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Bopha (bo-paa) / “flower” Flowers feature heavily in Khmer culture, with lotus flowers given as offerings, petals strewn by monks during blessings and flowers adorning the hair of traditional dancers. The Khmer word for “flower”,  bopha , originally derives from Pali and directly translates as “blossom”. Bong (bong) / “brother” or “sister” If you’re heading to Cambodia, then  bong  is a word you’re going to pick up pretty quickly because everyone is your  bong . Directly translating as “brother”, it is also used for women — although “sister” is  bong srei  — and can refer to a friend, peer, lover or someone slightly older. Nimol (ne-moll) / “flawless” Cambodian names often reflect traits and symbols of strength, courage and beauty that parents hope will be picked up by their young. Nimol is one such name that is usually reserved for boys; however, there are plenty of female Cambodians sporting it.  Nimol  transl...

Khmer, or Cambodian, is the official language in Cambodia and its ancient roots are steeped deep in history, with Old Khmer dating back to 600CE and standing as the official language of Angkorian kings. Influenced by Sanskrit and Pali, Khmer stands out from its neighbours because it is not a tonal language, with stress placed on the last syllabl e. Chhan (chaan) / “moon” The moon plays a pivotal role in the lives of Cambodians. As a predominantly Buddhist country, the Khmer calendar is lunar-based, with the majority of religious festivals, such as Khmer New Year and Water Festival, dictated by the full moon. The Khmer word,  chhan , is often used as a male or female name and comes from the Sanskrit word for moon:  canda. Tep (tep) / “god” You don’t have to look further than the ancient temples that dot the country to see the importance placed on gods in Cambodia. Angkor Wat’s walls are etched with legends featuring gods, divine spirits,...