Learning Khmer: a practical guide
This is a written companion to the free Khmer course on LanguagePath: what the language is like, how it sounds, the phrases you will use first, how the course is structured, and what to watch out for. Everything here comes from the same lessons you can practise interactively above.
What Khmer is like
Khmer is written in its own script, and it is very regular to learn because there are no verb tenses, no plurals, and no tricky word endings. Word order is Subject-Verb-Object, just like English: ខ្ញុំចង់បានទឹក (I want water). The two big things to know: Khmer consonants come in two series that change the vowel that follows, and there are pairs of aspirated and unaspirated sounds (ក vs ខ). Add the magic politeness word សូម (please) and you can ask for anything politely.
Words you may already know
Pronunciation notes
Khmer has a beautiful script and a rich vowel system. Master a few key sounds — the two consonant registers and the aspirated/unaspirated pairs — and you can read any word aloud.
- ក vs ខ — UNASPIRATED vs ASPIRATED: ក is a clean "k" with no puff of air. ខ adds a strong breathy puff — "kh"., as in កាហ្វេ = KAFE (coffee) · ខ្ញុំ = KHNHOM (I).
- ត vs ថ — The same trick for the "t" sound: ត is unaspirated, ថ is aspirated (breathy "th")., as in តែ = TE (tea) · ថ្ងៃ = THNGAY (day).
- ប vs ផ — Unaspirated "b/p" against aspirated "ph" — the second has a puff of air., as in បាយ = BAY (rice) · ផ្កា = PHKA (flower).
- The two registers — Khmer consonants come in two SERIES. A series-2 (voiced) consonant changes the vowel that follows, shifting its sound and length., as in គ = KO (series 2) vs ក = KA (series 1).
- អា (aa) — The long open "aa" as in "father" — written with the aa vowel sign., as in កាហ្វេ = KAFE (coffee) · បាយ = BAY (rice).
- អូ (ou) — The long rounded "oo/ou" as in "moon" — as in សូម (please)., as in សូម = SOUM (please) · គ្រូ = KRU (teacher).
- អិ vs អី (i/ei) — Short "i" as in "bit" vs the long "ei" as in "say". Vowel length changes the word., as in មិន = MIN (not) · តី = TEI.
- ង (ng) — The soft final "ng" is everywhere in Khmer. Don't stress it — let it end softly., as in ថ្ងៃ = THNGAY (day) · ក្មេង = KMAENG (child).
First phrases
The pocket phrases below are the ones learners reach for most often. Say each one out loud a few times before moving on.
| Khmer | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| ជំរាបសួរ | chom reap suor | Hello |
| លាហើយ | lea haoy | Goodbye |
| សុខសប្បាយទេ? | sok sabay te? | How are you? |
| សុខសប្បាយ | sok sabay | Well, thanks |
| ខ្ញុំឈ្មោះ Alex | khnhom chhmueh Alex | My name is... |
| អរគុណ | akun | Thank you |
| អរគុណច្រើន | akun craen | Thanks a lot |
| សូម | saum | Please |
| សូមទោស | saum toh | Sorry / excuse me |
| បាទ | bait | Yes (polite) |
| ពេលអត់ទេ | te | No |
| មួយ | muay | 1 |
| ពីរ | pir | 2 |
| បី | bei | 3 |
| បួន | buon | 4 |
| ប្រាំ | pram | 5 |
| ដប់ | dop | 10 |
| ទឹក | tuk | water |
| បាយ | bay | rice |
| កាហ្វេ | kafe | coffee |
| តែ | te | tea |
| នំប៉័ង | nompang | bread |
| នៅឯណា…? | now ae na…? | Where is...? |
| បត់ស្តាំ | bot sdam | turn right |
| បត់ឆ្វេង | bot chveang | turn left |
| ត្រង់ | trong | straight ahead |
| ស្ថានីយ៍ | stani | the station |
| តើនេះថ្លៃប៉ុន្មាន? | tae nih thlai ponman? | how much is this? |
| ថ្លៃពេកហើយ | thlai pek haoy | too expensive |
| ខ្ញុំចង់បាន | khnhom chng ban | I want |
How the Khmer course is structured
The course has 12 short lessons that build on each other. Each one introduces a few new pieces and then asks you to construct sentences you have never seen, before revealing the answer:
- Greetings & being polite — chom reap suor · akun · saum · lea haoy
- Numbers 1–10 — muay · pir · bei · dop
- I want" — the verb to want — khnhom chng ban · saum · khnhom
- Food & drink — tuk · bay · kafe · te
- Getting around — now ae na? · stani · bot sdam · bot chveang
- Questions & "do you have…?" — tae anak mean…? · mean · tae mean…?
