Cambodian words with no English equivalent

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jekkar
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Re: Cambodian words with no English equivalent

Post by jekkar »

explorer wrote: Sun Sep 23, 2018 5:27 am
explorer wrote: Wed Sep 05, 2018 9:38 am Another word is gau.

This is used to describe when a foreigner is charged a higher price than a Cambodian.
khmerhamster wrote: Wed Sep 05, 2018 2:24 pm Means to shave.
Taken advantage of, scammed etc.
Since writing this, I have learnt that gau can be used when anybody is charged a higher price than normal.

Yes, gau also has another meaning, that is to shave.
Gau? Try "Gao" And used like Gao Barang. Always popular.
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Re: Cambodian words with no English equivalent

Post by explorer »

Another phrase with no English equivalent is:

ទឹក ស៊ី ស្បែក - Tduk see sbaek

This translates literally as 'water eats (the) skin.'

When people spend a lot of time in the water, it has an adverse effect on their skin, which is described as above.
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Re: Cambodian words with no English equivalent

Post by taabarang »

Of course they have no meaningful direct.translation; they're idioms which does not mean the equivalent meaning doesn't exist in another language.
As my old Cajun bait seller used to say, "I opes you luck.
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Re: Cambodian words with no English equivalent

Post by Kay Kay »

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?
There's a Khmer word for 'Mirror', bro. It's translated as 'kornhnh-chorkk'.
'Glass' is translated as 'Keo / kev'
Hope this can make you clear.
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Re: Cambodian words with no English equivalent

Post by Kay Kay »

Well, I think there are a lot of such words/phrases. Let's have a look at the followings:
ខ្លាំងបាត់ /khlangng batt/
Explanation: It is said when people didn't expect that you dared to do things, but you did.
ម៉ែអាខ្នោរ /mae ah khnoa/(the writing for ខ្នោរ is ខ្នុរ/khnol/)
Explanation: It is just an exclamation phrase. When you're too shocked.
ម៉ាដៃឡូវ /ma dai lov/
Explanation: It is said when you get angry and want to hit somebody with your fist (only one time of hitting)
ឆ្អែត /cha-aet/ (when you see the hyphen, you need to read it fast since it is one syllable only)
Explanation: It sounds similar to 'OK' but in a revenged way (kind of 'two can play at that game')
Note: a general meaning of this word is 'to be full in eating/drinking'. This word is commonly used in this
meaning; however, you'll also hear that from the young generation. lol...it's funny if foreigners use this
word with them.

To be continued
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Re: Cambodian words with no English equivalent

Post by Username Taken »

Kay Kay wrote: Wed Feb 27, 2019 10:30 am
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?
There's a Khmer word for 'Mirror', bro. It's translated as 'kornhnh-chorkk'.
'Glass' is translated as 'Keo / kev'
Hope this can make you clear.
When timmy said "they just use the word for glass", he meant កញ្ចក់ not glass (for drinking) កែវ​.
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