It all started in India...
thousands of years ago. And came to Cambodia at least 1,300 years ago. We know this from examining the writings on the temples of the Angkor Wat complex. Also, the sounds of the current Khmer alphabet are very similar to the modern day Hindi alphabet and several words sound similar. The writing also has many similarites.
Since those times, the Khmer writing has been made much more complex (and difficult to read) by adding letters and extra swirls and lines to the the letters. Also, above the letters, below them on both sides of one letter, and all three at the same time.
This original Hindi language is one of the root languages, not only of Khmer (Cambodian Language), but also of Thai, Laotian, and Burmese. While the written system of the language has many similarities throughout all these countries, the numbers are all written the same or very similar.
Khmer is written from left to right, top to bottom, withnospacesbetweenthewords and with very little punctuation There are 3 styles of writing: a script type which is used in handwriting, a block form used in books, magazines and newspapers, and a rounded style used on signs, titles of books and magazines, and in places on official documents and formal invitations.
The Khmer alphabet is considered to have 33 consonants and 23 vowels. There are many more consonants and vowels not included in the standard alphabet. No one knows how many.
The spoken language has no particular tone, as the Thai and Vietnamese languages do. There are no regional dialects, but people from the countryside do speak a little differently from the people in the cities.
And now..... on to some Khmer words and phrases.
| What is your name? Nayaak chmooa away? (you name what?) Where are you from? Nayaak chun cheeit away? (you country of origin what?) How old are you? Nayaak ayoo poonmaan hi? (you old how much already) Where are you coming from? Mao pee na? (come from where?) Where are you going? Dto na? ("dt" is a cross between a "d" and a "t") How much does it cost? Tlai poonmaan? (cost how much) I Kinyum you Nayak He or She Go aht Us Yoong They Poouk Gay |
Please What |
| I don't understand what you say kinyum sadaap mun baan (I understand not good) I understand what you say kinyum sadaap ban (I understand good) I don't understand Kinyum mun jool (I not understand) I understand Kinyum jool hi (I understand already) How much for one beer Be yair mooey tlai poonmaan (Beer one cost how much) Check please Ketloy |
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| One Mooey Two Pee Three Bay Four Booun Five Bram Six Bram Mooey (same as five one) Seven Bram Pee Eight Bram Bay Nine Bram Booun Ten Dawp Eleven Dawp Mooey (numbers from 11 to 19 are pronounced as the word ten, followed by the second number. 16 would be Dawp (10) Bram Mooey (6). 20 Maapay 21 Maapay Mooey 30 Saamsup 40 Sie Sup 50 Haasup 60 Hoke sup 70 Jetsup 80 Bairtsup 90 Gaowsup 100 Mooey Roy 1000 Mooey Pawn 10,000 Mooey Mun |
There is a fly in my soup No extra charge Months
I want to play mini golf. The End.
Good bye. |
