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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 addressee. 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 |
|
| 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 |
|
| 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 a formal 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 a formal 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 |
|
| 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 a formal situation. "You all" or "Mr. all" | |
| Gs'G6k | qAh ne(eq |
It is a pronounce that is used to address to a group of approximately the same age people. "You all" | |
Example:
Khmer |
English |
|
| 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 insulting, human to animal "It" | |
| Kat' | ko(et |
It is a polite unisex 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 group 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 feminine. "They all" | |
Example:
Khmer |
English |
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| ;f9enHmanekMgeRcInNas'mkelg sYnenH. BYkvamkBINa / |
|
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 pronoun reflect gender, relative age, and social status. |
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II. Intonation: Statement, Question and Question Particle
| Statements are normally accompanied by a falling contour on the last words of the sentence, for example: |
Khmer |
English |
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| xj?u suxsb_ayCaeT | |
I am quite well. |
| Rising contour may also occur at the end of statements. In this case, the statement seems to be obvious, for example: |
Khmer |
English |
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| xj?u suxsb_ayCaeT | |
I am fine [of course] |
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| Questions are usually accompanied by rising contour on the last words of the sentence. The rising contour question reflects deference, politeness and formality, for example: |
Khmer |
English |
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| elakGeBa#IBajeTANa / | |
Where are you going, Sir? |
C. The Question Particle (
Tae) etI
The question particle (etI) are always occurs at the beginning of an interrogative clause in formal questions. When the question particle (etI) is used, it signal the fact that a question follows and the rising and falling intonation of question is not necessary.
For example:
Khmer |
English |
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| elakGeBa#IBajeTANa / | |
Where are you going, Sir? |
| etIelakGeBa#IBajeTANa / | |
Where are you going, Sir? |
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Questions are formed in three ways in Cambodian, question requesting specific information, question requiring a yes or now answer and the question that occur without question particle or question words.
A. Questions Requesting Specific Information.
| Questions requesting specific information require
a question words for example: Question words: Where Na (naa ) |
Question |
Answer |
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| eTANah6wg sux / | Trans |
|
xj7?eTAeNaH mYyEP,t. | Trans |
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| elakGeBa#IBajeTANa / | Trans |
|
xj7?eTAsala. | Trans |
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| elakmankarGIEdr . | Trans |
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xj?ucg'CYbelak s?Nag. | Trans |
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| G6keQMaHGIV / | Trans |
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xj?ueQaMH pl. | Trans |
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B. Questions Requiring Yes or No Answer:
| Question requiring yes- or-no answer require a
final question particle eT
(tee) |
Question |
Answer |
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| elaksuxsb_ay eT / or | |
ZaT xj?usuxsb_ayeT. | |
| elakRsIsuxsb_ay b/eT / | |
cas xj?usuxsb_ayeT. |  |
C.
Response Particles: Yes ZaT (baat) cas (caah)
| The function of the response particles ZaT (a respond by men) and cas (a respond by women) is a polite acknowledgment of a previous utterance speech by other speakers, whether the previous utterance was a statement or a question. Following a question, the occurrence of a response particle as the sole constituent of the response implied affirmation. |
| A negative reply is indecated by a response particle followed by the negative final particle eT or by eT alone. |
| In exchange between equals, response particles tend to be discontinued after the initial exchanges. |
| The exchange between a superior and an inferior, response particles tend to be used through the exchange by the inferior, but may be discontinued or not used at all by the superior party in the exchange. |
| Response particles usually occur with a falling intonation contour. |
Example:
Khmer |
Response by women | Response by men | ||
| elaksuxsb_ayeT / | cas |
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ZaT |
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| elakRsIeTAeroneT / | caeT |
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ZaTeT |
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