Expats who Call Their GF's 'Wife', When They Aren't Married

thePeck · Post by **thePeck** » Wed May 28, 2014 4:18 am

It's to both: Khmer/Khmer or Barang/Khmer. It could have originally been to save face and maybe still, in more conservative families.

But after 1yr my gf calls me her husband and I call her my wife. It's taken different by different people. Her province knows we aren't "married" but we sleep in the same room and kiss/hold hands outside. It's just agreed we are.

vladimir · Post by **vladimir** » Wed May 28, 2014 5:54 am

FreeSocrates! wrote:I have friends that call their Khmer GF's wives (non of them former Bar Girls, mostly I'd say light grey girls).

The Khmer GF's go so far as to adopt the Expats last name on Facebook.

I'm sure I'm not the only one with friends that do this (and for the record I don't really care).

Yet you posted the query.

It's called common-law marriage, happens all over the world and has been happening since man existed and before men in dresses told us Dog and the church needed to authorise it.

Don't let the churches and lawyers brainwash you into thinking their version is the only version. You seem to be pretty fixed in your thinking, resist!

giblet · Post by **giblet** » Wed May 28, 2014 9:11 am

Hardly surprising in a country where they call women 'sister' who aren't even related to them.

frank lee bent · Post by **frank lee bent** » Wed May 28, 2014 9:59 am

my gf refers to me as her husband to khmer friends.

scary.

Joon · Post by **Joon** » Wed May 28, 2014 11:14 am

It's a Cambodian thing.

If they are aware that a non-married couple are living together and having sex, they would just call them "husband and wife." It's probably a way to save face as it was mentioned, but maybe also a way of legitimizing the relationship and in their logic, a way of being polite.

However, now there are words to designate a boyfriend/girlfriend: songsa, mith srey, mith bros, koor sneh, koor chivit, koor dondeung... Though I think the "pdey-propoun" is preferred because of the social, cultural, and legal bondage.

frank lee bent · Post by **frank lee bent** » Wed May 28, 2014 11:47 am

So refreshing to have knowledgeable Khmer members who are willing to inform us.
Thanks Joon.

vladimir · Post by **vladimir** » Wed May 28, 2014 12:39 pm

dagenham wrote:Dang...I'd call anyone my wife - if only they would let me...

There are some lovely 'ladies' (what's an appendage or two between friends?) hanging around Wat Phnom that would let you. For a fee...

FreeSocrates! · Post by **FreeSocrates!** » Wed May 28, 2014 2:40 pm

vladimir wrote:
FreeSocrates! wrote:I have friends that call their Khmer GF's wives (non of them former Bar Girls, mostly I'd say light grey girls).

The Khmer GF's go so far as to adopt the Expats last name on Facebook.

I'm sure I'm not the only one with friends that do this (and for the record I don't really care).
Yet you posted the query.

It's called common-law marriage, happens all over the world and has been happening since man existed and before men in dresses told us Dog and the church needed to authorise it.

Don't let the churches and lawyers brainwash you into thinking their version is the only version. You seem to be pretty fixed in your thinking, resist!

Vladimir, we've been over this already. See stroppy's post and my admission that I 'forgot' about this on the first page...

http://www.cambodiaexpatsonline.com/vie ... =307#p4672

*Edit: When I said and for the record I don't really care. I mean I have nothing against the practice of people being 'pretend married', was just curious about the practice within the Khmer Context.

ie, I don't really care if you are 'pretend married'... just was curious about it.

FreeSocrates! · Post by **FreeSocrates!** » Wed May 28, 2014 2:42 pm

giblet wrote:Hardly surprising in a country where they call women 'sister' who aren't even related to them.

Exactly I wonder about this stuff too, all the time.

Sometimes there are direct reasons (like a orphan), but sometimes I find maybe it's just because they are friends and like each other???

The Add Jay · Post by **The Add Jay** » Wed May 28, 2014 2:45 pm

I been with the same khmer girl for over a year now and when other khmer ask about us I just refer to her as my wife. Reason being they will look down on her if she is just my girlfriend and lives with me. As far as our circle of friends we are boyfriend girlfriend.

Expats who Call Their GF's 'Wife', When They Aren't Married

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Re: Expats who Call Their GF's 'Wife', When They Aren't Marr

Re: Expats who Call Their GF's 'Wife', When They Aren't Marr

Re: Expats who Call Their GF's 'Wife', When They Aren't Marr

Re: Expats who Call Their GF's 'Wife', When They Aren't Marr

Re: Expats who Call Their GF's 'Wife', When They Aren't Marr

Re: Expats who Call Their GF's 'Wife', When They Aren't Marr

Re: Expats who Call Their GF's 'Wife', When They Aren't Marr

Re: Expats who Call Their GF's 'Wife', When They Aren't Marr

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