The languages spoken in Cambodia are English and French. However, Khmer is the official language. If you decide to travel around the country and communicate with the inhabitants, you should have a Khmer phrasebook in your pocket. This language belongs to the Mon-Khmer group, and it is spoken by many people not only in Cambodia, but also in Vietam and Thailand.
This singing language is interesting for its logic, musicality and originality. It has a lot of vowels and consonants that we are not particularly used to. The sound of the names we know in the local dialects is completely different.
For example, the capital Phnom Penh sounds like Phnum Pynh. Make a habit of taking a dictionary, a guide or at least a English-Khmer phrasebook with you everywhere you go. It is unlikely that this original country will become more understandable, but you will be able to explain yourself with the locals. In any case, you will need a Khmer phrasebook with pronunciation. We have collected some useful phrases in Khmer for you. The ":" indicates the longness of the sound.
| Good morning | Arun suesdei |
| Good evening | Seyan suesdei |
| Hello, hi | Tyumriep sue luok (addressing a man). Tyumriep sue nee' nieng (addressing a woman). Suesdei (hi) |
| How are you? | Loak soksapbai tietei (addressing a man). Nee' nieng soksapbai tietei (addressing a woman) |
| Thank you, all is good | Ba:t, khnom soksapbai (male response). Tya:, khnom soksapbai (female response) |
| Goodbye! | Tyumriep lie |
| Excuse me, please | Soam toh, myn 'ai tey |
| What is your name? | Tae loak tmue 'ai (addressing a man). Tae nee' nieng tmue 'ai (addressing a woman) |
| My name is… | Khnom tmue… |
| Thank you | O:kun |
| Does anyone speak Russian? | Mien nee' nah teh niey russi? |
| I don't understand | Khnom myn yuel tey |
| Yes | Ba:t (male), tya: (female) |
| No | O:t tey |
| I'm going to Phnom Penh. Can I go with you? I have no money | Khnom tay Phnom Penh. Ta khnom aach chih chiemuy loak |
| One | Muoy |
| Two | Pyii |
| Three | Bei |
| Four | Buen |
| Five | Pram |
| Six | Pram muoen |
| Seven | Pram pyi |
| Eight | Pram bei |
| Nine | Pram buen |
| Ten | Do:p |
| Twenty | Mophey |
| Fifty | Ha:sep |
| One hundred | Meroai |
| Taxi! | Taxi! |
| How much is the fare to… | Tey … thlai ponma:n? |
| Very expensive | Thlai nah |
| Please tell me how to get to… | Soam prap khnom ba:n tey, tae … neue na:? |
| How much is the ticket? | Tae sombot tih teu thlai ponma:n? |
| Do you have this in my size? | Mien roboh tumhum khnom? |
| How much is this? | Nih? Thlai ponma:n? |
| This is too expensive | Thlai nah |
| Will you accept dollars (credit card)? | Tae loak yoak dola: (kat kredyt) tey? |
| Do you have cold beer? | Mien bie trotiek tey? |
| I need a table for one person/two people, please | Khnom treu ka: tok muoy somrap mnee'/ pyi nee |
| Menu, please | Som yoak mynui moak |
| Waiter! | Pu: moak neh (male), nieng moak neh (female) |
| Please give me the bill | Soam kyt lui |
| Do you have any vacant rooms? | Mien bontup tumney tey? |
| How much is a room for one night? | Muoy yup thlai ponma:n? |