- Family & people — kruosa · mae · ovpuk · mit
- Time, days & weather — thngay nih · thngay saek · akasathot
- Introducing yourself — khnhom chhmueh · chhmueh anak avai?
- Health & emergency — chuay! · kru pet · osothstan · min yol
- Describing things — saht · thom · touc · nah
- Tying it together — a capstone day in Khmer
Inside the lessons
Here is how a few of the lessons explain the language, with worked examples and the word-by-word breakdown the course uses.
Greetings & being polite
Key pieces: chom reap suor · akun · saum · lea haoy
Let's start with the first word you'll say: ជំរាបសួរ — hello (polite). Say it out loud.
- ជំរាបសួរ (chom reap suor) — hello (polite)
- អរគុណ (akun) — thank you
- សូម (saum) — please
- លាហើយ (lea haoy) — goodbye
To say “Hello, thank you” in Khmer: ជំរាបសួរ, អរគុណ (chom reap suor, akun). Built from ជំរាបសួរ = hello; អរគុណ = thank you.
To ask how someone is: សុខសប្បាយទេ? The reply is សុខសប្បាយ — well, thanks.
- សុខសប្បាយទេ? (sok sabay te?) — How are you?
- សុខសប្បាយ (sok sabay) — I'm fine (well)
- អរគុណច្រើន (akun craen) — thank you very much
To say “Hi, how are you?” in Khmer: ជំរាបសួរ, សុខសប្បាយទេ? (chom reap suor, sok sabay te?). Built from ជំរាបសួរ = hello; សុខសប្បាយទេ? = how are you?.
Numbers 1–10
Key pieces: muay · pir · bei · dop
Numbers are the fastest win. Listen and repeat: មួយ, ពីរ, បី .
- មួយ (muay) — 1
- ពីរ (pir) — 2
- បី (bei) — 3
- បួន (buon) — 4
- ប្រាំ (pram) — 5
- ដប់ (dop) — 10
To say “Two coffees, please” in Khmer: កាហ្វេពីរ, សូម (kafe pir, saum). Built from កាហ្វេ = coffee; ពីរ = two; សូម = please.
To ask the price: ថ្លៃប៉ុន្មាន? = how much? A key phrase for shopping.
To say “How much is this?” in Khmer: តើនេះថ្លៃប៉ុន្មាន? (tae nih thlai ponman?). Built from នេះ = this; ថ្លៃ = price; ប៉ុន្មាន = how much.
To say “It's five dollars” in Khmer: ប្រាំដុល្លារ (pram dohlar). Built from ប្រាំ = five; ដុល្លារ = dollars.
I want" — the verb to want
Key pieces: khnhom chng ban · saum · khnhom
The magic phrase to order anything: ខ្ញុំចង់បាន — I want.
To ask politely, put សូម (please) before the thing you want.
To say “I want water” in Khmer: ខ្ញុំចង់បានទឹក (khnhom chng ban tuk). Built from ខ្ញុំចង់បាន = I want; ទឹក = water.
To say “I'd like a coffee, please” in Khmer: សូមកាហ្វេ (saum kafe). Built from សូម = please; កាហ្វេ = coffee.
ខ្ញុំ = I. ចង់បាន = to want. Combine them and you're unstoppable.
To say “I want tea” in Khmer: ខ្ញុំចង់បានតែ (khnhom chng ban te). Built from ខ្ញុំចង់បាន = I want; តែ = tea.
Food & drink
Key pieces: tuk · bay · kafe · te
Feeling hungry? Key words: ទឹក (water), បាយ (rice), កាហ្វេ (coffee), តែ (tea).
