What are the most essential Khmer emergency phrases?
The most critical phrases are: 'Joo-ay p\'hong!' (Help!), 'How rot-yun song-kroh bon-toan!' (Call an ambulance!), 'Mien kroah-tnah cha-raa-char' (There has been an accident), and 'K\'nyom trouv baan plon' (I have been robbed). Key numbers: Police 117, Ambulance 119, Fire 118.
- Police emergency: 117
- Ambulance: 119
- Fire brigade: 118
- Tourist police (English): 012-942-484
Why Learn Emergency Khmer?
Cambodia's emergency services operate primarily in Khmer. While tourist areas in Phnom Penh may have English-speaking assistance, rural areas, road accidents, and night emergencies often require you to communicate directly in Khmer. Even a few words can dramatically speed up response times and convey urgency.
This guide is organized by emergency type. Each phrase includes the Khmer script (for showing locals), phonetic pronunciation (for speaking), and contextual notes. Save this page offline or screenshot each section before your trip.
Before You Need It
Save emergency numbers in your phone now: Police 117, Ambulance 119, Fire 118. Also save your hotel's number and your travel insurer's 24-hour line. A local Cambodian SIM card (from Cellcard, Smart, or Metfone) ensures you can make calls anywhere.
Medical Emergencies
Ambulance: 119 | Royal Phnom Penh Hospital: 023-991-000
Help! / Emergency!
ជួយផង! / អាសន្ន!
Joo-ay p'hong! / Ah-san!
Shout loudly to attract attention
Call an ambulance!
ហៅរថយន្តសង្គ្រោះបន្ទាន់!
How rot-yun song-kroh bon-toan!
Ambulance number: 119
I need a doctor.
ខ្ញុំត្រូវការពេទ្យ។
K'nyom trouv-kaa paet.
Take me to the hospital.
យកខ្ញុំទៅមន្ទីរពេទ្យ។
Yok k'nyom tov mon-tee paet.
Useful with a tuk-tuk driver
I am sick.
ខ្ញុំឈឺ។
K'nyom chhu.
I have pain here.
ខ្ញុំឈឺត្រង់នេះ។
K'nyom chhu trong nih.
Point to the affected area
I am allergic to…
ខ្ញុំអាឡែស្យ…
K'nyom ah-lair-see…
Add penicillin = "pénicilline", peanuts = "sandek day"
I cannot breathe.
ខ្ញុំដកដង្ហើមមិនបាន។
K'nyom dok dong-herm min baan.
Critical phrase for respiratory emergencies
Someone has fainted.
មនុស្សម្នាក់ដាច់សង្ហា។
Muh-nooh muh-nak dach song-haa.
There is a lot of blood.
មានឈាមច្រើនណាស់។
Mien chhem ch'raen nah.
Medical Evacuation
For serious injuries, Cambodia's medical system may not be sufficient. Bumrungrad International Hospital in Bangkok is the nearest world-class facility (1 hour by air). Ensure your travel insurance includes medical evacuation coverage of at least $100,000. Contact your insurer's emergency line immediately in serious cases.
Police & Crime Phrases
Police emergency: 117 | Tourist police (English): 012-942-484
Police!
នគរបាល!
Nuh-kor baal!
Police emergency number: 117
I need the police.
ខ្ញុំត្រូវការនគរបាល។
K'nyom trouv-kaa nuh-kor baal.
I have been robbed.
ខ្ញុំត្រូវបានប្លន់។
K'nyom trouv baan plon.
Most common emergency for tourists
Someone stole my bag.
មានអ្នកលួចកាបូបខ្ញុំ។
Mien nak louach kaa-bop k'nyom.
I need a report for insurance.
ខ្ញុំត្រូវការរបាយការណ៍សម្រាប់ធានារ៉ាប់រង។
K'nyom trouv-kaa ruh-bay-kaa som-rap thnea-rahp-rong.
Police reports needed for insurance claims
I did not do anything wrong.
