Essential Khmer (Cambodian) Phrases

Sometimes you don't have time to learn long lists of words and phrases.
All you want to know are the bare essentials for communicating to get
what you need, or where you need to go.

Here are the bare minimum of Khmer (Cambodian) words and phrases you need
to know to survive.

Learn the Top 10 Phrases if you only have time for the barest minimum.
If you need or want more, then take a look at the Top 20 Phrases,
Top 30 Phrases and the Extra Phrases.

Here are ten easy phrases to get you started ... The Top 10 ... eu is pronounced as ɨ (a high schwa ə or New Zealand i) aw is pronounced as ɔ (o as in pot) o is pronounced as o in boat ai is ai as in aisle ' indicates a glottal stop (ʔ) p indicates p without any puff of air, as in French pas (p) ph indicates p with a puff of air, as in English pot (pʰ) t indicates t without any puff of air, as in French ton (t) th indicates t with a puff of air, as in English top (tʰ) Please note: The polite form for you towards older people is lok for men and lok srei for women.
	Jom riab sua. Sua s'dei. Hello. Lia seun hai. Goodbye. Nay-ak jeh phiasaa awng-kle te? Do you speak English? Kh'nyom awt meun yeul. Kh'nyom meun yuhl te. I don't understand. Bon-dteuch bon-dto-ich. A little. Baat. Awt te/Baat te/Te. (Men) Jaa. Awt te/Jaa te/Te. (Women) Yes. No. Th'lai ponmaan? How much is it? Th'lai pek. O-ke. Too expensive. OK. Som. Please. Aw kon (j'raan). Thank you (very much).
Here are ten more phrases that will help you make new friends and ask for directions. The Top 20 ...
	Nay-ak ch'muah ei? What is your name? Kh'nyom ch'muah ... My name is ... Nay-ak sok sabai te? How are you? Kh'nyom sok sabai. Jo nay-ak? Fine. And you? ... neuv ai naa? Where is ...? Bawng-kon neuv ai naa? Proh/S'rei. Where is the toilet? Men/Women. Som toh. Sorry. Excuse me. Awt banyahaa. No problem. Kh'nyom jawng ... I want ... Kh'nyom awt jawng ... Kh'nyom meun jawng ... te. I don't want ...
Here are another ten phrases to help you make a little more conversation and to get around. The Top 30 ...
	Nay-ak mao pii prateh naa? Where are you from? Kh'nyom mao pii prateh Owstraalii. I am from ... Som keut luy. The bill, please. Kh'nyom wongweng phleuv. I'm lost. Chop! Rong jam! Stop! Wait! Ai nih, ai nuh. Here, there. Tak-sii. Saanthakia/Otail. Jom-nawt yoo-un hoh. S'thanii. Taxi. Hotel. Airport. Station. Kh'nyom jol jeut ... I like ... Kh'nyom awt jol jeut ... Kh'nyom meun jol jeut ... te. I don't like ... mu-ay, pii (peul), bei, buan, pram. one, two , three, four, five. bram muy, pram pii (pram puhl), pram bey, pram buan, dawp. six, seven, eight, nine, ten. *Or choose your country: prateh Amerik - America prateh Caanaadaa - Canada prateh Awng-kle - England prateh Iilahn - Ireland prateh Niw Siilahn - New Zealand
Here are some extra words and phrases you might find useful, especially if you have dietary needs or allergies. Useful extras ...
	Sonti' yutta'! Cheers! la'aw / meun la'aw good / bad tom / to-ich big / small jeut / ch'ngai near / far teuch / tiat less / more mu-ay tiat / l'mawm another one / enough Kh'nyom tawm saich. Kh'nyom nyam m'hop boo-ah. I am vegetarian. Kh'nyom awt nyam saich. Kh'nyom meun nyam saich te. I don't eat meat. ... saich moan. ... chicken. ... trei. ... fish. Kh'nyom meun treuv thiat kroh-up. I am allergic to nuts. ... son-daik de. ... peanuts. ... trei. ... fish. ... m'hop samot. ... seafood. ... pawng. ... eggs.