- ទឹក (tuk) — water
- បាយ (bay) — cooked rice
- កាហ្វេ (kafe) — coffee Memory hook: ≈ from French café.
- តែ (te) — tea
- នំប៉័ង (nompang) — bread Memory hook: ≈ from French pain.
To say “Water and rice, please” in Khmer: សូមទឹកនិងបាយ (saum tuk neung bay). Built from សូម = please; ទឹក = water; និង = and; បាយ = rice.
To say “I want coffee and tea” in Khmer: ខ្ញុំចង់បានកាហ្វេនិងតែ (khnhom chng ban kafe neung te). Built from ខ្ញុំចង់បាន = I want; កាហ្វេ = coffee; និង = and; តែ = tea.
ឆ្ងាញ់ = delicious. Say it and you'll make the cook's day.
To say “It's delicious!” in Khmer: ឆ្ងាញ់ណាស់! (chnanh nah!). Built from ឆ្ងាញ់ = delicious; ណាស់ = very.
Getting around
Key pieces: now ae na? · stani · bot sdam · bot chveang
The most useful question in any city: នៅឯណា…? — where is…?
- នៅឯណា…? (now ae na…?) — Where is…?
- ស្ថានីយ៍ (stani) — the station
- បត់ស្តាំ (bot sdam) — turn right
- បត់ឆ្វេង (bot chveang) — turn left
- បន្ទប់ទឹក (bantob tuk) — the bathroom
To say “Where is the station?” in Khmer: ស្ថានីយ៍នៅឯណា? (stani now ae na?). Built from ស្ថានីយ៍ = station; នៅឯណា? = where is?.
To say “Where is the bathroom?” in Khmer: បន្ទប់ទឹកនៅឯណា? (bantob tuk now ae na?). Built from បន្ទប់ទឹក = bathroom; នៅឯណា? = where is?.
បត់ស្តាំ = turn right, បត់ឆ្វេង = turn left. Straight ahead is ត្រង់ .
To say “Turn left” in Khmer: បត់ឆ្វេង (bot chveang). Built from បត់ = turn; ឆ្វេង = left.
Questions & "do you have…?"
Key pieces: tae anak mean…? · mean · tae mean…?
To ask someone if they have something: តើអ្នកមាន…? — do you have…?
To say “Do you have a table?” in Khmer: តើអ្នកមានតុទេ? (tae anak mean tok te?). Built from តើ = question marker; អ្នកមាន = you have; តុ = table; ទេ = ?.
មាន = to have. It's the key verb for 'do you have…?'.
To ask 'is there…?', say តើមាន…ទេ? .
To say “Is there wifi?” in Khmer: តើមានវ៉ាយហ្វាយទេ? (tae mean wifi te?). Built from តើមាន…ទេ? = is there…?; វ៉ាយហ្វាយ = wifi.
To say “Do you have a menu?” in Khmer: តើអ្នកមានម៉ឺនុយទេ? (tae anak mean menuy te?). Built from អ្នកមាន = you have; ម៉ឺនុយ = menu.
Family & people
Key pieces: kruosa · mae · ovpuk · mit
Family words: គ្រួសារ (family), ម៉ែ (mother), ឪពុក (father).
- គ្រួសារ (kruosa) — family
- ម៉ែ (mae) — mother
- ឪពុក (ovpuk) — father
- មិត្ត (mit) — friend
- បងប្អូន (bang paun) — siblings
To say “This is my family” in Khmer: នេះគ្រួសារខ្ញុំ (nih kruosa khnhom). Built from នេះ = this; គ្រួសារ = family; ខ្ញុំ = my/I.
To say “I have a friend” in Khmer: ខ្ញុំមានមិត្តម្នាក់ (khnhom mean mit mneak). Built from ខ្ញុំ = I; មាន = have; មិត្ត = friend; ម្នាក់ = one (person).
To say “He is my father” in Khmer: គាត់ជាឪពុកខ្ញុំ (keat chea ovpuk khnhom). Built from គាត់ = he/she; ជា = is; ឪពុក = father; ខ្ញុំ = my.
