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Hello,

I speak quite a bit of the Khmer language. I am familiar with some grammar and a lot of common verbs/nouns. There has been several words used interchangeably that always seems to not stick with me. I believe they may be propositions.

The following words get used that can be used with a verb added:

ban
ey (Sounds like a long i sound)
te
(as the youth on FB spell it) hz

For example: Ot dong twer ey te = I don't know what to do.
Or Ot dong twer mohup ey te = I don't know what to cook.

But, Ot jong sdab ey te (I dont what to listen?)
or just *insert verb* ban te hz

Is there a literally English translation for the words listed? or is it a combination of those words (with a verb or noun included) that make a new meaning. I know twer is do.


Thanks in advance

What is hz?

Username Taken wrote: ↑Wed Aug 29, 2018 7:16 pm What is hz?

ហើយ​ -​ haey

Never understood why people worry about languages.....

Speak English, speak slowly and speak loudly.

If they cannot understand you it's their own fault for being too lazy to learn English.....

Quick answer before dinner's ready.. from my basic understanding-

ban = can/possible
ey and te = question signifiers
ey is short for avey

Questions should (formally) start with "tae" តើ​ (sounds like "darl") and end with the appropriate question signifier, either avei / ey ​អ្វី? or te ទេ​?

What is your name?
Tae neak chmouh avey?
Question you name what?

How old are you?
Tae neak aryouk bonman?
Question you age how many?

Can you do it?
tae neak ach tver ban te?
Question you can do possible question?

Are you Chinese?
tae anakchea choncheate chen te?
Question are you nationality Chinese question?

Username may be correct; I don't happen to know nor does my Khmer wife who is quite astute about things linguistic. She thinks it's a generational thing and we both belong to the wrong generation. It would help if you quoted/copied a model sentence where it was used. Ball's in Father J's court for verification.

CBEQ wrote: ↑Wed Aug 29, 2018 7:05 pm I speak quite a bit of the Khmer language. I am familiar with some grammar and a lot of common verbs/nouns. There has been several words used interchangeably that always seems to not stick with me. I believe they may be propositions.

The following words get used that can be used with a verb added:

ban
ey (Sounds like a long i sound)
te
(as the youth on FB spell it) hz

For example: Ot dong twer ey te = I don't know what to do.
Or Ot dong twer mohup ey te = I don't know what to cook.

But, Ot jong sdab ey te (I dont what to listen?)
or just *insert verb* ban te hz

Is there a literally English translation for the words listed? or is it a combination of those words (with a verb or noun included) that make a new meaning. I know twer is do.

(ban) baan means have
ey means what. In some situations it can be translated as something.
(te) tde means no

(Ot dong twer ey te) Ot jong twer ey tde means dont want to do anything.
(Ot dong twer ey te) Ot dung twer ey means dont know what to do.

(Ot dong twer mohup ey te) Ot dung twer mohup ey means I don't know what to cook.

(Ot jong sdab ey te) Ot jong sdab tde means I dont what to listen.

(ban te) baan means have. Baan tde means do (you) have. Ot baan tde means not have.

epidemiks wrote: ↑Wed Aug 29, 2018 7:26 pm
ey is short for avey

Questions should (formally) start with "tae" តើ​ (sounds like "darl") and end with the appropriate question signifier, either avei / ey ​អ្វី? or te ទេ​?

(ey is short for avey) ey is short for awai. Both mean what. In some situations they can be translated as something.

(Questions should (formally) start with "tae" តើ​ (sounds like "darl") and end with the appropriate question signifier, either avei / ey ​អ្វី? or te ទេ​?) Questions should (formally) start with "daa" តើ​ (sounds like "darl") and end with the appropriate question signifier, either awai / ey ​អ្វី? or tde ទេ​?

Tde means no. If you make the statement Lin likes ice cream. You can change it to a question by saying Lin likes ice cream, no? Put daa at the front also.

CBEQ wrote: ↑Wed Aug 29, 2018 7:05 pm Hello,

I speak quite a bit of the Khmer language. I am familiar with some grammar and a lot of common verbs/nouns. There has been several words used interchangeably that always seems to not stick with me. I believe they may be propositions.

The following words get used that can be used with a verb added:

ban
ey (Sounds like a long i sound)
te
(as the youth on FB spell it) hz

For example: Ot dong twer ey te = I don't know what to do.
Or Ot dong twer mohup ey te = I don't know what to cook.

But, Ot jong sdab ey te (I dont what to listen?)
or just *insert verb* ban te hz

Is there a literally English translation for the words listed? or is it a combination of those words (with a verb or noun included) that make a new meaning. I know twer is do.


Thanks in advance

to point out a few things regarding your question about the multiple uses/interchangeability of the words that some people missed, ill try keep it as simple as i can....

"Ban" is used for few things, (Pronounced Baan)
As mentioned it translates to, you "can/are able" to do something
eg.
1. Bong Bomplech Oun Ban Ot? - Can you forget about me?
2. Bong Bomplech Oun Min Ban Te!- I can't forget you!

another important thing to mention that hasnt been said yet is that "Ban" is also used as a "Past Tense" particle...
eg.
1. Khnom Ban Tov Pteas Hery - I've already gone home/I went home already
2. Khnom Ban Juab Puak Mak Khnom Hery - I met my friends already
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Ey" has a number of meanings to,
As mentioned its the shortened informal form of Avey...
when used at the end of a sentence it usually means "what" and turns the sentence into question
Ey/Avey can also mean "Anything/Something"
eg.
1. Bong Tver Ey? - What are you doing?
2. Bong Tver Ey Te? - Are you doing anything?
3. Khnom Ot Tver Ey Te! - I'm not doing anything!
4. Min Ey Te! - literally it means 'its nothing' (its alright/no problem)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Te"
I think its been covered but will put it anwyay in more detail... (note its pronounced Dtey with a Dt sound and ends in a short Ey sound)
Te doesnt have a real translation but its actually a particle that is used in sentences to indicate either a question or negative notion of the sentence, its mainly used at the end of sentences but not always...
eg.
1. Bong Sok Sabbay Te? - Are you Happy/Well? - The "Te" in this sentence is used as a Question particle
2. Khnom Min Sok Sabbay Te! - I am not Happy/Well - "Te" in this sentence is used as a Negative Particle, often easily identifiable as it needs to be accompanied by a Negative word such as "Ot" or "Min" both of which mean No/Not/Dont etc.
3. Dung Te Bong Tha Khnom Ot Sabbay Jet - Do you know that i'm not happy?

in questions other words can be used instead of the Te particle,
1. Bong Sok Sabbay Ot? - Are you Happy/Well, No?
2. Bong Jong Tov Men? - You want to go, really/sure?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Hz/Hery/Hauy"
Also has a number of meanings, basically this commonly translates to "already"
eg.
1. Nham Bay Hauy Men? - Have you eaten already?
2. Khnom Saob Koat Hery! - I hate him/her already!
3. Khnom Ban Tov Hery - I went already

it can also mean "And"
it is part of "Hery Nung" which means "And" used when listing things
(something), (another thing) Hauy/Hauy Nung (the final thing)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

as you picked up in your final sentence, there isnt a lot of Khmer words that have direct translations into English, as many words can change their meaning when accompanied with another word, or the context of the sentence, Khmer as a language is one that can take a long time to truly understand

taabarang wrote: ↑Wed Aug 29, 2018 7:52 pm Ball's in Father J's court for verification.

Done it boss

You done yourself proud Father Punchy. Is it not safe to assume that the abbreviations '"Hz/Hery/" are contributions from younger internet users? These two unlike their 3rd companion bear no resemblance to transliterated Khmer.