120 Essential Cambodian Phrases & Khmer Words for Travel + Pronunciation
Preparing for your trip to Cambodia? Review these Cambodian (Khmer) words for travel before you go. These basic Cambodian (Khmer) phrases for tourists will set you up for success with the locals!
If you’re dreaming of visiting Angkor Wat soon, I’ve got good news for you – the majority of Cambodians in the tourism industry speak perfectly understandable English. However, attempting to speak Khmer, the official language of Cambodia, is a huge gesture of respect that can go a long way in enhancing your visit to the country. It’s a language only spoken by about 20 million people – compared to 1.5 billion English speakers – so it means a lot to them for you to try. It’s not the easiest language for English-speakers, especially since it’s written in script rather than the Latin alphabet we’re used to, but we’ll do our best to make things easy for you. In this guide, we’ve compiled some of the most basic Cambodian (Khmer) words and phrases for travel and tourists to know before you go. And if all else fails, there’s always Google Translate 😉
Visiting Siem Reap on your trip? Check out our Siem Reap travel guide and premade itinerary here to make planning your vacation there a breeze.
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Cambodian (Khmer) Words for Travel - Guide at a Glance:
Cambodian (Khmer) Words and Phrases for Tourists & Travel
We’ve broken up our list of basic Cambodian phrases for tourists into logical categories below to help you digest things easier. Each word or phrase in English is followed by the equivalent in Khmer as well as a phonetic spelling afterwards, to help you pronounce it properly. As always with our blog, the foreign language words will be in italics. When relevant, we’ve included some helpful notes on when it’s appropriate (or not) to use the word or phrase.
Throughout our guide, we’ll use the terms Cambodian and Khmer interchangeably. As most people are unfamiliar with the name of the language, we hope this will make things easiest for you to understand, while also helping your brain to associate the two terms together. Just don’t forget that Cambodia is the country and Khmer is the language!
Without further ado, let’s get into the Khmer words for travel you need to know!
Cambodian Words for Travel - The Basics
Let’s start off with something simple – everyday basics like “hello,” “goodbye,” “please,” and “thank you” – the most basic Khmer phrases for tourists!
- Hello – jom reap suor – jom REE-up soo-ah (formal)
- Hi – sous-dey – soo-DAY (casual)
- Good morning – arun suas-dei – ah-ROON soo-DAY
- Good evening – svai rea sua sdei – svy REE-ah soo-DAY
- Good night – reatrei suas-dei – ree-ah-TRY soo-DAY
- Goodbye – lee-haey – lee-HOY
- See you later – juab khnea pel kraoy – juab KNEE-ah pel CROY
- Nice to meet you – riab lia chmua – ree-up LEE-ah chmoo-ah
- Please – som – sohm (locals use this a lot to soften requests – don’t be afraid to use it often)
- Thank you – ar kun – aw KUN (the most important)
- You’re welcome – men ey te – men AY tay (literally “it’s nothing”)
- Yes – baat (for men) / jaa (for women) – baht / cha
- No – te – tay
- Excuse me/I’m sorry – som dtoh – sohm TOH
- I don’t speak Khmer – khnhom ot niyeay khmer te – knyom oat nee-YAY kh-MARE tay
- Do you speak English? – ta neak niyeay angkleh ban te? – ta neak nee-YAY ang-KLAY ban tay?
If you spend time learning any Cambodian words for travel before your trip, we highly recommend it’s these ones. Being able to say “please” and “thank you” go a long way toward showing respect for the culture, and may result in you receiving better service or even just a smile. Also, don’t forget to sampeah – sahm-PEE-ah, a small bow with your palms together. It’s the traditional Cambodian greeting, used for “hello,” “thank you,” and “goodbye.” The higher your hands, the more respect you show – so go higher for elders, monks, and formal occasions.
Getting Around
Google Maps not working? These Khmer words for travel will help you out in a pinch.
- Where is…? – nouw na? – now NAH?
- How do I get to…? – tow yang mearn te…? – toh yang MAHN tay?
- I’m lost – khnhom veang plov – knyom v-ANG plow
- Left – chveng – ch-VENG
- Right – sdam – s-DAM
- Straight ahead – tow trawng – toh TROHNG
- Near – ch’it – CHIT
- Far – chngai – ch-n-GAY
- Train – rot pleung – roat PLERNG
- Bus – lan krong – lahng KRONG
- Station (bus/train) – s’tan – sa-TAHN
- Airport – vityei en-ter-nat – wee-TYAY en-ter-NAT (locals may just say “airport”)
- A ticket for… – somnot daw… – som-NOT dow…
- One-way – moy krop – moy KROP
- Round trip – torn tien – torn TEEN
- When does it leave? – pel na chenh? – pel NAH chenh?
