Phrase book Khmer - Sprachführer Khmer

General information

Khmer (ភាសាខ្មែរ) is spoken by about 10 million people. For 8 million of them it is the mother tongue. The Khmer script is likely to remain an eternal secret for most Europeans.

For some idioms the literal translation is added, so you know which words you have to use in which order in Khmer in order to express the relevant subject.

In Khmer the words are immutable. You just string everything together. So the grammar is pretty simple.

  • Tenses - You either simply add the point in time, or you put an auxiliary verb in front of the verb: ban for the past or nöng for the future.

pronunciation

Unfortunately there is no uniform transcription of the language into Latin letters. Certain tone nuances that are so peculiar to the Southeast Asian languages ​​can hardly be reproduced with our letters. The English, French and Germans write the Khmer words as they sound in their language. If you have a word written down by a Khmer, you should keep in mind that the Khmer speak English to tourists. So you should pronounce what has been written down in English. There is a transcription favored by the UN that is often found. There is also little German literature or even dictionaries on Khmer. If possible, you should always have a local speak to you for the words. The representation of the Khmer words below therefore corresponds to the subjective hearing of the (at the moment the only) author of the article.

"t" and "k" are not pronounced correctly. To learn this, you can listen to the Cambodians when they speak English (e.g. must, desk, dust, ...) - sounds funny.

Difficult sounds

Cambodians learn foreign languages ​​quite easily because Khmer contains a lot of sounds. For Europeans, however, it becomes all the more difficult to learn Khmer. If you want to teach English to the children in Cambodia, please do not leave out the word "fish". There are no "f" and "sch" in Khmer .. Small children learn it in 10 minutes. Adults no longer learn the word "fish". "ü" does not exist in Khmer either.

For Barang, the "gn" (tgnai) the "d" (dop) is very difficult to learn.

Vowels

ạ ẹ ị ọ ụ
This signals that the vowel is being spoken briefly.
å
This vowel is in the stress between a and o
aä
The tone is somewhere between an 'a' and an 'ä'

Consonants

Character combinations

Basics

welcome
ស្វាគមន៍ ( Swah kumm ) ៊
Hello. (formally)
ជំរាបសួរ Chom Riep Sua
Hello!
សួ ស្គើ Suasdey!
Goodbye!
Lia hauij! (Goodbye already)
How are you?
សុខ ស ប្ឃា យ ទេ Sok sabbay de?
Good thank you.
សុខ ស ប្ឃា យ អរគុណ Sok sabbay. Åkhun.
What's your name?
( neak tchmuah ei? )
My name is ______ .
ខ្ញុំ ឈ្មោះ Knjom tchmuah ...
Nice to meet you.
()
You're welcome!
Som meta! (Translated this way, it means "to beg for mercy". There is no request as a polite form in Khmer, the sound makes the music!)
Thanks!
អ គុ េ ណ Åkhun!
Yes
baad (used by men!)
Yes
djah (used by women!)
No
dee or o'dee (is better as a simple answer)
Sorry.
Som dooh
Goodbye
( chum riap lia)
Bye (informal)
( li'a ) // lia hauij quickly spoken / formally: chum riap lia
I don't (hardly) speak ____.
( Kniom ad jech (jech tik tik) pia'sa ___)
Do you speak German?
( Neak eing djeh pia'sa alemang dee?)
Does anyone here speak German?
( Mian neak jech pia'sa alemang te? )
Help!
(Djuij phong! )
Attention!
(brojadd )
Good Morning.
អរុណ សួ ស្គី ( arun sur sdeij)
Good evening.
សាយ័ណ្ហ សួ សូ ី (sayón suos dei)
Good night.
រាត្រី សួស្តី (riadrey sursdej )
Sweet Dreams! (in the sense of "sleep well!")
(jull sopp la'a )
I do not understand that.
( ad djeh de / ad jull de)
Where is the toilet?
( bontup tek neuw ei na? )

Question words

Where
new w ei na
how much
bohnmaan
what how
egg
when
pel na
Why
heid aweij / heid eij / medch cheng
who
neak well
by which
chia muay eij

Problems

Go away! (in the sense of: leave me alone!)
( Dow auj tschngaay)
Do not touch me!
(gomm bahh knjom )
I'm calling the police.
( knjom hauw polich)
Police!
(polich )
Stop the thief!
( djabb djau)
I need help.
(djuay knjom phong )
This is an emergency.
()
I'm lost.
()
I lost my bag.
(knjom badd grabob )
I lost my wallet.
(knjom badd grabob luij )
I'm sick.
(knjom tcheu )
I'm injured.
(knjom mian la'buah )
I need a doctor.
(knjom dreuw ga bejd )
Can I use your telephone?
(knjom som phone / du'rasap )

numbers

The decimal system is also used in Khmer. The numbers have a little peculiarity in Khmer. You only count to five. The numbers six to nine are put together. The numbers 10, 20 .. 90 are an exception. They are independent words.

