Top Beautiful Words to Make You Fall in Love with the Khmer Language ( part 1)

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 syllable.

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, deities and other ethereal creatures that draw on Hindu and Buddhist legends. Tep derives from the Sanskrit word deva, which means “god” or “divine”.

Sa’at (sa-art) / “beautiful”

Cambodians love to appreciate beauty and you’ll often hear the phrase, “sa’at” — or “sa’at nas” (“very beautiful”) — being thrown around. Whether it’s elderly women clucking over a child, a fellow female admiring your hair or someone commenting on a social media update, this is one word that is worth knowing.

Srolang (sra-laan) / “love”

From the love songs blasting out of speakers throughout the country to the romantic soap operas streamed on TV, Cambodians can be soppy when it comes to matters of love. Srolang is the word for love, with “Knyom srolang nyek” meaning, “I love you”.