How to say “thank you” in Khmer · interjection
Arkoun
Sounds like “AW-kun”
អរគុណ
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Ways to say it
- EverydayArkoun “AW-kun”អរគុណ · thank you (everyday, anyone)
- WarmerArkoun chraen “AW-kun ch'RAN”អរគុណច្រើន · thank you very much
- PoliteSoum arkoun “SOHM AW-kun”សូមអរគុណ · polite / formal thank you
- ReplyMin ey te “MIN ay TAY”មិនអីទេ · you're welcome / no problem (the reply)
When to use it
- Arkoun works almost everywhere: shops, tuk-tuk drivers, restaurants, friends.
- Add chraen ("a lot") to sound warmer: arkoun chraen.
- With elders, monks or anyone you want to honor, add a sampeah: palms pressed together at your chest and a slight bow. The higher your hands, the more respect.
Example
- Arkoun chraen! “AW-kun ch'RAN”អរគុណច្រើន! · Thank you very much!
Say these next
- Suostei “soo-uh-SDAY”សួស្ដី · hello
- Baat / Chaah “men / women”បាទ / ចាស · yes
- Soum “SOHM”សូម · please
- Som toh “SOHM toh”សុំទោស · sorry / excuse me
- Choumreap lie “chum-REEP lee-uh”ជំរាបលា · goodbye (polite)
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- Soum arkounសូមអរគុណ · thank you (polite)
- Arkoun chraenអរគុណច្រើន · thank you very much
- Min ey teមិនអីទេ · you're welcome / no problem
- Suosteiសួស្ដី · hello
- Suostei! Sok sabbay te?សួស្ដី! សុខសប្បាយទេ? · Hello! How are you?
- Baat / Chaahបាទ / ចាស · yes (men / women)
- Soumសូម · please
- Soum chuoy knhom phangសូមជួយខ្ញុំផង។ · Please help me.
- Som tohសុំទោស · sorry / excuse me
- Choumreap lieជំរាបលា · goodbye (polite)
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