- When does it arrive? – mok pel na? – moke pel NAH?
- How much to go there? – tlai bon-man tow tinih? – tlye BON-man toh tee-NIH?
- Can you use the meter? – neak chong pruy mi-ter te? – neak CHONG prooy mee-TER tay?
- Stop here – som chop niy te – sohm CHOP nih tay
One of the most fun ways to travel around Cambodia is via tuk tuk – took-took, the iconic three-wheeled taxi. If you prefer a standard taxi, there are plenty of those as well, and they’re pronounced the same as in English. But either way, make sure to negotiate your fare up front, or that the taxi has a meter! Better yet, travel with Grab, Southeast Asia’s #1 rideshare app, like Uber. Rides on Grab will be cheaper than those you pick up on the street nearly 100% of the time, and sometimes by a wide margin.
Visiting Siem Reap? Learn more about how to get to the city from the airport – an hour away – in our guide Your Ultimate Siem Reap 2-5 Day Itinerary.
Drinking and Dining
If you’re like me, you travel for the food. Here are the basic Cambodian phrases for tourists you need to know to order it.
- Restaurant – haang bai – hahng BYE
- A table for two – dtoe-knee som-leng bpee – toe-KNEE som-LENG bee
- Menu – tae-vii – tay-VEE
- Waiter/Waitress – neak bong-aan – neak bong-AHN
- Excuse me (get attention) – bong! – BONG! (friendly)
- I’d like…(to order) – khnhom chong baw… – knyom CHONG baw…
- What do you recommend? – neak so-baay ey? – neak so-BYE ay?
- Where is the bathroom? – bontob tuk nouw na? – bon-TOP took now NAH?
- Can I pay? – khnhom at ban lie? – knyom aht ban LEE?
- The bill/check – khsae khet loy – k’say KET loy
- Water (still) – tuk s’aat – took sa-AHT
- Water (sparkling) – tuk s’aat kem pong – took sa-AHT kem PONG
- Beer – bia – BEE-ah
- Wine (red/white) – sraa daem / sraa saw – s’rah DAEM / s’rah SAW
- A glass of… (water, wine) – tuay moy… – too-AY moy
- Cheers! – chum reang! – choom REE-ang!
- Delicious – chngan nas! – ch’NGAN nas!
- I’m allergic to… – khnhom mean ka vey prap – knyom MEEN kah vay prahp
- Vegetarian – chong nyam boran sops – CHONG nyam boh-RAN sops
Shopping
Whether you’re buying a souvenir or just some Advil at the market, here are some common Khmer phrases for tourists to help you complete your purchase.
- What is this? – nih ey? – NEEH ay?
- How much does this cost? – nih tlai bon-man? – NEEH tlye BON-man?
- Do you have change? – mean loy lech te? – meen loy LETCH tay?
- Do you accept cash/credit card? – jap kar doal loy sos/kret dit te? – jup kah DOAL loy SOS/kret dit tay?
- Do you have…? – mean…te? – meen…tay?
- Where can I find…? – khnhom chong nov na…? – knyom CHONG now NAH…?
- I’m just looking – nyam moy moy – nyam MOY-moy (casual)
- Can I try it on? – khnhom ach prak ban te? – knyom aht PRAK ban tay?
- I’ll take it – khnhom yoke nih – knyom yoke NEEH
- Size – kroh-o – kroh-OH
- Do you have this in a small/medium/large – mean nih tov toich / tom / la-ang? – meen NEEH tov TOYCH / TOM / la-ANG?
- Open – bot – BOT
- Closed – kpet – KPET
When shopping at the markets in Cambodia, don’t be afraid to haggle! This is common and expected, so a vendor’s opening offer is likely higher than what they expect to actually receive. Try using Cambodian phrases tlai nas! – tlye NAS! for “that’s too expensive” or joal tlai te? – jo-ahl tlye tay? for “can you lower the price?” Also, make sure to keep plenty of cash on hand, though it’s important to note that Cambodia’s monetary system is a bit confusing. Here, they use both Cambodian riel (KHR) and US dollars (USD), usually for different purposes. Check out our Siem Reap travel guide to learn more about using cash in Cambodia.
At the Hotel
Checking in at the hotel always leads to a few key questions to facilitate your stay. Ask for extra towels and make sure you don’t miss breakfast with the Cambodian words for travel below.
- Hotel – so-thee-ah-neak – so-TEE-ah-nee-ahk (add toich – TOYCH at the end for hostel)
- Do you have a room available? – mean bontub tiet te? – meen bon-TOOB tee-ET tay?