Time, days & weather
Key pieces: thngay nih · thngay saek · akasathot
Today is ថ្ងៃនេះ , tomorrow is ថ្ងៃស្អែក .
- ថ្ងៃនេះ (thngay nih) — today
- ថ្ងៃស្អែក (thngay saek) — tomorrow
- ម្សិលមិញ (msel minh) — yesterday
- អាកាសធាតុ (akasathot) — weather
- ថ្ងៃ (thngay) — day
To say “See you tomorrow” in Khmer: ជួបគ្នាថ្ងៃស្អែក (chuap knea thngay saek). Built from ជួបគ្នា = see each other; ថ្ងៃស្អែក = tomorrow.
Ask about the weather: អាកាសធាតុយ៉ាងម៉េច?
To say “It's raining” in Khmer: ភ្លៀងធ្លាក់ (pliang thlak). Built from ភ្លៀង = rain; ធ្លាក់ = falls.
Introducing yourself
Key pieces: khnhom chhmueh · chhmueh anak avai?
Introduce yourself: ខ្ញុំឈ្មោះ… = my name is… and សូម keeps it polite.
To say “My name is Alex” in Khmer: ខ្ញុំឈ្មោះ Alex (khnhom chhmueh Alex). Built from ខ្ញុំឈ្មោះ = my name is; Alex = your name.
To ask someone's name: ឈ្មោះអ្នកអ្វី?
To say “What's your name?” in Khmer: ឈ្មោះអ្នកអ្វី? (chhmueh anak avai?). Built from ឈ្មោះ = name; អ្នក = you; អ្វី? = what?.
To say “I'm from America” in Khmer: ខ្ញុំមកពីអាមេរិក (khnhom mok pi Amerik). Built from ខ្ញុំ = I; មកពី = come from; អាមេរិក = America.
Health & emergency
Key pieces: chuay! · kru pet · osothstan · min yol
The most important words if you need help: ជួយ! (help), គ្រូពេទ្យ (doctor), ឱសថស្ថាន (pharmacy).
- ជួយ! (chuay!) — help!
- គ្រូពេទ្យ (kru pet) — the doctor
- ឱសថស្ថាន (osothstan) — the pharmacy
- ប៉ូលីស (polis) — the police Memory hook: ≈ from French police.
- ខ្ញុំមិនយល់ទេ (khnhom min yol te) — I don't understand
To say “Help!” in Khmer: ជួយ! (chuay!). Built from ជួយ! = help!.
To say “I don't understand” in Khmer: ខ្ញុំមិនយល់ទេ (khnhom min yol te). Built from ខ្ញុំ = I; មិន = not; យល់ = understand; ទេ = no/-.
To say you need something: ខ្ញុំត្រូវការ… = I need….
To say “I need a doctor” in Khmer: ខ្ញុំត្រូវការគ្រូពេទ្យ (khnhom trauv kar kru pet). Built from ខ្ញុំត្រូវការ = I need; គ្រូពេទ្យ = doctor.
Describing things
Key pieces: saht · thom · touc · nah
Adjectives are easy: ស្អាត (beautiful), ធំ (big), តូច (small).
- ស្អាត (saht) — beautiful
- ធំ (thom) — big
- តូច (touc) — small
- ណាស់ (nah) — very / a lot
- សណ្ឋាគារ (sonthakear) — hotel Memory hook: ≈ Sino loanword (hotel).
To say “Very beautiful” in Khmer: ស្អាតណាស់ (saht nah). Built from ស្អាត = beautiful; ណាស់ = very.
To say “A big coffee” in Khmer: កាហ្វេធំ (kafe thom). Built from កាហ្វេ = coffee; ធំ = big.
To say “The hotel is big” in Khmer: សណ្ឋាគារធំ (sonthakear thom). Built from សណ្ឋាគារ = hotel; ធំ = big.
Tying it together
Key pieces: a capstone day in Khmer
Great — you've built a real toolbox. This capstone uses only words you've met. Build each line yourself before revealing.
To say “Hello, how are you?” in Khmer: ជំរាបសួរ, សុខសប្បាយទេ? (chom reap suor, sok sabay te?). Built from ជំរាបសួរ = hello; សុខសប្បាយទេ? = how are you?.
