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Personal Pronouns: Subject Pronoun
A personal pronouns refers to a specific person or thing. One of the most difficult problems in Khmer for a foreign student is the choice of appropriate pronouns, because they are context oriented. For example the personal pronoun are determined by the status of the speakers to the hearer. Thus there are no general pronouns such as "you" which are appropriate for all situation. The tables below provide the commonest Khmer personal pronoun and their explanation:
A. First Person
Singular |
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| Khmer | IPA | How to use | |
xj?u |
kn)om |
It is a polite pronounce, used to address to the elder and same age person. "I" |  |
| xj?uZaT | kn)om baat |
This pronounce is used the same way as "xj?u ". "I" | |
| K6a | knie |
It is a polite word, used to address to the same age person. "I" | |
| GBaj | qan) |
It is an impolite word, used to address to unrespectable person. Sometime, it can be used with closed friend but it is very sensitive. I would suggest not to use this pronounce. "I" | |
Example:
Khmer |
English |
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| xj?ueTAsalaeron | |
I go to school |
| K6aedIreTApSar suxcg'eTApSarCamYyK6a / | |
I walk to the market, Do you want to go with me Sok? |
Plural |
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| Khmer | IPA | How to use | |
eyIg |
yeeN |
It is a polite pronounce, used to address with the elder, younger and the same age people. "We" | |
| eyIgxj?u | yeeN kn)om |
This pronounce is used the same as pronounce "eyIg". "We" | |
| BYkeyIg | pueq yeeN |
This pronounce is used the same as pronounce "eyIg". "We" | |
| BYkK6a | pueq knie |
This pronounce is used the same as pronounce "eyIg". "We" | |
Example:
Khmer |
English |
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| eyIgcg'eronExMr. | |
We want to study Khmer. |
| eyIgxju?CanisitS | |
We are students. |
| BYkeyIgeronExMrCamYyelakRKUs? | |
We study Khmer with teacher Sam. |
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Singular |
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| Khmer | IPA | How to use | |
| elak | look |
It is a polite masculine pronounce, used to address to the elder, younger or the inferior to the superior in fa fromal situation. "You" or "Mr." |
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| elakRsI | look sr ey |
It is a polite feminine pronounce, used to address to the elder, younger or the inferior to the superior in fa fromal situation. "You" or "Mrs." | |
| G6k | ne(eq |
Address to people who is approximately at the same age (You). | |
| {g | qaeN |
It is an impolite pronounce, used to address to the younger. "You" | |
Example:
Khmer |
English |
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| elakcg'BisarKuyTaveT / | |
Do you want to eat noodle soup? |
| elakRsIs6ak'enA{Na / | |
Where do you stay? |
| G6keQMaHGI / | |
What is your name? |
Plural |
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| Khmer | IPA | How to use | |
| Gs'elak | qAh look |
It is a polite masculine pronounce, used to address to the elder, younger or the inferior to the superior in fa fromal situation. "You all" or "Mr. all" | |
| Gs'G6k | qAh ne(eq |
It is a pronounce that is used to address to a rgroup of approximately the same age people. "You all" | |
Example:
Khmer |
English |
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| Gs'elakmkBIRbeTsNa / | |
Where are you all from? |
| Gs'G6ks6ak'enA{Na / | |
Where do you all stay? |
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Singular |
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| Khmer | IPA | How to use | |
| va | wie |
It is used to address from the superior to the inferior, adult to child, otherwise instulting, human to animal "It" | |
| Kat' | ko(et |
It is a polite uni sex pronounce that is used to address respectfully from younger to older, adult to adult. "He or Shel" | |
| eK | kee |
It is used to address to people that we don't know. "He, She, One, or Someone" | |
| nag | It is a polite feminine pronounce that is used to address respectfully from the elder to the younger. "He or Shel". | |
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Example:
Khmer |
English |
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| ekMgenHvamkBINa / | |
Where is this kid come from? |
| Kat'eronExMrenAsalaNa / | |
At what school does he or she study Khmer? |
| eKcg'eTANa / | |
Where is he or she want to go? |
| nagenaHeFIVkarGIenARsukExMr / | |
What does she do for a living in Cambodia? |
Plural |
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| Khmer | IPA | How to use | |
| BYkva | pueq wie |
It is used to address from the superior to a group inferior, adult to a gruop of children, or human to a group of animal "They all" | |
| BYkKat' | pueq ko(et |
It is used to address to a group of the same age people or to a group of older people. "They all" | |
| BYkeK | pueq kee |
It is used to address to a group of unknown people. "They all" | |
| BYknag | pueq nieN |
t is used to address from the older people to a group of young feminines. "They all" | |
Example:
Khmer |
English |
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| ;f9enHmanekMgeRcInNas'mkelg sYnenH. BYkvamkBINa / |
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Today, there are many children in this park. where are they all from. |
| BYkKat'eronExMrenAsalaNa / | |
At what school do they study Khmer? |
| BYkeKcg'eTANa / | |
Where do they want to go? |
| BYknageFIVkarGIenARsukExMr / | |
What do they do for a living in Cambodia? |
Note:
 | Cambodian has a much lager number of pronouns than English. In Cambodian prounounces reflect gender, relative age, and social status. |
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