Speaking Thai in Cambodia...

Suksan1 · Post by **Suksan1** » Wed Sep 14, 2016 6:57 pm

Greetings! I have lived in TH for a few years and i am fluent in Thai and now plan to relocate to Cambodia fairly soon. On my visit to PP i noticed that quite a few locals speak Thai (primarily because they previously worked in TH). Question: How about Battambang...(or even Pailin). Could I get by speaking Thai?

Post by **Username Taken** » Wed Sep 14, 2016 7:42 pm

Sawat dii, krup!

In most border towns you should be able to get by with Thai exclusively.
Most Khmers that I've known/met from Battambang seem to know Thai. I think they learn it at school. Whether you can get by exclusively with Thai in Battambang, I couldn't say, but when that fails, English shouldn't be a problem.

Chok dii krup!

frank lee bent · Post by **frank lee bent** » Wed Sep 14, 2016 7:48 pm

definitely. just as Surin and other eastern areas of Th were Cambodian, the western provinces of Cambodia were Thai, in relatively recent times.
John Bingham may give specific timescales.
Around BB the cuisine is more Thai in terms of the spiciness than is generally found nationally.

Unlike Thailand though- you will find many English speakers in provincial areas.

Post by **Jamie_Lambo** » Wed Sep 14, 2016 11:07 pm

tbh im not sure, the level of english outside touristy areas i find is pretty low, i find it far easier to get by speaking english in Thailand
the people who can speak english here though speak much better + clearer english than the Thais i find