- I have a reservation – khnhom ban book howie – knyom ban BOOK hoy
- What time is checkout/breakfast? – pel na baan chech out/nyam bai preuk? – pel NAH ban check-OUT/nyam BYE preuk?
- Can we leave our bags here? – som sak kang tinih ban te? – sohm SOK kahng tee-NIH ban tay?
- More towels – som keun khao tiet – sohm koon kow tee-ET
- Key – kun-jea – koon-JEE-ah
- Elevator – me-kan-nee-ke – may-KAN-nee-kay
- Wi-Fi password – wi-fi pas-wot – WEE-fye pas-WOT
- Air conditioning – mah-shiin tro-jek – mah-SHEEN tro-JEK
Numbers and Time
Keeping track of time is key on vacation to make sure you don’t miss out on any of your activities! Use these Khmer words for travel to make sure you get to the ticket office on time – and understand the price, too.
- One – moy – MOY
- Two – bpee – BEE
- Three – bey – BAY
- Four – buon – BOO-un
- Five – pram – PRAM
- Six – pram moy – pram MOY
- Seven – pram bpee – pram BEE
- Eight – pram bey – pram BAY
- Nine – pram buon – pram BOO-un
- Ten – dop – DOP
- Eleven – dop moy – dop MOY
- Twelve – dop bpee – dop BEE (or pel noon – pel NOON if you mean noon)
- Twenty – m’pey – m’PAY
- One hundred – moy roy – MOY roy
- One thousand – moy pon – MOY pohn
- What time is it? – pel bon-man howie? – pel BON-man hoy?
- Today – t’ngai nih – t’n-GAY neeh
- Tomorrow – t’ngai sa-ek – t’n-GAY sa-EK
- This morning – pel preuk – pel PROOK
- This afternoon – pel lin – pel LIN
- Tonight – pel l’ngeach – pel len-GEACH
In an Emergency
Sometimes, bad things happen. While we hope your vacation goes flawlessly, it’s best to be prepared with these Cambodian words for travel emergencies, just in case.
- Help! – chuoy! – CHOO-oy!
- Can you help me? – som chuoy khnhom? – sohm CHOO-oy knyom?
- Can I borrow your phone? – khnhom at yul yok tel-ponh neak te? – knyom aht YOOL yoke TEL-pon neak tay?
- Call the police! – haey s’tah niyo! – HAY s’tah nee-YO!
- Call an ambulance! – haey roat pleung pleuh! – HAY roat plerng ploo!
- Emergency – ka chbah chran – kah CHBAH chran
- I’m sick – khnhom chumngat – knyom choom-NGAT
- I need a doctor – trovka pet – troh-KAH pet
- Pharmacy – t’nam – t’NAM
- Hospital – mon-tee pet – mon-TEE pet
- I lost my passport – khnhom bat passport – knyom bat PASS-port (we really, really hope you don’t need this one)
Cambodia’s tourist destinations – like Siem Reap and Phnom Penh – are pretty safe to visit, but make sure to take common sense precautions, especially when you’re in crowded tourist areas. Wear a purse with a zipper, don’t keep your phone in your back pocket, and watch your drink. We also suggest you leave your passport locked in the safe at your hotel room to be extra secure.
Bonus: Colloquial Phrases
Want to really impress the locals? Move beyond the basic Cambodian phrases for tourists and learn some of these colloquial Khmer phrases to sling around.
- What’s up? – ta bong sabay te? – ta bong sa-BYE tay?
- Really? – mern te? – MURN tay?
- No way! – ot ban te! – oat BAN tay!
- Let’s go! – tow! – TOH!
- Let’s eat! – nyam bai! – nyam BYE!
- I’m full – khnhom rean howie – knyom REE-an hoy
- So beautiful – sa-art nas! – sa-AHT nas!
- I love Cambodia! – khnhom sralanh kampuchea! – knyom sra-LAN kampu-CHEE-ah!
FAQs - Other Cambodia Travel Tips
When Is the Best Time to Visit Cambodia?
The best time to visit Cambodia is between November and April, when you’ll have the highest chance of sunny, dry days – though there’s no getting around the heat. Peak season is between December and January, and though we typically prefer visiting during shoulder season, it’s not a huge issue yet in Cambodia’s still-developing tourism economy. We visited in December and had no issue making dinner reservations or booking any of our activities in Siem Reap. Outside of the November-April window, the rainy season may negatively impact your trip.
Which Destinations Should I Visit in Cambodia?