1
muoy
2
bi
3
bey
4
buon
5
pram
6
pram-muoy
7
pram-pii
8
pram-bey
9
pram-buon
10
dåb (the "å" is spoken briefly9
11
dåb-muoy
17
dåb-pram-bi
20
moopey
30
samsab
40
seisab
50
hasab
60
hoksab
70
djetsab
80
peitsab
90
kaosab
100
mouy-roy
200
bi-roy
600
pram-muoy-roy
1000
mouy-poan
7000
pram-bi-poan
10.000
muoy-möan (the ö and the a merge into a short sound)
100.000
muoy-be
1.000.000
muoy-lian

time

now
( eij leuw not )
later
( titch diad )
before
(bi munn )
(the morning
( prok )
afternoon
(ro'sial )
Eve
( ro'ngiak)
night
(yep )
today
( tgnai not )
yesterday
(m'sell menj )
tomorrow
( tgnai s'aig )
this week
(aditt not )
last week
( aditt munn)
next week
(aditt graoij )

Time

an hour
( maung mui )
two o'clock
( maung pi )
noon
(tngai drong )
thirteen o'clock
(maung muay tngaiy )
fourteen O `clock
( maung bi tngaiy)
midnight
( maung dab bi jup)

Duration

_____ minute (s)
( niadi)
2 hours)
(pi maung ) // Note that "maung pi" means 2 o'clock and "pi maung" means 2 hours
_____ day (s)
( tgnai )
_____ week (s)
( aditt, sapada )
_____ month (s)
( kai )
_____ year (s)
( chnam )

Days

Sunday
( tngaiy aditt )
Monday
(tngaiy dchann )
Tuesday
(tngaiy ang'gia )
Wednesday
(tngaiy budd )
Thursday
(tngaiy bro'hoach )
Friday
(tngaiy sok )
Saturday
( tngaiy saow)

Months

This can be simplified by saying "month one (kai mui), month two (kai pi), ...".

January
( mea'kara)
February
(gompeak )
March
(menia )
April
(mesaa )
May
(u'sapir)
June
(mi'tona )
July
(ga'gada)
August
(sey ha)
September
(ganj'a)
October
(to 'la)
November
(wi tsche ga)
December
(tnuu)

Notation for date and time

Colours

black
( kmauw )
White
saw
Gray
(bo pehh )
red
( grohom )
blue
(kiow)
yellow
( long )
green
(by the way)
orange
kro'hj
purple
(sway )
pink
( p 'gaa chuk )
brown
(tnaot)

traffic

In the street

automobile
lan
Gas station
( haang sang )
petrol
sang (breeng sang)
Engine oil
breeng mashin
diesel
masudd

bus and train

Line _____ (Train, bus, etc.)
()
How much does a ticket to _____ cost?
()
A ticket to _____, please.
()
Where is this train / bus going?
()
Where is the train / bus to _____?
()
Does this train / bus stop in _____?
()
When does the train / bus to_____ leave?
()
When does this train / bus arrive in _____?
()

direction

How do I get ... ?
( pleow teow ... neow ei naa? )
Where are you going?
neak teow na (You where?) Or briefly to na
...to the train station?
(raa rodt pleung )
...to the bus stop?
()
...to the airport?
(vial groball hoah ' )
... to the city center?
(djol krong )
... to the youth hostel?
()
...to the hotel?
(teow ooteil )
... to the German / Austrian / Swiss consulate?
()
Where are there many ...
( Mian ... something new, well? )
... hotels?
()
... restaurants?
()
... bars?
()
...Tourist Attractions?
()
Could you show me that on the map?
(Som tjuai bon hanj löw pein di phong? )
road
( pläu )
Turn left.
( bot thow tschweng )
Turn right.
( bot thow s'damm)
Left
( tchweeng )
right
( s'damm )
straight
(teow drong )
to follow the _____
(daam not / nuch )
after_____
( huah 'gonleing ....)
before the _____
(munn gonleing .... )
Look for _____.
(m'ö toew nich ... / nuch )
north
()
south
()
east
(kaang ga'ud )
west
(kaang ledch )
above
(kaang l'ö )
below
(kaang gray )

taxi

Taxi!
()
Please drive me to _____.
()
How much does a trip to _____ cost?
()
Please take me there.
()

