Essential Khmer Phrases

The phrases you'll actually use in Cambodia — greetings, shopping, eating, getting around, and getting out of trouble. Khmer script + romanization for every phrase.

Greetings & Politeness

Hello
សួស្ដី
suostei
Works any time of day. Add a slight bow (sampeah) for respect.
Hello (formal)
ជំរាបសួរ
choumreap suor
For monks, elders, officials. The full formal greeting.
Goodbye
ជំរាបលា
choumreap lie
Thank you
អរគុណ
arkoun
Add ច្រើន (craeun) for "thank you very much."
You're welcome
មិនអីទេ
min ey te
Literally "it's nothing."
Excuse me / Sorry
សុំទោស
som toh
Works for both "excuse me" and "I'm sorry."
How are you?
សុខសប្បាយទេ?
sok sabbay te?
Formal. In practice, Cambodians greet with "ទៅណា?" (where are you going?).
I'm fine
សុខសប្បាយ
sok sabbay
Where are you going?
ទៅណា?
teuv na?
THE common Cambodian greeting. Not actually asking your destination — it's like "how's it going?"

Shopping & Money

How much?
ថ្លៃប៉ុន្មាន?
thlaj ponmaan?
Point at what you want, say this. The most useful market phrase.
Too expensive
ថ្លៃពេក
thlaj peyk
Say it with a smile — negotiating is expected and fun.
Can you reduce the price?
ចុះថ្លៃបន្តិចបានទេ?
coh thlaj banteuc ban te?
I'll take it
យកមួយ
yok muoy
Literally "take one."
I don't want
មិនចង់ទេ
min cang te

Food & Drink

I want...
ខ្ញុំចង់...
knhom cang...
Follow with any food/drink word.
Water, please
សូមទឹក
soum teuk
Rice (food/meal)
បាយ
baay
បាយ means both "rice" and "meal" — rice IS the meal in Cambodia.
Coffee
កាហ្វេ
kahvei
Cambodian iced coffee is famous. Ask for កាហ្វេទឹកកក (kahvei teuk kak).
Delicious!
ឆ្ងាញ់ណាស់!
chngany nah!
Say this at any meal. Guaranteed smiles.
Have you eaten?
ញ៉ាំបាយហើយនៅ?
nyam baay haey neuv?
A common greeting showing care. Answer: ញ៉ាំហើយ (ate already) or នៅ (not yet).
Not spicy
មិនហឹរ
min her
Essential if you can't handle Cambodian pepper levels.
The bill, please
សុំគិតលុយ
som ket luy

Getting Around

Go to...
ទៅ...
teuv...
Start every tuk-tuk direction with ទៅ.
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?

Conversation Essentials

What is your name?
អ្នកឈ្មោះអី?
neak chmuah ey?
My name is...
ខ្ញុំឈ្មោះ...
knhom chmuah...
I don't understand
ខ្ញុំមិនយល់ទេ
knhom min yol te
They'll slow down or use gestures. Very useful.
Can you speak slowly?
និយាយយឺតៗបានទេ?
niyeay yeut yeut ban te?
I'm learning Khmer
ខ្ញុំកំពុងរៀនភាសាខ្មែរ
knhom kampung rien phiasa khmae
Say this and watch people light up. They'll be patient and encouraging.
I love you
ខ្ញុំស្រលាញ់អ្នក
knhom srolanh neak

Numbers (for Prices)

1 · 2 · 3 · 4 · 5
មួយ · ពីរ · បី · បួន · ប្រាំ
muoy · pii · bei · buon · pram
6 · 7 · 8 · 9 · 10
ប្រាំមួយ · ប្រាំពីរ · ប្រាំបី · ប្រាំបួន · ដប់
pram muoy · pram pii · pram bei · pram buon · dop
6–9 = five + 1/2/3/4. Learn 1–5 and you have 1–10.

Emergencies

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

Hear all these phrases spoken by native Cambodian speakers

Audio lessons that slow down every word so you hear it perfectly.

Start Free Lessons →

Learn Khmer · Words · For Expats · For Family · Word of the Day · Course