Glossary of Cambodian Terms

Formal hello/greeting

→ Used with elders, monks, and in formal settings. Accompanied by a sampeah (palms together).

Informal hello/hi

→ Casual greeting among friends and peers. More common in everyday use.

Thank you

Sorry / excuse me

Yes (male / female)

→ Baat is used by men, Chaah by women. Polite and essential.

No

Formal goodbye

Informal goodbye / see you

How are you? / Are you well?

→ Common greeting. Reply: Sok sabay (I'm well).

Older sibling / polite form of address

→ Used like "brother/sister" for people slightly older. Very common in daily conversation.

Younger sibling / term of endearment

→ Used for younger people. Also used between couples.

Who?

Traditional fish curry steamed in banana leaves

→ Cambodia's national dish. Found everywhere from street stalls to fine dining.

Noodle soup (Cambodia's breakfast staple)

→ Available everywhere from $1. Rice noodles in pork or beef broth with herbs.

Stir-fried beef with pepper-lime sauce

→ Served over rice with a fried egg on top. One of the most popular Khmer dishes.

Khmer noodles with green fish curry

→ Popular breakfast dish. Fresh rice noodles topped with fish-based green curry and fresh vegetables.

Fermented fish paste

→ Called "Cambodian cheese" — essential seasoning in Khmer cooking. Strong smell, umami flavor.

Cooked rice

→ The staple of every Cambodian meal. "Nyam bai" means "eat rice" (to have a meal).

Soup / stew

→ Samlor korko (mixed vegetable soup) is a traditional Khmer comfort food.

Stir-fried

→ As in cha kroeung (stir-fried lemongrass), cha troap (stir-fried eggplant).

Water / liquid / sauce

→ Tuk treh = fish sauce. Som tuk = ask for water.

Beer

→ Angkor Beer and Cambodia Beer are the local favorites.

Coffee

→ Cambodian iced coffee is strong and sweet with condensed milk.

Cake / pastry / snack

→ Num pang = bread/sandwich (from French "pain"). Num kroch = orange cake.

Khmer spice paste / curry base

→ A pounded paste of lemongrass, turmeric, galangal, garlic, and shallots. Foundation of Khmer cooking.

Cooking pot / clay pot

→ Chhnang pleurng = hotpot. A social dining experience popular in the evenings.

To eat

→ "Nyam bai" (eat rice) is the general invitation to eat / have a meal.

Motorized three-wheeler or trailer taxi

→ Most common tourist transport. Negotiate price before boarding.

Motorcycle taxi

→ Cheaper but less safe than tuk-tuks. Drivers wear numbered vests.

Bicycle rickshaw / pedal-powered taxi

→ Mostly a tourist novelty now. Found around Phnom Penh riverside and Siem Reap.

Go / to go

→ "Tov na?" = Where are you going? Essential for tuk-tuk rides.

Right (direction)

Left (direction)

Straight ahead

Stop

→ "Chob ti nih" = Stop here. Useful in tuk-tuks.

Road / street

→ Streets in Phnom Penh are numbered, not named. "Plov lekh..." = Street number...

Far

Near / close

Cambodian currency (4,100 per $1 USD)

→ Used for small amounts under $1. US dollars used for everything else.

Expensive

→ "T'lay nah!" = That's expensive! Useful when bargaining.

Cheap / inexpensive

Reduce the price / discount

→ Essential bargaining phrase. "Som joh thlai" = Please reduce the price.

Market

→ Psar Thmei = New Market (Central Market, Phnom Penh). Psar Chas = Old Market (Siem Reap).

To buy

→ "Tinh ban teh?" = Can I buy this?

Money

Foreigner (specifically Westerner)

→ From the French word "français." Not derogatory — just descriptive.

How much does it cost?

→ The most essential shopping phrase. Point at an item and ask this.

I don't want to buy / no thanks

→ Polite way to decline persistent vendors.

Cambodian people, language, and culture

Buddhist temple / monastery

→ As in Wat Phnom, Angkor Wat. Cambodia has 4,000+ active wats.

Traditional greeting gesture (palms together)

→ Height of hands indicates respect level. Higher for monks, elders, and royalty.

Celestial nymph / divine dancer

→ Featured in temple carvings and traditional dance. Symbol of Khmer cultural heritage.

Multi-headed serpent from Hindu/Buddhist mythology

→ Common temple decoration. Bridges over moats at Angkor are flanked by nagas.

Traditional checkered scarf

→ Multi-purpose: headwrap, towel, baby carrier, hammock. Symbol of Cambodian identity.

Teacher / master

→ Term of deep respect. Also used for traditional healers and spiritual leaders.

Sacred / holy / royal

→ Prefix for sacred things: Preah Vihear (sacred temple), Preah Ang (royal).

Buddhist precepts / moral conduct

→ Five sila (precepts) are the foundation of Buddhist morality in Cambodia.

Festival / ceremony / merit-making event

→ Bon Om Touk = Water Festival. Bon Phchum Ben = Ancestors' Day.

Ancestors' Day festival (15-day Buddhist observance)

→ Cambodia's most important religious festival. Families offer food to the spirits of deceased relatives at pagodas.

One (1)

Two (2)

Three (3)

Four (4)

Five (5)

Six (6)

→ Literally "five-one." Khmer numbers 6–9 are built on five.

Seven (7)

Eight (8)

Nine (9)

Ten (10)

Help!

→ "Chuoy phong!" = Help me please! Use in urgent situations.

Doctor / hospital

→ "Tov mun tii peit" = Go to the hospital.

Pain / hurt / sick

→ "Khnhom chheu" = I'm in pain. Point to the affected area.

Police

→ Tourist police available in Siem Reap and Phnom Penh. More helpful than regular police for foreign visitors.

Fire

Danger / accident

Medicine / medication

→ Pharmacies (haang thnaam) are found on most main streets in cities.

City / capital (from Sanskrit "nagara")

→ Ancient Khmer Empire capital. Angkor Wat = "City Temple."

Hill / mountain

→ As in Phnom Penh (hill of Penh — the legendary founding myth).

"Defeat of Siam" (Thailand)

→ Gateway city to Angkor. Name reflects historic conflicts with Thailand.

"Lost stick" — from a legendary tale

Port / landing place / village by water

→ Prefix in many Cambodian place names: Kampong Cham, Kampong Thom, Kampong Speu.

Lake / large river

→ Tonle Sap = Great Lake, the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia.

River

→ As in Stung Treng (big river), a northeastern province.

Tower / temple structure

→ Used for Hindu/Buddhist temple towers. Prasat Preah Vihear = "Sacred Temple Tower."

Reservoir (ancient Khmer engineering)

→ The West Baray at Angkor is 8km x 2km — still holds water after 1,000 years.

Fortress / citadel

→ Banteay Srei = "Citadel of Women." Banteay Kdei = "Citadel of Cells."

Island

→ Koh Rong, Koh Rong Sanloem, Koh Tonsay (Rabbit Island), Koh Ker (ancient capital).

Cambodian hot pot

→ A social evening meal. Clay pot of broth with meats, seafood, and vegetables for dipping. Very popular with Cambodian families.

Fish sauce

→ Essential condiment on every Cambodian table. Used like salt in Western cooking.

Delicious / tasty

→ Say this after eating and watch your host beam with pride. The ultimate compliment to a Cambodian cook.

It's nothing / you're welcome / no problem

→ Used as a response to "thank you" or to dismiss a minor issue.