To say “I'd like a coffee, please” in Khmer: សូមកាហ្វេ (saum kafe). Built from សូម = please; កាហ្វេ = coffee.
To say “Where is the station?” in Khmer: ស្ថានីយ៍នៅឯណា? (stani now ae na?). Built from ស្ថានីយ៍ = station; នៅឯណា? = where is?.
To say “How much is this?” in Khmer: តើនេះថ្លៃប៉ុន្មាន? (tae nih thlai ponman?). Built from នេះ = this; ថ្លៃ = price; ប៉ុន្មាន = how much.
Common mistakes and things to watch out for
- ជំរាបសួរ (chom reap suor): polite.
Culture and etiquette
Coffee runs deep
Cambodia loves its coffee. The classic is iced coffee with sweetened condensed milk (កាហ្វេទឹកដោះគោ), a legacy of French and Vietnamese influence. Try one street-side — it's cheap, cooling and delicious.
The sampeah greeting
The traditional greeting is សំពះ (sampeah): palms pressed together at your chest. The higher your hands, the more respect you show. A small sampeah to equals is a warm, polite hello.
Tuk-tuks over taxis
Three-wheeled tuk-tuks are the easiest way to get around. There are no meters — always agree the price before you get in. A friendly haggle is expected and enjoyed.
Rice is the meal
បាយ (bay, cooked rice) is the heart of every Cambodian meal. Dishes come family-style and are shared. You'll get your own plate of rice, with small dishes to go with it.
Two currencies
Cambodia uses both the riel and the US dollar. Dollars are common for bigger prices, riel for small change. Prices are often quoted in dollars — ask if unsure.
The land of smiles
Khmer culture values calm and non-confrontational manners. A smile (ញញឹម, nhnhoem) smooths over awkward moments, and a friendly 'chom reap suor' and 'akun' open every door.
Example dialogues
At a café
You: ជំរាបសួរ! កាហ្វេមួយ, សូម។ (chom reap suor! kafe muay, saum.) — Hello! One coffee, please.
Barista: បាន។ នៅទីនេះ ឬ យកទៅ? (ban. now ti nih, beuy yok to?) — OK. For here or to go?
You: យកទៅ, អរគុណ។ (yok to, akun.) — To go, thanks.
Barista: នេះ។ ពីរដុល្លារ។ (nih. pir dohlar.) — Here. That's two dollars.
You: អរគុណច្រើន! (akun craen!) — Thanks a lot!
A tuk-tuk ride
You: ជំរាបសួរ! ទៅស្ថានីយ៍។ (chom reap suor! toh stani.) — Hello! To the station.
Driver: បាន។ ដប់ដុល្លារ។ (ban. dop dohlar.) — OK. Ten dollars.
You: ថ្លៃពេកហើយ។ ប្រាំដុល្លារ? (thlai pek haoy. pram dohlar?) — Too expensive. Five dollars?
Driver: បាន។ ឡើងមក! (ban. laeng mok!) — OK. Get in!
You: សូមទៅស្ថានីយ៍, អរគុណ។ (saum toh stani, akun.) — Please go to the station, thanks.
At a restaurant
Waiter: ជំរាបសួរ! តើអ្នកមានការកក់ទេ? (chom reap suor! tae anak mean kar kak te?) — Hello! Do you have a reservation?
You: បាទ, សម្រាប់ពីរនាក់។ (bait, samrab pir neak.) — Yes, for two people.
You: សូមម៉ឺនុយ។ (saum menuy.) — The menu, please.
You: ខ្ញុំចង់បានបាយនិងស៊ុប។ (khnhom chng ban bay neung sup.) — I'd like rice and soup.
Waiter: ជម្រើសល្អណាស់! សូមឱ្យបានឆ្ងាញ់! (chomreus lah nah! saum aoy ban chnanh!) — Excellent choice! Enjoy your meal.
Written by the LanguagePath editorial team from our own course material. Pronunciation guides are approximate English respellings; tap any phrase in the app above to hear it. Native-speaker review of every course is ongoing — tell us if you spot an error.