Khmer is Cambodia's official language, and while English is widely spoken in tourist areas — and French is still understood by many older residents, particularly around Siem Reap — even a handful of Khmer words go a long way with locals.
Good news for learners
Unlike Thai or Vietnamese, Khmer isn't a tonal language, which makes pronunciation noticeably more forgiving for visitors. Word order is also fairly close to English, so simple phrases come together more easily than you'd expect.
Handy phrases to know
- Suostei — Hello
- Arkoun — Thank you
- Sohm — Please
- Tlaiponmaan? — How much is it?
- Chganh nas! — Delicious!
- Lea heuy — Goodbye
A small cultural detail
When answering "yes," men traditionally say "baat" and women say "chaa" — a small distinction that locals genuinely notice and appreciate when visitors get it right.
Our guides are always happy to teach you a few more words along the way — it's one of the small things that consistently turns a good trip into a memorable one.