Cambodian words with no English equivalent
Re: Cambodian words with no English equivalent
OP,explorer wrote: ↑Sat Sep 01, 2018 4:24 am People learning Khmer will learn there are some words with no English equivalent. There are also English words with no Khmer equivalent. You can normally explain these using a number of words.
There are also words where the meaning is similar, but not exactly the same.
I hope this will be beneficial for those learning Khmer.
oosaa
oosaa is the opposite of lazy. You could say a good student, a hard worker, or a person who puts in a lot of effort.
gaaj and sloet
gaaj means a ferocious animal, an aggressive animal, or an animal which may attack you.
sloet means a tame animal.
The same words are used for people. We dont normally say a tame person. Maybe we should introduce this into the English language.
If someone says a girl is gaaj, she may be argumentative, uncooperative, get angry often, and yell a lot.
If someone says a girl is sloet, she may be easy to get along with, cooperative, not normally get angry, and not normally raise her voice.
You also learn, the only way to get good at a language, is by communitating in that language. You will meet Cambodians learning English, and translating everyting into Khmer. That is how one starts out. But the only way to get good at English is by communicating in English. The same applies for people learning Khmer.
I would encourage others to make contributions. Most of us are still learning. We can all learn from each other.
Next time someone asks you what type of girl you would like. One of the most important qualities is being sloet. Being oosaa is also important.
For instance 'sloet'. How do read that 'oe'? An O sound like in the English word 'boat'?
And 'gaaj' / oosaa. How would you pronounce the 'aa'?
For me, the the Khmer word without an English counterpart that stands out is the word 'bong'. Very often mistranslated to 'brother'.
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Re: Cambodian words with no English equivalent
"សាហាវ - Sahav is also a similar word - to be savage, wild, untamed, violent, fierce, ferocious, cruel, brutal, inhuman, primitive, pitiless, barbarous..."
And yet another word which can be used separately or used together with "sahav" is "preypsai".
And yet another word which can be used separately or used together with "sahav" is "preypsai".
As my old Cajun bait seller used to say, "I opes you luck.
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Re: Cambodian words with no English equivalent
I was told there is no Khmer word for mirror, they just use the word for glass ...which is why the bathroom cabinet I got made had clear glass in the door instead of a mirror. Is this right?
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Re: Cambodian words with no English equivalent
I believe not. The word for mirror is kanhjok, while keov is used either for a drinking glass or anything made of glass.timmydownawell wrote: ↑Sat Sep 01, 2018 12:57 pm I was told there is no Khmer word for mirror, they just use the word for glass ...which is why the bathroom cabinet I got made had clear glass in the door instead of a mirror. Is this right?
As my old Cajun bait seller used to say, "I opes you luck.
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Re: Cambodian words with no English equivalent
A pane of glass is also kanhjok.taabarang wrote: ↑Sat Sep 01, 2018 1:22 pmI believe not. The word for mirror is kanhjok, while keov is used either for a drinking glass or anything made of glass.timmydownawell wrote: ↑Sat Sep 01, 2018 12:57 pm I was told there is no Khmer word for mirror, they just use the word for glass ...which is why the bathroom cabinet I got made had clear glass in the door instead of a mirror. Is this right?
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Re: Cambodian words with no English equivalent
Interesting. Since I nor damn few villagers have glass panes in their windows or doors, I never used nor heard the word used in that context. In any case there are two words and if you want a mirror on a door you better use the right one.Username Taken wrote: ↑Sat Sep 01, 2018 1:44 pmA pane of glass is also kanhjok.taabarang wrote: ↑Sat Sep 01, 2018 1:22 pmI believe not. The word for mirror is kanhjok, while keov is used either for a drinking glass or anything made of glass.timmydownawell wrote: ↑Sat Sep 01, 2018 12:57 pm I was told there is no Khmer word for mirror, they just use the word for glass ...which is why the bathroom cabinet I got made had clear glass in the door instead of a mirror. Is this right?
As my old Cajun bait seller used to say, "I opes you luck.
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Re: Cambodian words with no English equivalent
@timmydownawelltaabarang wrote: ↑Sat Sep 01, 2018 1:51 pmInteresting. Since I nor damn few villagers have glass panes in their windows or doors, I never used nor heard the word used in that context. In any case there are two words and if you want a mirror on a door you better use the right one.Username Taken wrote: ↑Sat Sep 01, 2018 1:44 pmA pane of glass is also kanhjok.taabarang wrote: ↑Sat Sep 01, 2018 1:22 pmI believe not. The word for mirror is kanhjok, while keov is used either for a drinking glass or anything made of glass.timmydownawell wrote: ↑Sat Sep 01, 2018 12:57 pm I was told there is no Khmer word for mirror, they just use the word for glass ...which is why the bathroom cabinet I got made had clear glass in the door instead of a mirror. Is this right?
the word for "Mirror" is កញ្ចក់ឆ្លុះ - Kanhjok Chhlos - Basically means "reflective glass", while the words flipped ឆ្លុះកញ្ចក់ - Chhlos Kanhjok means to look at your reflection in the mirror
Mean Dtuk Mean Trei, Mean Loy Mean Srey
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Re: Cambodian words with no English equivalent
Jamie. I really hate singing your praises. No...really, I do. But your command of the Khmer language in such a short timeframe (for a northerner ) really is commendable.
.....what a guy will do for a shag....
.....what a guy will do for a shag....
Despite what angsta states, it’s clear from reading through his posts that angsta supports the free FreePalestine movement.
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Re: Cambodian words with no English equivalent
Mean Dtuk Mean Trei, Mean Loy Mean Srey
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Re: Cambodian words with no English equivalent
^The Thais were PISSED at that Saturday Night Live parody commercial...I loved it.
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