ខ្ញុំមិនបានធ្វើអ្វីខុសទេ។
K'nyom min baan tveu avey khos teh.
I want to call my embassy.
ខ្ញុំចង់ទូរស័ព្ទទៅស្ថានទូត។
K'nyom jong too-ruh-sap tov sthan-toot.
Your right when detained
Please help me!
សូមជួយខ្ញុំផង!
Som joo-ay k'nyom p'hong!
Bag Snatching in Cambodia
Bag snatching from moving motorbikes is the most common crime against tourists. Always wear bags on the side away from traffic, keep camera straps around your neck, and avoid using phones in the street in busy areas. Phnom Penh's riverside and Siem Reap's tourist zones have tourist police patrols.
Transport Emergencies
Traffic police: 117 | Road accidents are the leading cause of injury for tourists
There has been an accident.
មានគ្រោះថ្នាក់ចរាចរ។
Mien kroah-tnah cha-raa-char.
Traffic police: 117
My motorbike is broken.
មូតូរបស់ខ្ញុំខូច។
Moo-to ruh-boh k'nyom khoch.
I have a flat tyre.
កង់ខ្ញុំដាច់។
Kong k'nyom dach.
Tyre shops are very common in Cambodia
Can you push the vehicle?
តើអ្នកអាចជួយរុញយានយន្តបានទេ?
Tae nak aach joo-ay roony yaan-yon baan teh?
Call a mechanic!
ហៅជាងម៉ាស៊ីន!
How jeang maa-seen!
Someone is injured.
មនុស្សម្នាក់របួស។
Muh-nooh muh-nak ruh-boos.
Most urgent phrase at an accident scene
Do not move the injured person.
កុំផ្លាស់ទីអ្នករបួស។
Kom p'laah-tee nak ruh-boos.
Critical to prevent spinal injuries
Road Safety in Cambodia
Cambodia has one of Southeast Asia's highest road accident rates. Always wear a helmet on motorbikes — by law and common sense. Avoid riding after dark on rural roads. If you're in an accident, do not leave the scene until police arrive, and photograph everything for your insurance claim.
Natural Disaster Phrases
Fire brigade: 118 | National disaster hotline: 1979
There is a flood!
មានទឹកជំនន់!
Mien tuk jom-nun!
Floods are common in rainy season (June–November)
There is a fire!
មានភ្លើង!
Mien phleung!
Fire department: 118
Call the fire brigade!
ហៅអាជ្ញាធរពន្លត់អគ្គីភ័យ!
How aach-nyaa-tor pon-lot ak-kee-phai!
We need to evacuate.
យើងត្រូវវៀចចេញ។
Yeung trouv viach chenh.
Move to higher ground!
ផ្លាស់ទៅដីខ្ពស់!
P'laah tov dey khpuah!
Important in flood-prone areas
Is everyone safe?
តើទាំងអស់គ្នាសុវត្ថិភាពទេ?
Tae teang ah-knyea su-voat-te-phiep teh?
Pronunciation Tips for Emergency Use
In an emergency, perfect pronunciation matters less than conveying urgency. These tips will help you be understood even under stress.
Key Sounds
k'nyom — "I / me" — the k' is a soft initial stop, almost silent
trouv — "need" — rhymes with "grove" but shorter
baan — "can / have" — "baan" as in "barn" without the r
teh — makes a statement a question — add to end of sentence
p'hong — "please / I beg you" — adds urgency
Emergency Communication Tips
• Show the Khmer script on your phone if pronunciation fails
• Speak slowly and clearly — rushing makes Khmer harder to understand
• Use gestures and pointing to reinforce your words
• "Joo-ay!" (Help!) is universally understood even with rough pronunciation
• Ask your hotel to write your emergency phrase on a card in advance
Emergency Quick Reference
117
Police
119
Ambulance
118
Fire
1979
Disaster Hotline
Related Language Guides
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
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