Cambodia is full of incredible destinations to explore. During our time there, we visited Siem Reap, home of Angkor Wat, and highly recommend you do too. Access our Siem Reap travel guides here:
- Your Ultimate Siem Reap 2-5 Day Itinerary – Culture Beyond the Basics
- Your Guide to Visiting Siem Reap’s Elephant Sanctuary
- Your Guide to Which Cambodia Siem Reap Temples to Visit (and How to Tour Them)
While we haven’t been ourselves, we’ve also heard great things about Phnom Penh! As the capital city of Cambodia, it’s home to the Royal Palace, along with additional temples and historical sites like the Killing Fields. We will definitely be hitting this city the next time we’re in the area! Another destination at the top of our list is Koh Rong, a small island off the coast of Cambodia with gorgeous, white sand beaches. If this sounds up your alley, check out this super helpful guide from VanderlustJourney – we’ll definitely be referencing it when we plan our visit!
Regardless of where you decide to go, make sure to keep this guide to basic Cambodian (Khmer) phrases for tourists handy to help you navigate your vacation.
Do I Need a Visa to Visit Cambodia?
Yes – unlike many top tourist destinations, Cambodia does not provide a free visa-on-arrival for most tourists. So, you’ll either need to apply for an e-Visa before arrival (recommended), or you can apply for the visa in person on arrival (can include a long wait). Learn more about how to apply for a tourist visa to Cambodia in our Siem Reap travel guide.
Are There Helpful Apps I Should Download Before I Visit Cambodia?
Absolutely! These are the top apps we recommend you download before your trip to Cambodia:
- Airalo – having full use of your phone while traveling is incredibly important! ESim apps like Airalo make getting cell service anywhere you travel easy and affordable. If you haven’t used it before, you can use this Airalo code to get a discount on your first purchase.
- Grab – another highly valuable app to download before you visit Cambodia is Grab, Southeast Asia’s #1 ridesharing app (like Uber). Requesting rides on Grab will be much cheaper than purchasing them on the street, and without any stress or haggling.
- Google Translate – we recommend downloading the Khmer language for offline use on Google Translate, so you can always communicate even if you lose cell service. While this list of basic Cambodian (Khmer) phrases for tourists is a good start, you’ll definitely still need Google Translate to fill in the gaps!
- Google Maps – for the same reason, we also recommend downloading the offline map of the city you’re visiting on Google Maps.
Which Travel Resources Should I Use to Plan My Trip to Cambodia?
For starters, use our site! Check out all of our Cambodia travel guides to help you decide where to go, what to do, and where to stay.
Once you’ve learned your Cambodian (Khmer) words for travel and you’re ready to plan your trip, we recommend the following resources:
- Flights – we use Google Flights and Skyscanner to book our flights. These resources help you compare all the airlines at once, plus give you tips on the best times to purchase. I use their price tracking features religiously to make sure we get the best deal.
- Hotels – we always use Booking.com for choosing hotel stays. We think they have the best prices, their star ratings are super reliable, and we love the perks we get with their rewards system.
- Transit – if you’re traveling throughout Cambodia on anything other than planes – like trains, or buses – we recommend 12Go.Asia. This site is the most detailed and reliable to see all your route options within Cambodia.
- Trip Planning – the most frequently opened app on our phone, regardless of our destination, is Wanderlog. This app makes travel planning SO easy. You can import all your flights, hotels, and transit information, add top sites to your itinerary, and even track and split your budget amongst your travel buddies. It also provides recommendations on where to visit and a map of all the attractions you plan to see, with transit time between each.
Do I Need Travel Insurance to Visit Cambodia?
While it’s not required, we highly recommend it. You never know when something might go wrong, and it’s best to be prepared. We use and recommend SafetyWing, which is an especially good option for those traveling for a month or more. For as little as $56, it covers everything from lost luggage to hospital stays – a heck of a deal if you encounter any emergencies while abroad.
Final Thoughts on Cambodian (Khmer) Words for Travel
That’s all she wrote for our list of basic Cambodian (Khmer) phrases for tourists! We hope these Cambodian (Khmer) words for travel make your vacation go a little smoother. Showing your respect for the country you’re visiting by speaking the native language goes a long way to warming the locals to you, and can lead to special encounters that may become some of your fondest memories. Share your favorite memory from visiting Cambodia with us below!
After you’ve learned the important Cambodian words for travel, make sure to check out our travel guides to make planning your vacation a breeze! We’ve got a full Siem Reap travel guide, plus detailed guides on visiting Siem Reap’s elephant sanctuary and which Siem Reap temples to visit (and the best way to tour them). Let us know where you want us to cover next!
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