How to Say “Hello” in Cambodian & Khmer Basic Phrases

1. Hello in Cambodian - Chom Reap Sour!

To greet in Cambodia, the most common way is to say “Chom Reap Sour”, which means “Hello” in English. If you are new to a country, it is best to use this more formal formula. However, in Cambodia, social interactions are often governed by centuries-old traditions of respect and hierarchy.

So, if you want to greet like a real Cambodian and show your respect and knowledge of their culture, it can be helpful to learn how to give a real hello in Cambodian, depending on the context.

2. How to say hello in respectful Cambodian?

As we explained previously, saying hello in Cambodian is not just a phrase, but also an important social component of Cambodian culture.

“Chom Reap Sour” is used when speaking to older people and people of higher social status to show them respect. On the other hand, “Susadei” is a more informal formula, often used between friends or family members. 

Now that you know the appropriate expressions to say hello, let's find out together the right way to use them. Do you know that Cambodians also have their own gesture to greet someone? This gesture to say hello and goodbye is called Sampeah.

This is a traditional Cambodian greeting gesture that shows respect. Sampeah is performed by joining the palms of the hands in a prayer gesture and bowing the head. The higher the hands and the lower the head tilt, the greater the level of respect towards the other person. Cambodians use 5 different types of Sampeah depending on who they are addressing:

• When greeting their friends who are the same age, they place both palms together at chest level.
• For bosses, elderly people or people of higher rank, they place both their palms together at mouth level.
• Parents, older grandparents and teachers should be greeted with the sampeah at nose level.
• Sampeahs at eyebrow level are reserved for monks and the king.
• Front-level sampeahs are intended exclusively for prayer, sacred sites and temple worship.

It is common to do a Sampeah during first introductions or if people have not seen each other for a long time. However, it's not necessary to do this every time you meet a friend, family member, or coworker. It is considered rude and offensive not to respond to a Sampeah. 

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3. How to greet correctly in Cambodia?

In Cambodia today, we observe a Western cultural influence which has been accepted. Cambodian men often shake hands when greeting each other. However, it is common for women and men not to touch each other when greeting each other, as Cambodians are not used to touching, especially between opposite sexes. Women often adhere to the traditional greeting.

In Cambodia, the customary greeting is a graceful gesture known as "Sampeah," where individuals press their palms together like a prayer. They then raise their hands to chest level, accompanied by a slight bow. This simple act conveys respect, with the height of the hands and depth of the bow signifying the degree of reverence shown.

In formal situations, Cambodians use greetings with the terms "Lok" (Mr.) or "Lok Srey" (Ms.) followed by the person's first name. The surname is rarely used alone, as is the case in Western countries.

In some cases, using the surname may be considered impolite, as many Cambodian surnames are derived from father, grandfather, or ancestor. It is best to use the first name unless you are sure the last name is acceptable.

In Cambodia, it is customary to show respect to elders by using honorifics when addressing them. Older men are usually called "Ta" (grandfather), "Po" (uncle) or "Bang" (brother), while older women are called "Yeay" (grandmother), "Ming" (aunt) or "Bang Srey" (sister).

It would be considered rude if a younger person addressed an older person without using an honorific. People of the same age or younger can be addressed by their first name without using a title.

4. Greeting formalities in Cambodia

In Cambodian culture, the head is considered the most sacred part of the body, so people treat it with great respect. Because of this belief, I usually tell travelers to avoid touching someone’s head, even if it’s meant in a friendly way.

You may also notice that Cambodians are quite reserved when it comes to physical contact. For example, hugging, putting your hand on someone’s shoulder, or showing public affection isn’t very common here, especially when meeting someone for the first time.

So when you greet someone in Cambodia, the easiest and most respectful thing to do is simply smile and return a Sampeah greeting. Most locals will really appreciate the effort.

As you travel around Cambodia, there will probably be moments when you need help from locals, especially if you’re exploring a new place or trying to find your way around. In these situations, I always tell travelers that a little politeness goes a long way.

When you ask for something, whether it's something big or small, be sure to say "thank you" and remain polite. As a foreigner, it is essential to remember to be sensitive to the local culture, as it may be very different from that of your home country.

5. Phrases in Khmer and basic vocabulary to know

Speaking a bit of Khmer shows respect and makes it easier to engage with locals. It doesn't take much, and the impact is big.

Here are a few key phrases to help you along the way.

• How are you ? I'm fine : Soksaby [sok-sa-bye]

It may seem strange that the Khmer way of asking the question “how are you?” ” and the response “I’m fine” are the same. However, you will notice a difference in intonation. The question has a rising intonation and the answer has a falling intonation.