accommodation

Do you have a free room?
( Mian bontup te? )
How much does a room cost for one / two people?
()
Has it in the room ...
()
...a toilet?
()
...a shower?
()
...a telephone?
()
... a TV?
()
Can I see the room first?
( möül bontup ban te? )
Do you have something quieter?
()
... bigger?
( thom chiang )
... clean?
( s'ad )
... cheaper?
()
Ok I'll take it.
()
I want to stay _____ night (s).
()
Can you recommend another hotel?
()
Do you have a safe?
()
...Lockers?
()
Is breakfast / dinner included?
()
What time is breakfast / dinner?
()
Please clean my room.
( Som lian bontup )
Can you wake me up at _____?
()
I want to sign out.
()

money

Do you accept euros?
()
Do you accept Swiss Francs?
()
Do you accept credit cards?
()
Can you change money for me?
()
Where can I change money?
()
Can you change traveler checks for me?
()
Where can I change traveler checks?
()
What is the rate?
()
Where is there an ATM?
()

eat

Here is Tagalog. Caution: It's addictive - but it's healthy and cheap
A table for one / two people, please.
(mian dogg somrapp bi neak )
Could I have the menu?
( Som Manu )
Can i see the kitchen
( m'ö pteah baiy ban te? )
Is there a house specialty?
(mian mahob bi'sehh de? )
Is there a local specialty?
(mian mahoob bi'sehh daam dombon nih de? )
I'm vegetarian.
(knjom ott njam sadch te )
I do not eat pork.
( knjom ott njam sadch tchruk te )
I don't eat beef.
( Knjom ott njam sadch goo te )
I only eat kosher food.
()
Can you cook it low fat?
(gom dack klanj tschra'n got ban te )
Menu of the day
()
à la carte
()
breakfast
(a'haa beel brikk )
Having lunch
( a'haa tngai trong)
with coffee (in the afternoon)
()
Dinner
()
I would like _____.
( Knjom Tschong )
I want table service _____.
()
chicken
( Moan )
Beef
( Goo )
fish
( Trei )
ham
()
sausage
(sadj godfather )
cheese
( cheese )
Ducks eggs
( Pong Tia )
Duck eggs with embryo inside
( Pong Tia Kon ) // I think that's gruesome.
Chickens eggs
( Pong Moan )
salad
( saladd)
(fresh vegetables
( bonlei srohh)
(fresh fruits
(plei tsch'ö )
loaf
( Nom pang )
toast
()
Pasta
(mee barang )
Rice (cooked)
bay
Beans
(son daiyg )
Could I have a glass of _____?
(som auij ... muay geow diad baan dee? )
Could I have a bowl _____?
(som auij ... muay dschan diad baan dee? )
Could I have a bottle of _____?
(som auij .... muay dåb diad baan dee? )
coffee
( gaa'fee)
tea
( Tek Tai )
juice
( tek grodj)
Mineral water
(tek mineral )
water
( Tek )
beer
( bi'jer ) taken from the French; so french Pronunciation "bière"
Red wine / white wine
(sra grohom / sra sa'w )
Could I have some _____?
()
salt
(Am'bell )
pepper
( m'riddj)
butter
(bör, from the French beurre from colonial times )
Sorry waiter? (Get the waiter's attention)
( som thoch )
I'm done.
(knjom haij haij )
It was great.
(tjnganj nahh )
Please clear the table.
( som riab dogg)
The Bill please!
(Som ket luij! - Please calculate money!)
Fruit shake
tek kalogg

Bars

The word sra generally refers to alcoholic beverages.

Glass
keow (Sounds similar to the English word 'cow')
bottle
dåb (The "å" is spoken long)
Do you serve alcohol?
(mian luagg sraa dee? )
Is there a table service?
(mian neak rudd tokk dee )
A beer please
som bi'jer muay (Beer one please)
I want to have a glass of beer
kngjom chong njam bi'jer (Angkor-Beer / Tiger / etc.) muay (keow) (I want to drink beer (Angkor-Beer / Tiger / etc.) One (glass))
A glass of red / white wine, please.
(som sraa grohom / sa'w muay keow )
One glass, please.
som keow muoy (Please glass one)
A bottle, please.
som muay dåb
whiskey
( wi'ski)
Vodka
(vodka )
rum
( room)
water
tek
soda
(tek soda )
Tonic water
( tonic water) Schweppes is known worldwide
orange juice
()
Coke
Coke This is exactly what it means in Khmer - but in some provinces KoKaa
Do you have any snacks?
(mian roboh 'kleim dee )
One more, please.
som muay diet
I would like another beer, please
Som bi'jer muay diet
Another round please.
()
When do you close?
( chubb maung bohnman )
Bottom up!
(leg keow long) (Let raise the glass)
(soka piap!) (To your health!)
(dschull keow) (Clink glass)

