun. | I'm fine, thank you. |
| ααΌαα’ααα»αα | Som aw-kun. | Thank you very much. |
| αα·αα’αΈααα | Min ey te. | You're welcome / No problem. |
| ααΌααααα | Som tos. | Excuse me / Sorry. |
| ααΆα αΎαα | Lea haey. | Goodbye. |
Essential Polite Expressions
| Khmer | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| αα½ααααΈ | Suo-sdei | Hello |
| α’ααα»α | Aw-kun | Thank you |
| ααΌαα’ααα»α | Som aw-kun | Thank you very much |
| ααΌαααα | Som tos | Sorry / Excuse me |
| αα·αα’αΈαα | Min ey te | It's okay / You're welcome |
| ααΆα | Baat | Yes (male speaker) |
| α αΆα | Chaa | Yes (female speaker) |
| αα | Te | No / Question particle |
| ααΆα αΎα | Lea haey | Goodbye |
Difficult Words
| Khmer | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| ααΌα | som | please |
| α’ααα»α | aw-kun | thank you |
| ααα | tos | fault, apology |
| αα·αα’αΈαα | min ey te | no problem |
| αα»ααααααΆα | sok sabbay | well, healthy |
Grammar & Usage
1. Saying Thank You
α’ααα»α
- Aw-kun
- Thank you
More polite:
ααΌαα’ααα»α
- Som aw-kun
- Thank you very much
2. Saying Sorry / Excuse Me
ααΌαααα
- Som tos
- Excuse me
- Sorry
Useful when:
- Getting someone's attention
- Accidentally bumping into someone
- Apologizing
3. Yes (Male vs Female)
Men usually say:
ααΆα (Baat)
Women usually say:
α αΆα (Chaa)
Examples:
- ααΆα α’ααα»αα
- Baat, aw-kun.
- Yes, thank you.
- α αΆα α’ααα»αα
- Chaa, aw-kun.
- Yes, thank you.
4. You're Welcome
αα·αα’αΈαα
- Min ey te
- No problem
- You're welcome
This is one of the most commonly used phrases in Cambodia.
Pronunciation Practice
Thank You
α’ααα»α (aw-kun)
Sorry / Excuse Me
ααΌαααα (som tos)
Cultural Tip
When speaking with elders, customers, drivers, shop staff, or people you don't know well, adding ααΆα (male) or α αΆα (female) makes you sound much more respectful.
For example:
- α’ααα»α ααΆαα
- Aw-kun, baat.
- Thank you.
- ααΌαααα ααΆαα
- Som tos, baat.
- Excuse me.
Practice Challenge
How would you say:
"Hello. Thank you very much. Goodbye."
