Useful Khmer Phrases for Travelers

You do not need fluent Khmer to show care. Begin with a greeting, thank-you and a willingness to listen. Pronunciation varies in English spelling, so treat these as friendly starting points rather than a perfect phonetic system.

Khmer phrase cards

Tap a card to see the phrase, show it large to someone, or practice with flashcards. The readings are simple guides, so listen to local speakers and welcome correction.

A general guide, not a guarantee

These phrases are everyday starting points, and the written readings are approximations of Khmer sounds. Pronunciation, politeness levels and word choice vary by speaker, so we make no promise that they suit every situation. A destination name written on your phone can help when pronunciation fails.

Five phrases to begin

English	Khmer	Simple reading
Hello	សួស្តី	suos-dei
Thank you	អរគុណ	aw-kun
Yes	បាទ / ចាស	baat / jaa
No	ទេ	te
Sorry / excuse me	សុំទោស	som toh

Useful while traveling

English	Khmer	Simple reading
How much?	ថ្លៃប៉ុន្មាន?	tlai pon-maan?
Where is…?	… នៅឯណា?	… nov ae-naa?
Delicious	ឆ្ងាញ់	chnganh
Water	ទឹក	teuk
Please help	សូមជួយ	som chuoy

Use language warmly

Khmer has social distinctions and pronunciation that a short page cannot capture. Listen to local speakers, accept correction with good humour and do not exaggerate an accent for entertainment. A clear destination name on your phone can help when pronunciation fails.

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Learn moreKhmer greetings and manners →At the tableBegin with Cambodian food →CultureVisit respectfully →

A pocket phrase set

Ten phrases worth keeping offline

Khmer sounds do not map perfectly into English spelling, so romanisations vary. Treat these spellings as memory prompts, listen to Cambodian speakers, and favour warmth over perfect pronunciation.

Suos-dei

Hello

A friendly, everyday greeting.

Chum-reap suor

Formal hello

Often paired with a respectful sampeah.

Aw-kun

Thank you

Useful everywhere; a smile does the rest.

Som toh

Excuse me / sorry

Helpful when getting attention or moving past someone.

Baat / jaa

Polite yes

Common polite responses used by men / women.

Ot te

Say it gently; tone matters.

Tlai pon-maan?

How much?

Useful in markets; confirm the amount carefully.

Chnganh

Delicious

A warm compliment when enjoying food.

Sok sabay te?

How are you?

A friendly question; listen for “sok sabay”.

Lea haey

Goodbye

An informal way to say goodbye.