• Goodbye (formal) : Chom reap lear [chom-reep-lear]
• Goodbye (informal) : Lear hi [lea-hi]
• Yes (for men) : Bah [bah]
• Yes (for women) : Jah [chaa]

You will often hear “bah, bah, bah” from Cambodian men and “chaa chaa chaa” from women, usually repeated several times.

• No : Ot teh [ot-tei]
• Thank you : Arkun [ar-koon]
• Sorry / Excuse me : Som dtoh [som-toe]

• Please : Som
• Goodbye : Li hai [lee-hi]
• I don't understand : Knyom min pai sa-um [knyom-min-pie-soum]
• You're welcome : Ta lao-ya [ta-la-ya]
• What's your name ? : Chhmua ei? [cham-moo-ey]
• My name is ___ : Knyom chhmua ___ [knyom-cham-moo]

At the market

Learning a few phrases to haggle at the market will be rewarded with lower prices.

• How much does this cost ? : Ney aray t'lay? [nei a-rai t-lay?]
• What is this ? : Nan jibai?
• I would like to buy this : Knyom jong keng dey nak bouy na
• Too expensive : T'lay [t-lay]
• Me, bee, bay, boom, bram, bram me, bram bee, bram boom, dop – numbers from 1 to 10.

Transport and travel

A tuk-tuk will likely be your primary mode of transportation in Cambodia, so it helps to learn a few phrases. Adding a “som” (please) before a request is always appreciated.

• Turn left: Baht schweng [bart-shweng]
• Turn right: Baht saddam [bart-sadam]
• Stop: Chop [chop]
• Here: Tini [tinny]
• Go straight: Da trong [da-trong]

At the restaurant/bar

• Delicious: Chhnang [ch-nang]
• Water please: Som tach [som tack]
• The bill please: Som ket loy [som-ket-loy]
• Health!: Chloy moy!
• Bon appetit: Niang bai

6. Some Cambodian slangs

• Barang (ba-rang) – Foreigner
  Once used for the French, now it refers to all foreigners. You'll hear it a lot.

• Chhnang Nas (ch-nang naas) – Very delicious
  Use this to compliment food. “Nas” adds intensity — like kdao nas (very hot).

• Choul Mouy (chull muy) – Cheers
  Common in beer gardens. It means “bump one” - locals say it before every drink.

• Man? (man) – How much?
  Handy for bargaining. Just ask “Man?” to check the price.

• Yap Moung (yap mong) / You’re Crazy Used lightheartedly, "Yap moung" describes someone acting foolishly. It's playful and not considered offensive.
• Songsaa / Sweetheart "Songsaa" is an endearing term for a significant other, reflecting the romantic nature of Cambodian culture.
• Sa’at (sa-art) / Beautiful Compliment something or someone as "Sa’at" to express beauty, often eliciting positive reactions.
• Howey (how-ee) / Already "Already" is frequently used to indicate that an action is completed, such as "I’ve already seen that." It helps express past actions due to the lack of verb conjugation for tense in Khmer.

7. FAQs

1. What does “hello” mean in Khmer?

In Khmer, the formal way to say hello is “Chom Reap Sour.” This greeting is commonly used when speaking to elders, officials, teachers, or anyone you want to show respect to. In more casual situations, Cambodians usually say “Susadei,” which is a friendly and informal greeting often used between friends or people of the same age.

2. How do you pronounce hello in Khmer?

The formal greeting “Chom Reap Sour” is usually pronounced chom-reep-sour, while the informal greeting “Susadei” sounds like soo-sa-day. Khmer pronunciation may feel unfamiliar at first, but locals generally appreciate it when visitors try to speak even a few words of their language.

3. Are there different ways to say hello in Khmer?

Yes, Khmer has both formal and informal greetings. “Chom Reap Sour” is considered polite and respectful, while “Susadei” is more casual and commonly used among friends, younger people, or in everyday situations such as markets or shops.

4. How do people greet each other in Cambodia?

In Cambodia, greetings are often accompanied by a traditional gesture called the Sampeah. People press their palms together in front of the chest and slightly bow their head. The height of the hands indicates the level of respect being shown.

5. Is “hello” in Khmer formal or informal?

It depends on the word you use. “Chom Reap Sour” is a formal greeting used to show respect, while “Susadei” is informal and typically used between friends or people of the same age.

6. How do you say goodbye in Khmer?

The formal way to say goodbye in Khmer is “Chom Reap Lear.” In more casual situations, people may say “Lear Hi,” which is a simple and informal way to say goodbye.

Our last words

With its rich cultural legacy and friendly, hospitable populace, Cambodia is an intriguing country. Learning a few basic phrases in Khmer, starting with how to say hello, is one of the most significant ways to engage with people when you're planning a trip. Because Khmer has sounds that are not found in English, it can be difficult to pronounce at first. However, don't worry, Cambodians are quite friendly and always willing to assist you practice.

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