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No
matter what, always keep a smiling face. It is considered very ill-bred
not to smile. Everybody has his own share of misery and stress, so why
not keep it inside and try not to wear it on one's face? Here are a few
useful idiomatic expressions that will help you enjoy your stay in the
city. We have put down the literal translations as well as our homemade
phonetics.
Basics
Sok Sabay
- Peace and joy
(standard greeting)
Or Kon
- Joyful gratefulness (thank you)
Chneh
Satruv - Defeat
your enemies (farewell)
Som Toh
- Grant me forgiveness
(sorry)
Baat
- Yes (if you are a
man/boy)
Chaa
- Yes (if you are a
woman/girl)
Ort Te
- No
Khyom
- I/me/my/mine
Srok Khmer
- the Land of the Khmer (Cambodia)
Civilities
Khyom Bor Rotay
- I am a cart driver (I am a foreigner)
Khyom Barang
- I am a white foreigner / French
Sok Sabay
Te - Do joy and
peace favor you? (How are you?)
Khyom Sok
Sabay - Peace and
joy favor me (I am fine)
Lok
- Master (sir or mister)
Lok Sreign
- Mistress (madam or missus)
Neang
- Maiden (mademoiselle or miss)
Komloh
- Bachelor (sir or mister for
bachelors)
Chit Chat
Laor
- Nice, good, pretty, beautiful
Sambom
- Extremely
Laor Sambom
- Zesty
Chnagn
- Tasty
Khyom
Srolagn - I fancy
Orh Toah
- Without limit (Great!)
Tlai
- Expensive
Taok
- Cheap
Insult (use with care!)
Ort Pouch
- Without lineage (you are uncouth)
Other useful expressions
Som Chouy - Grant me
assistance (Help!)
Noam Khyom
Teuv Toot Amerik -
Get me to the US Embassy!
Avot
Paramano - Nuclear
weapon
Srom Anamay
- Hygiene sheath (condom)
Mean Loy
- I have money
Ort Mean
Loy - I have no
money
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