shop

Do you have this in my size? one would ask in our part of the world. In Cambodia you only ask whether there are smaller or larger ones
( mian ledj dudj (small) / tom (large) dee )
How much is it?
( tlaij bohnman )
This is too expensive.
( tlaij )
Do you want to take _____?
(djong jo .... dee? )
expensive
( tlaij )
cheap
( ott tlaij ) or ( good )
I can not afford that.
( tlaij b'ee'g somrapp knjom)
I do not want it.
(knjom ott djong dee )
You are cheating on me.
(neak aing gau knjom )
I am not interested in it
(knjom ott trow gaa dee ) means translated: I don't need that
Ok I'll take it.
( ok, knjom jo)
Can i have a bag
( mian taong dee) at least if you ask for a shopping bag (shopping bag)
Do you have oversizes?
( mian leg tom meen deen dee) tom-great, meen deen - really; so: do you have really big things? :)
I need...
( knjom trow gaa)
...Toothpaste.
(tnamm tminj ) Drug-brushing-teeth
...a toothbrush.
(tschrach tminj ) Brush-brush-teeth
... tampons.
( somley ana mei srey)
...Soap.
( Sabu )
...Shampoo.
( sa bu gok sok)
...Painkiller.
(tnamm batt ch'ü )
...Laxative.
()
... something against diarrhea.
( tnamm batt riak)
... a razor.
( laam gau buk moad)
...an umbrella.
( chat )
...Suncream.
()
...a postcard.
()
... postage stamps.
( daim)
... batteries.
( tmoo)
... writing paper.
( kra dah soseh)
...a pen.
( both)
... German books.
( siuw pow allemong)
... German magazines.
()
... German newspapers.
()
... a German-X dictionary.
()

Drive

Can I rent a car?
()
Can I get insurance?
()
STOP
()
one way street
()
Give way
()
No parking
()
Top speed
()
Gas station
()
petrol
( Sang )
diesel
()

Authorities

I did nothing wrong.
()
That was a misunderstanding.
()
Where are you taking me
()
Am i arrested?
()
I am a German / Austrian / Swiss citizen.
()
I want to speak to the German / Austrian / Swiss embassy.
()
I want to speak to the German / Austrian / Swiss consulate.
()
I want to speak to a lawyer.
()
Can't I just pay a fine?
()

Small talk

I'm from Germany?
(kngjom dschụn dschẹd allemang) or (knjom mo pi prote alemang)
I'm from Austria
(knyom jun jiad ottrih)
Happy New Year!
(suasdey dschnam thmey)

What you hear like that

Pretty Woman
Srey s'ad
Handsome man
Proh 's'ad
Western foreigner (actually French)
Barang
Crazy
Chguat
Understand nothing
ad jeh '
To rest (to sit)
Gui leng
What do you want to buy?
tein ai?
do you have a wife
mian propon te?
Do you speak khmer
jek kmai te?
Where are you from now
Mo pi na?
Where are you going
töw na
Who is there (on the phone, front door)
na ge nang / anaa?
What's this?
S'ei ge nang
to go for a walk
dauw leng

Animals: Sat

a'ping; be sure to remove the teeth first, otherwise the spider will bite
Fried "a'ping '"
big gecko
Tokai
little gecko
Tsching Tscho
Snake
Bua
little spider
ping piang
big spider
a'ping
ant
angkrong
cat
chma
dog
Tschgei
cow
Gou
chicken
Moan
goat
Popey
pig
chiruk
tiger
Klaa
bear
Klaa Kmum (Bear likes honey)
bee
Km
fish
Trai
little bird
tchaab
Water bird
coke
Mosquito
Moo
Fly
roi

Yes No/?

As in most languages ​​in the region, there is no direct translation for yes / no.

Are there mines: mian min te
There are mines: mian min
There are no mines: ad mian min

The "te" at the end replaces the question mark and is spoken. "ad" (or "od") is responsible for a negative.

If you say "ad" and "te", it means "no" ad-te (od-te).

Additional information

  • Franklin E. Huffman: Modern Spoken Cambodian (Yale University Press, ISBN 0-300-01316-7 ) - quite extensive textbook in English.
  • Claudia Götze-Sam & Sam Samnang: Khmer, word for word (Reise-Know-How-Verlag, ISBN 3-89416-881-1 ) - small phrase book for on the go
  • OXFORD Children's Picture Dictionary (ISBN 0 19 431474 X )
Article draftThe main parts of this article are still very short and many parts are still in the drafting phase. If you know anything on the subject be brave and edit and expand it so that it becomes a good article. If the article is currently being written to a large extent by other authors, don't be put off and just help.